Straight razor shenanigans

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So yesterday I tried out shaving with a straight razor, something I've wanted to do for a long time. I got interested when I had a straight shave at an old school barbershop a few weeks ago, and not only was it the closest shave I've ever had, it was the only close shave I've ever had. I took the plunge yesterday and picked up all the stuff I need to do it myself: razor, strop, shaving brush and soap. It's a real process compared to shaving with a safety razor, and at first it was one of the scariest things I've ever done, but I didn't end up cutting myself. Since I don't have a lot of practice holding the razor, I only did the flat parts of my face and neck and did all the corners and my jawline with my regular safety razor. I'm probably going to keep doing it like that until I get really comfortable handling my blade. My goal end-state is to never buy any more razor heads ever again, but I know it'll take some time before I'm comfortable taking an open razorblade to my face when I'm bleary from sleep and haven't had my morning coffee yet.

I'm the type of guy who has a five o'clock shadow while I'm shaving (there's proof, my girlfriend took pictures), so the first time I got a straight shave at the barber's it was a real treat. Any grizzly bears out there like me ought to try and find a barber for a straight shave if you've never had one. Anyone on the site have experience with a straight razor?

I used to use a straight razor; but it just became too much work. I currently use a double-edged razor and I don't believe I'd switch back even if I did have the extra time. Plus it's a lot safer for me with a toddler who likes to attempt single legs at odd times.

Just break down and grow a beard. It keeps you warm in the cold months, protects from the sun in the summer, and works great to hold onto spare crumbs from dinner.

I've been using a Merkur Classic Straight #178 for over two years now and haven't looked back...I highly, highly recommend it.

Old school, double edged safety razors are awesome. With the quality of shave they provide, there's really no reason at all to go through all the danger/hassle of using a straight razor. And replacement razors are like, $10 every 6 months, if that.

This thread is making my hands sweat. I can't even watch the scene in The Hunt for Red October where Ryan is talking to himself while shaving without wincing.

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I used the unpowered four blade Gillete razors and didnt like i went back to the mach 3. It just seemed to work better for me. I have also been thinking of trying a straight razor. How much was it for all the stuff and where did you find it?

If you want a real smooth shave, you should just get your face waxed.

Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I use the unpowered Fusion, because the cartridges are 5 bucks cheaper for a 16 pack. Plus, vibration is not a desired quality in a razor to me.

On straight razors, I too have always wanted to try it out, as I also suffer from 5 o'clock shadow while shaving. However, it does strike me as being a heck of a lot of work for something that doesn't matter.

Oh, and as for that whole beard idea? I'd love to, but it's illegal.

Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

PLANT!

Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I see disparity in your message and your avatar.

Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

So tell me my good man. What's this fusion all about?

I've wanted a straight razor for a while but they're a bit pricey and I'm secretly waiting for my girlfriend to give me one for my birthday or xmas

While we're on the subject of shaving

DO: get shaving SOAP (not foam). Use a "blaireau" or brush or whatever you call it in english

IMAGE(http://www.touchofeurope.net/mm5/graphics/00000001/August%207%20057b.JPG)

with

IMAGE(http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.Drugstore.com/prodimg/80944/200.jpg)

It has the shape of a cup, round and all. Easy to use with the brush.

Shaving soap foams easily. Regular canned shaving creams and foams have added alcohol that create that itching sensation that make you crave aftershave. I have not used an aftershave in over 5 years and no, I don't have a single pimple from shaving. My opinion? They've created a false need for it.

When you shave, you can shave hair on your face any way you like but below the jaw and chin line you must shave in the direction your hair is growing. Not the opposite. While you think you will get a closer shave, your skin will be hurt and pimples and redness will appear.

All these recommendations come from my barber after I'd asked him some tips : ) I'm no expert.

Yoreel wrote:

Just break down and grow a beard. It keeps you warm in the cold months, protects from the sun in the summer, and works great to hold onto spare crumbs from dinner.

Seconded. Be a man, damn it!

If you are used to shave other parts of the body besides the usual beard, I'd recommend against straight razor. Cutting your jewels away with safety razor is simply much more difficult. This thread needs Sanjuro.

Thirteenth wrote:

So tell me my good man. What's this fusion all about?

Five blades and it vibrates! It really is the best razor I've ever used! And no, I don't work for Gillette or get paid by them in any way.

http://www.gillette.com/en-US/#/prod...

Danjo Olivaw wrote:

I see disparity in your message and your avatar.

Fozzy's just discovered the new razor, see how excited he is.

ScurvyDog wrote:

I've been using a Merkur Classic Straight #178 for over two years now and haven't looked back...I highly, highly recommend it.

The Merkur Hefty Classic my weapon of choice. It's the same as the Classic but with a chunkier handle for those of us with hamfists. Very satisfied.

On shaving soap and vessels
The first time I tried to froth up a puck of Williams soap in a coffee mug I was frustrated for this reason; You tend to grip the brush on all sides of the handle with your fingers. If using a brush with a normal length handle the tips of your fingers will end up below the rim of the mug. That leaves almost no wiggle room to move your brush enough to create a froth without banging up your fingers. There are a few solutions to this problem. Get a longer handled brush, get a wider vessel, and/or get a shallower vessel. I went for a wider and shallower vessel. Bowls are the way to go.
IMAGE(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z221/crouton_bucket/31N5QS04DHL_SL500_AA280_.jpg)

IMAGE(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z221/crouton_bucket/31D0SP4B0PL_SL500_AA280_.jpg)

On safe disposal of used blades (not straight razor)
I'd recommend getting a blade safe.
IMAGE(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z221/crouton_bucket/razor_safe.jpg)
It's a $0.99 small metal box with a slot on the top in which you dispose your used blades. Once they're in they're damn near impossible to get out. When it's full just chuck the whole thing. I've had mine for a year and it's not even one quarter full.

Apparently back in the day a popular means of disposal was a slot in the wall. Some medicine cabinets had a slot on the back wall that simply emptied into the wall cavity.

I've found straight razors freaky ever since I accidentally watched that Sweeny Todd flick.

And then I started going to a barbershop where the guy is super old school and uses a straight razor for everything.

Basically a haircut and a dentist appointment are about even in my books these days.

I prefer shaving creams to the soap cakes. My skin always seems to get too dry when using cakes. The downside is that no local stores carry creams. Target used to carry Proraso; but they stopped for some reason.

Bear wrote:

Five blades and it vibrates! It really is the best razor I've ever used! And no, I don't work for Gillette or get paid by them in any way. :)

Sounds like a recipe for razor bumps and skin irritation, five blade passes with every stroke.

I'm fed up with my battery powered Gillette fusion multi bladed torture device. Does anyone have experience with the Dovo brand of straight razors? I've been looking at a few online. but its difficult for me to decide to drop over a hundred dollars on one of those razors and then find out it is made poorly.

Something like the one below is what I had in mind.

IMAGE(http://www.dovo.com/bilder/RM_98.jpg)

CannibalCrowley wrote:

Target used to carry Proraso; but they stopped for some reason.

I got started with brush shaving by picking up some Proraso and a toiletries bag that came with a brush and razor (just a fancy Mach 3) from Target. I have no idea what the brush is made of though and it's falling apart. Can anyone Amazon link me a good, but not triple figure, shaving brush? The cheaper the better.

McChuck,

I've got a Badger bristle brush, it was a little over $100 with shipping, but this is something that you're going to be using on your face daily. It has lasted me two years and looks as good as when I first got it. You always get what you pay for, so unless you find a great clearance sale, I'd be worried about any brush that I found for under $40 or so. Either its going to fall apart early or be uncomfortable to use.

Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I originally read that as "Gillette fusion-powered razor". That would be way more awesome.

muttonchop wrote:
Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I originally read that as "Gillette fusion-powered razor". That would be way more awesome.

Ah, so that is what is going on in your avatar!

interstate78 wrote:

When you shave, you can shave hair on your face any way you like but below the jaw and chin line you must shave in the direction your hair is growing. Not the opposite. While you think you will get a closer shave, your skin will be hurt and pimples and redness will appear.

Actually, this is not always the case. There are some of us where no razor, straight or otherwise, can get a truly all the way close shave without shaving against the grain. Personally, if I shaved the way your barber advised every day for a month, I'd be sitting in my First Sergeant's office explaining why I looked like I shaved using an actual rock, instead of a razor. Shaving with the grain simply doesn't cut it for me.

I bought a standard transmission vehicle as a means of learning to drive a stick. I made it home without killing myself or (more importantly) stalling once. And yet I'm scared to death of trying a straight razor. Makes better sense from every perspective, but I don't want to wind up looking like that legend who supposedly fed his face to his dogs after snorting some angel dust. Uh, that link is NSFW--or for anyone, really.

AnimeJ wrote:
interstate78 wrote:

When you shave, you can shave hair on your face any way you like but below the jaw and chin line you must shave in the direction your hair is growing. Not the opposite. While you think you will get a closer shave, your skin will be hurt and pimples and redness will appear.

Actually, this is not always the case. There are some of us where no razor, straight or otherwise, can get a truly all the way close shave without shaving against the grain. Personally, if I shaved the way your barber advised every day for a month, I'd be sitting in my First Sergeant's office explaining why I looked like I shaved using an actual rock, instead of a razor. Shaving with the grain simply doesn't cut it for me.

I'm with ya. My jawline is sharp enough to cut paper. Shaving with the grain on that kind of overhang just doesn't work.

koshnika wrote:

McChuck,

I've got a Badger bristle brush, it was a little over $100 with shipping, but this is something that you're going to be using on your face daily. It has lasted me two years and looks as good as when I first got it. You always get what you pay for, so unless you find a great clearance sale, I'd be worried about any brush that I found for under $40 or so. Either its going to fall apart early or be uncomfortable to use.

I use this one from the Art of Shaving. It's pure badger, $40, and works great IMO.

AnimeJ wrote:
Bear wrote:

If you're not using the new Gillette Fusion powered razor then you might as well be shaving with a rock.

I use the unpowered Fusion, because the cartridges are 5 bucks cheaper for a 16 pack. Plus, vibration is not a desired quality in a razor to me.

On straight razors, I too have always wanted to try it out, as I also suffer from 5 o'clock shadow while shaving. However, it does strike me as being a heck of a lot of work for something that doesn't matter.

Oh, and as for that whole beard idea? I'd love to, but it's illegal.

Was illegal for me when I was on active duty, but now that I'm on reserve status again I can take all the time in the world to shave when I'm not on duty :).

I was using the Fusion razors, and while they worked better than any other disposable that I'd used before, I still wear the head out in 2-3 uses at most and still wind up with a 5 o'clock shadow while shaving. The cost of replacing those razors was really adding up. I've been putting some time in with a Solingen straight razor as it was the cheapest I could find that still had the qualities I was told to look for. I've been gradually getting more comfortable with it, but it's still taking me a good 40 minutes to shave only with the straight razor without cleaning up afterward with my disposable.

ScurvyDog wrote:

I use this one from the Art of Shaving. It's pure badger, $40, and works great IMO.

This has been a big hurdle for me in learning to shave with a straight razor. I cannot get the hang of using shave soap and a brush no matter what I do. If I lather up my face and then strop the razor, it's dry by the time I'm ready to start. If I lather up right before I shave, it doesn't soak in and it's like sandpapering, and by the time I get from one side of my face to the other the soap is dry there anyway. I feel like what I need is some sort of pre-shave beard softener or something that I can leave on my face until right before I put on the shave soap. I have no idea if a working product like that even exists.

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