Anyone Here Use a Straight Razor

[bradsul]

...The one bad thing though is that my left arm is now hairless....

But it's still there (as is your face). I think that's the important thing.

I'm more convinced than ever I'm going to go for a straight razor after spending some time with a safety razor.

 

[EvilTOJ]

Okay, stupid question time. I know it is best to shave after shower, but how do y'all deal with mirror fog?

If it's one in the shower, conditioner over it. If not, a hairdryer (you all have hairdryers, right?) focused in one spot will clear it up. I don't use a mirror though, just touchups later when I find that I haven't shaved that one spot on my chin yet AGAIN!!

 

[quickerNu]

Cool. I'll try conditioner over it. I don't own a comb, much less a hairdryer! My mustache and goatee would prefer I use a mirror.

Half of us are probably bidding up all of the old fat boys on E-bay. I'll get myself a straight razor for my 30th...

 

[Donasay]

My left arm is so smooth and hairless, it feels very very weird, I just can't seem to get over touching my hairless forearm... I wish my ex had had legs as smooth as my arm is right now, that girl didn't know how to shave and always had stubble. These results are amazing, do you think women will ever take up the straight razor for that super close shave?

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Ok so I bought DO1059

PRESHARPENED DOVO Extra Hollow Ground "Singing" Razor, 5/8 African Thuyawood

Any tips? Should I sharpen it anyway? What grit?

 

[billtzk]

Email the vendor (Classic Shave I presume) and ask them what they mean by pre-sharpened. All blades are factory sharpened. If someone honed it on a stone prior to sale, then it's ready to go. You need a strop to keep it in good shape. You can destroy the edge by stropping incorrectly. Get the Lynn Abrams video, available on the same site.

Edit: "The blade begins as a Forged High Carbon Steel razor blank. Next a Master Craftsman shapes and carefully grinds it into a 5/8 Extra Hollow Ground "Singing" blade."

Sounds like it's ready to go. You need to buy a fine and a super fine grit stone. Take a look at the Norton Waterstone combo in 4000/8000 grit.

That is a nice blade, by the way.

 

[Donasay]

It should be good to go from the sound of it, but I did strop mine about 10 times first before touching it to my face arm, then I stropped it another 20 times before touching it to my face.

It took me a while to figure out the "sweet angle" that you need to hold the blade at, but wow it works so well it isn't even funny.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Sweet- I figured go good or dont bother

 

[98EXL]

the obvious question is do you still use these techniques for 'manscaping'?

I have had a straight razor shave before, it rocks, but I dunno about taking it south of the border

 

[vfinch]

I'll have to say it again, I love my old Gillette adjustable safety razor. Blades last forever and there's never any clogging issues. I allot myself less than 10mins for shaving in the morning, and I have no problems with the safety razor and shaving soap.

I'll have to give my straight razor another good sharpen and give it a go this week. It's been more than a year since it's last use...

On the topic of badger brushes, I have both an all badger and a mixed bristle. Both work great, though I would avoid the 100% artificial ones as their not nearly as soft.

 

[HenryHill]

I quit using my old Gillette because DE blades are not available in stores anymore. Mach 3's are getting lower quality, I've noticed, so you have to buy more...

Who has the cheapest price on large quantity packs of DE blades?

I mainly shave my neck and upper cheeks. I start in the shower, and finish at the sink so I can see what I left, since I have a beard.

 

[bradsul]

...Who has the cheapest price on large quantity packs of DE blades?...

The prices at West Coast Shaving seem really good. They have 100 packs for as low as $8 (though I imagine you get what you pay for).

 

[flyangler18]

Just got me one of these!

 

[lustreking]

The prices at West Coast Shaving seem really good. They have 100 packs for as low as $8 (though I imagine you get what you pay for).

I actually use those DORCO blades. I really like them.

 

[flyangler18]

I'm surprised no one has reported back results! I've got about a week's worth of shaves in on my Dovo 5/8 straight and I love it. Perfectly honed and I get incredibly smooth shaves. The neck region is still a little tricky maneuvering the blade easily, so I have to use the old Mach 3 there. In time, it'll become easier.

Any recommendations for a DE?

 

[bradsul]

I've got a few days on my Merkur HD (DE safety razor) now and I love it! That first shave was a little dicey and I'm glad I bought a styptic pencil with it.

I bought a sample pack of blades but it will take me a while to get through them all and see which I like best.

 

[flyangler18]

That first shave was a little dicey and I'm glad I bought a styptic pencil with it.

Haha, I know exactly what you mean! You definitely need to respect just how sharp those blades are- and just use the weight of the razor itself against the skin. It's amazing how light of a touch you can use and the hair just jumps off your face in fear.

 

[bradsul]

Haha, I know exactly what you mean! You definitely need to respect just how sharp those blades are- and just use the weight of the razor itself against the skin. It's amazing how light of a touch you can use and the hair just jumps off your face in fear.

I love the sound the blade makes as it's gliding through the whiskers too. You can actually hear it slicing through each one and it makes a really cool sound.

 

[EvilTOJ]

flyangler, I bought a 1951 Gillette Fatboy off of ebay for $10. It didn't come with blades and I'm glad I'd picked some up when I saw them at the store. So far I love it. It's very sturdy and I can get a really close shave with it. What I like is that it doesn't clog up with hair as soon as I touch it to my face like the disposable razors do. I'm going to start buying the brush, cup and strop soon then go razor shopping.

 

[Liquidicem]

Wow, has this thread ever got my mind running. I hate coming to this site sometimes...

 

[lustreking]

Any recommendations for a DE?

I have a 1963 Gillette adjustable that I've been using for a couple years. I have no complaints.

 

[flyangler18]

I have a 1963 Gillette adjustable that I've been using for a couple years. I have no complaints.

Off to Ebay I go!

 

[mcaustin]

I've got a few days on my Merkur HD (DE safety razor) now and I love it! That first shave was a little dicey and I'm glad I bought a styptic pencil with it.

I bought a sample pack of blades but it will take me a while to get through them all and see which I like best.

I'm on shave 4 or 5 with my Merkur HD as well. Currently using Merkur blades, but I got some bumps today, so I went ahead and ordered the sampler pack of blades today so that I can try some other blades in it to see how my face likes those. I'm definitely getting MUCH smoother shaves with the DE than with the M3 I used to use!

I bought a cheap Tweezerman badger brush to start with, but I'll definitely be upgrading that at some point, as it is pretty stiff/scratchy.

 

[goplayoutside]

I go through about three disposable razors or blades a year by using an advanced shaving technique known as "GROW A D**N BEARD." I do use a hair clipper to keep it even once in a while, and occasionally shave part of the neck when it gets to looking like trouble. Honestly, embracing the beard is the true secret to saving on shaving! I am a geologist so you know I am right.

 

[bradsul]

I'm on shave 4 or 5 with my Merkur HD as well. Currently using Merkur blades, but I got some bumps today, so I went ahead and ordered the sampler pack of blades today so that I can try some other blades in it to see how my face likes those. I'm definitely getting MUCH smoother shaves with the DE than with the M3 I used to use!

I bought a cheap Tweezerman badger brush to start with, but I'll definitely be upgrading that at some point, as it is pretty stiff/scratchy.

I started with the blade that came with mine as well. No complaints so far but I'm looking forward to trying the other blades that came in the sampler. I wish I had a badger brush, the only one I could find locally was a boar brush, it works pretty well but it's definitely not very soft and takes a while to generate a good lather with it. I definitely plan to upgrade my brush.

 

[mcaustin]

I am a geologist so you know I am right.

Well, I'm a aerospace engineer and beards make me itch! :cross:

 

[flyangler18]

Cheap boar bristle brush here too. I find I can build lather really quickly with a boar brush if I 'cook' the brush in nearly boiling water while I'm in the shower. It might take a bit longer than using a fine badger brush.

It also really helps to build the lather in a separate vessel than where the soap is. Really whip the brush to get the bristles loaded (high glycerin soaps work wonders) and then continue whipping in a prewarmed vessel with a little water in the bottom.

 

[bradsul]

I read this tutorial and it's got me making my best lather so far.

 

[lustreking]

I bought a cheap Tweezerman badger brush to start with, but I'll definitely be upgrading that at some point, as it is pretty stiff/scratchy.

I've been using the Tweezerman badger for about two years now, and it will get softer. At some point I'll upgrade, but I'm in no hurry. It's a great brush for the price (I think I paid around $11 shipped for it), and it's so much better than the cheap boar brushes you find in drug stores.

 

[DUCCCC]

I read this tutorial and it's got me making my best lather so far.

Good link! Similar to what I do, but I don't drain the brush nearly as well, and I usually just work up the lather in my cupped hand. I'll have to try it just like that page said, as I don't get such a "canned" looking lather as that guy does.