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Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Razor

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
What do you use for that close shave? What are your reasons for it? I just started wet shaving with a de safety razor and love it. I plan on acquiring a straight razor whenever I get the chance.
 

otherstar

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I use all of the above, but rely primarily on a DE. Straights give the absolute best shave, BUT it takes longer and you will cut yourself more (it's the nature of the beast...the original DE razors were marketed as safety razors for that very fact). I've used a mug and soap since the early 1990's just because I prefer it to aerosol shave cream or gels. I started using DE razors about 5 years ago when I saw a blog post about how much cheaper DE blades are and how much better the shave is once you learn to do it right. I haven't exactly saved THAT much because in that time I've gotten 3 German made Merkur razors (including the Merkur Futur--the Cadillac of DE razors, IMHO), and a few straights (straight razors are NOT cheap new). I also have one of my grandfather's Gillette SuperSpeed razors (what I started with) and a few other vintage Gillette's. I also have my grandfather's straight razor. I still use cartridge razors on occasion (I have an Atra plus and get carts cheap at the local Family Dollar...anything over $5.00 for carts is too much).

For me, I like the fact that shaving using more traditional means is more of a skill or an art rather than a chore. It does take more time and effort, but the reward is worth it. The cartridge razors are good when I'm in a hurry, or don't need a close shave (weekends sometimes), but the quality of shave does not hold a candle to a DE shave. When I have the time, I love to shave with a straight because that shave is the best (hands down)!

There are a number of online fora for wet shavers, the best three are The Shave Den and Badger & Blade, and Straight Razor Place. Mazon's abound on all three sites, but Lynn (the owner of the Straight Razor Place site, and Straight Razor Designs) proudly displays his Masonic Ring in all of his YouTube videos and I think he's going to be featured on an upcoming episode of the Whence Came You? Masonic Podcast.
 

JJones

Moderator
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I'm a safety razor guy myself most of the time. It feels like a higher quality shave and the replacement blades are dirt cheap so I save a lot of money as well. :)
 

james.hawley

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Strait, when at home, and safety in the field. The straight was my grandfathers and then my fathers. I'm a combat arms soldier so I spend a lot of time in training. The woods are no place for a civilized shave.


My Freemasonry HD
 

crono782

Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Currently I'm in Beard Mode, but when I'm not, I prefer safety razors for my face (and headblade for the dome).
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Currently I'm in Beard Mode, but when I'm not, I prefer safety razors for my face (and headblade for the dome).

I've been in beard mode most of my adult life. I shave every day anyways. If I let my beard grow wild folks have to check my teeth to confirm I'm not a werewolf or bear or something and that's only after under a week. I shave parts daily, trim edges a couple of times per week, trim back the werewolf forest every 3 weeks. It's more work than just shaving it all daily.

I use an electric most of the time. When I want to be extra spiffy I use a new single blade cartridge. I can't use the multi-blade ones because they fill up and jam well before I finish that shave. If I had to shave my whole face it might take 3-4 of those multi-blade ones.
 

cacarter

Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I used to shave, like every teenager does, with a multi-blade deal. I made the full switch to double edge safety razor two years ago and am never going back. Besides the much cheaper price for razor blades, I like the shave better and I don't get razor burn like I used to with a Mach 3. I had always wanted to shave "old school" and an article on the artofmanliness.com gave me some good advice. Like, otherstar, I have a Merkur and for it's "cheap" price of $50 it's doing a great job.
 

JJones

Moderator
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Artofmanliness was my inspiration to try a safety blade as well. :)
 

otherstar

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Artofmanliness cemented the deal, but I was first exposed to it via Leisureguy's blog (http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/). Leisureguy wrote a book about wet shaving (I hear it's good) and is a regular poster on The Shave Den (and probably other boards too).
 

Txmason

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

We should form a "Brothers of the Blade"
Forum here on the boards. It can be a place where bros. Come and talk and give advice about DE, Straight shaving etc. Maybe even have a meet up group. What do y'all think?

Bro. Jerry Johnston


"Without exertion there can be no progress." Bear Grylls
 

Starr

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

What is everyone's go to soap or cream? I have been using the green Proraso. Seems like the best one I have used so far on a price to value scale.


My Freemasonry HD
 

Txmason

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I also use proraso cream as well as Spencer and Devon Sage, Arko,


"Without exertion there can be no progress." Bear Grylls
 

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

What is everyone's go to soap or cream? I have been using the green Proraso. Seems like the best one I have used so far on a price to value scale.


My Freemasonry HD

I am in search, what I have now I some soap in sandlewood flavor from art of shaving my brother gave me.
 

rmorenc

Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

What is everyone's go to soap or cream? I have been using the green Proraso. Seems like the best one I have used so far on a price to value scale.


My Freemasonry HD

I've been using Art of Shaving's sandalwood oil, cream, and aftershave lotion for years. Their store is nearly as dangerous to my wallet as an Apple Store!


My Freemasonry HD
 

crono782

Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

What is everyone's go to soap or cream? I have been using the green Proraso. Seems like the best one I have used so far on a price to value scale.


My Freemasonry HD

Well, like I said above, I don't shave my face, but for my head I use "Head Slick" by Headblade. It's more of a thick shave lotion than anything.
 

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

We should form a "Brothers of the Blade"
Forum here on the boards. It can be a place where bros. Come and talk and give advice about DE, Straight shaving etc. Maybe even have a meet up group. What do y'all think?

Bro. Jerry Johnston


"Without exertion there can be no progress." Bear Grylls

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't know if there is enough talk to fill it or warrant it.

Perhaps we can get a "Art of Manliness" forum.

It's up to bro. Blake, but I'm in for that.
 

rnovak

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

DE shaver here. Converted about a year ago and went a little crazy with RAD, soaps, etc. Backed off a bit since then in a futile attempt to save money :) Anyone try the new iKon slant yet? Anybody else also into fragrances/colognes?
 

DJGurkins

Floresville #515
Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I received my New Parker 60r razor and Van Der Hagen Premium shave set on Friday. Shaved with it Saturday. Wow what a difference. No razor burn, very close shave. Just ordered some of the Old Spice buy Shulton at http://www.westcoastshaving.com/ . This is supposed to smell like the Old Spice of old. Also looking for some different shave soaps that wont break the bank.
 

rnovak

Registered User
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

I received my New Parker 60r razor and Van Der Hagen Premium shave set on Friday. Shaved with it Saturday. Wow what a difference. No razor burn, very close shave. Just ordered some of the Old Spice buy Shulton at http://www.westcoastshaving.com/ . This is supposed to smell like the Old Spice of old. Also looking for some different shave soaps that wont break the bank.

Try http://stirlingsoap.com/shave.html. They're a small company with great customer service. Great selection of shave soaps, both tallow based and non-. Also very inexpensive. Mikes natural and mystic water also make nice soaps, still reasonably priced but not as inexpensive as Stirling. These two also make shave stick versions which are also nice.
 

DJGurkins

Floresville #515
Premium Member
Re: Straight, Double Edge Safety, or Cartridge Raz

Try http://stirlingsoap.com/shave.html. They're a small company with great customer service. Great selection of shave soaps, both tallow based and non-. Also very inexpensive. Mikes natural and mystic water also make nice soaps, still reasonably priced but not as inexpensive as Stirling. These two also make shave stick versions which are also nice.
Thanks for the link I will probably give those a try. any scents you recommend?
 
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