Curiosity has me thinking about using a straight....

For those of you who are experienced with both straights and Safety's, I've been wondering if a straight provides a smoother, more efficient shave. Especially for a first pass.
I've been thinking about the basic design of a safety razor and a couple of things have come to mind.

1) Doesn't the bar pretty much push/remove the majority of the lather away before the blade even touches the face; thus creating a greater potential for irritation because the protective barrier is now gone?

2) Doesn't the bar also, force the hair that's about to be sliced, to lay flat against the face and keep it that way before the blade passes over? Thus allowing less of the strands to be removed at once?; which could potentially warrant the need to apply a bit more pressure than a straight, just to ensure that you're actually catching the hairs properly?

Interested to hear your thoughts.
I know there's really, only one way to find out but I figured it would be best to get some feedback from the pros first.

I've cross-posted this, so some of you may see the same post elsewhere.

I have some thoughts...bear in mind that I can only advise based on head shaving only, not face...

A well honed straight is the most comfortable shave I get. I can get bbs with either a straight or a safety razor, and it’s quicker with a safety razor, but it is vastly more comfortable with a properly honed straight.

I believe the comfort is all about stiffness of blade. No real science to support his, just my impressions as extra hollow blades are less comfortable than near wedge blades for me, but both are more comfortable that a DE, and even an SE blade is more comfortable than a DE, albeit not as noticeable as a straight.

As for the arguments you make against safety bars...I have no trouble. I can get a super close BBS from my Slim on 4 or 5 in about 15 minutes with only 2 passes. With a straight, it takes a half hour or longer, and requires at least 3 passes. I’m guessing it’s more about technique than the presence of a safety bar or comb...


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Interesting to hear. I can definitely see a DE as being faster and more user-friendly. I just thought that a straight would attack the whiskers with a more 'on-target' direct approach.

Cheers for sharing your perspective.

I'll agree with BadDad. A well honed straight with good technique is just hard to beat. As far as differences go, you can certainly get great shaves out of either DE or a straight.

But if you hang around the forums and read, you'll find that the fellows talking about nicks/weepers, razor burn/irritation are almost all DE users. These terms really aren't in the SR vocablulary on a regular basis once people are past say the first 30-60 days or so, not to say that I never get a nick (but I never get irritation or razor burn). The SR is the mildest, easiest on the face shave that there is.

Cheers, Steve

Good questions and good answers! Interesting thread for someone like me that's interested in starting to shave with a SR soon.



Happy Shaving!
49erShaver

Good questions and good answers! Interesting thread for someone like me that's interested in starting to shave with a SR soon.



Happy Shaving!
49erShaver

Do it, Man!!!

Whether I use a SE, DE or SR I get it done in 1 1/2 pass. But my SR shave will last one day longer. I do not think the bar has any effect. I can, prefer not to, but can shave either way with just a out of the shower wet face and no lather at all. My preference is to use my straight for a much more enjoyable shave

I can,  prefer not to, but can shave either way with just a out of the shower wet face and no lather at all.

Oooof

I can,  prefer not to, but can shave either way with just a out of the shower wet face and no lather at all.

Oooof

Florida sun cured skin, it takes a beating

I can,  prefer not to, but can shave either way with just a out of the shower wet face and no lather at all.

Oooof

Florida sun cured skin, it takes a beating

Ol' leatherface huh? Haha, just kidding.