Well gosh

Quick Orange · 07-19-2008, 12:39 AM

I picked up one of De Layne's Gillette Slim adjustable DE's- just to try- and I sorta liked it. I feel like I've gone over to some dark side

First off, anyone thinking about buying something from De Layne should do it! His description was spot on, super fast shipping, and even threw in some different brand DE blades for me to try. I threw in an Iridium Super because the name sounded cool. He suggested I started on 3, so I clicked down to 3. Once I did a quick wrist test to see how it worked, I went to town on my face. For never having touched a DE before in my life, I was able to not only get as fast a shave as a Mach 3, but a better one. Not to mention, I got zero burn!

I foresee this wonderful little thing becoming my "I need a quick shave" razor. Using it is almost mindless and requires little skill to get a nearly BBS shave without burn. The big question though is: will SWMBO let me use it on her. She won't let me near her because I had a mishap with my shavette one day (I lost concentration for a second and barely touched my chin, resulting in a half inch scar). "Cmon baby, lemme shave ya"

Hawkeye5 · 07-21-2008, 12:52 AM

A DE is handy for a quick shave, or those days you are too groggy or uncoordinated to safely use a straight. I have several to choose from.

sebell · 08-23-2008, 11:10 PM

When you factor in `ease of use', the DE remains one of the most effective shaving
implements available.

- Scott

netsurfr · 08-24-2008, 02:20 AM

While I love my straights, I have two slants and a Vision that I occasionally use.

nun2sharp · 08-24-2008, 04:40 AM

Youre using a DE?

I believe it is time the mods had an inquisition!

Johnny J · 08-26-2008, 01:46 AM

I just bought a DE from the classifieds here & got a BBS shave which rivals what I can do with a str8, on only the second try. Damn. I hate to say it, but if I'd known that (and if I'd known what a hellacious learning curve the str8s have) I might not have ever bothered learning to use a str8 at all.

netsurfr · 08-26-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Youre using a DE?

I believe it is time the mods had an inquisition!

No, No, No... not the whips and chains!

English · 08-26-2008, 10:32 AM

To discover the DE razor and to believe it shaves well is quite normal. Sad but normal.

I think that it is because you know how to use a straight that you did not get razor burn. Certainly, learning to use a straight teaches you touch with a sharp instrument on your skin.

You will find that the DE blades cuts the hairs in a different way. With the result that the feel of your face when the hairs start to re grow is more spiky and so not as comfortable.

Also, I found that the DE seemed to get too close to my skin and my skin did not feel as healthy.
The straight seems to clear away the dead skin whilst the DE seems to strip a layer too much.

The DE however is convenient and quick and I preferred the convenience when I was working.

If you want to go for smooth, I'd recommend the Gillette platinum edged blades that come from Sweden.
You can buy them on ALTA VISTA. For me, these were the best blades to use daily. Sharp but smooth. No nicks and razor burn only if you didn't know what you were doing. A good shave.

If you want to experience super sharp, I'd recommend the Feather Platinum edged blades. I know that Classic Shaving sell them in the USA. I found these blades too sharp and got nicks however gentle I was.
This said, they have a huge following and fan club.

If you get a good shave every morning, count yourself lucky. Many men struggle and don't look forward to the experience. That is a shame and in my opinion, the legacy more of the bad shaving foams and gels that are out there more than the shaving implements.

littlesilverbladefromwale · 08-26-2008, 05:49 PM

Any advice on a soap or cream well suited to DE razors?

sensei_kyle · 08-26-2008, 06:59 PM

Heck, pretty much whatever you use with a straight works great. I've used QED & Proraso green soaps just fine.

netsurfr · 08-26-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

Any advice on a soap or cream well suited to DE razors?

I always plug Momma Bear's soaps because I absolutely love them. However, anything that you are using with your straight will work equally fine with a DE.

Johnny J · 08-27-2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

To discover the DE razor and to believe it shaves well is quite normal. Sad but normal.

I think that it is because you know how to use a straight that you did not get razor burn. Certainly, learning to use a straight teaches you touch with a sharp instrument on your skin.

You will find that the DE blades cuts the hairs in a different way. With the result that the feel of your face when the hairs start to re grow is more spiky and so not as comfortable.

All true, but when you switch from DE to str8, the amount of new knowledge & skill that you have to acquire is ***HUGE***, for a shave that's only a little bit better. With a DE, I can do a shave that's BBS in the fwd direction, but a little stubbly in the reverse direction. With my str8 I can get BBS in both directions, but it took me THREE YEARS and two scars to achieve this, and I haven't even mastered honing yet.

Now that I'm most of the way up the curve, I'll stick with the str8--it does a better job. But I don't think the relatively small improvement in shave quality would have enticed me up the learning curve if I'd known just how big the curve is. Now that I've done it, I'm glad I did. But still.