What Straight Razor did you use today?

Simmons Hardware Co. "President" 9/16 near wedge

Same razor, different day...

I don;t use the same razor 2 days in a row very often, but this thing shaves so beautifully after honing it on the Arkansas stones, I just couldn;t resist. Day 2, equally as fantastic as day 1...

Meister #36, 6/8 full hollow square tip. It came to me as one of a pair of NOS straights from the flea market. I try to keep away from black scales, but when still wrapped in wax paper, I can not pass.

George Wostenholm IXL Celebrated 6/8 hollow

I love this razor. I have for as long as I've owned it. It has always provided me with an excellent shave, and last night was no exception. I did, however, notice a difference between this blade, finished on a Shoubudani type 100 with diluted slurry progression, and the last few shaves with razors finished on a translucent Arkansas stone. One was not better nor smoother than the other, but the feel was different. The Arkansas stone edges were, believe it or not, more comfortable in that the edge seemed to cut through the hair more easily. The Jnat finish is very sharp and does not tug or stick at all. It just feels as though the Arkansas finish is closer to what I feel with a DE blade in terms of keenness of edge.

Truthfully, I would not likely be able to tell the difference in a blind test. Both edges shave fantastically, and both are extremely keen and smooth. It was only by virtue of direct comparison that I noticed any difference at all...

With that said, I am expecting a set of Asano nagura next week. This progression should be able to provide a better finish than a tomo nagura with dilutions. We shall see...

PAA Ibis shavette with Gillette 7o'clock green(Russia)

PAA Ibis shavette with Gillette 7o'clock green(Russia)

A shavette?! How was the shave?

PAA Ibis shavette with Gillette 7o'clock green(Russia)

A shavette?! How was the shave?

I like it. I used a shavette before a traditional straight, though with much blood loss at the time. Now that I can use a traditional straight with fair confidence, the shavette is becoming an enjoyable piece in the collection...

JR Torrey 6/8 full hollow

Henckels & Hammesfahr 6/8 Full Hollow out for a enjoyable week

PAA Ibis shavette with Gillette 7o'clock green(Russia)

A shavette?! How was the shave?

I like it. I used a shavette before a traditional straight, though with much blood loss at the time. Now that I can use a traditional straight with fair confidence, the shavette is becoming an enjoyable piece in the collection...

That's good! And it supports my theory that the technique you acquire by mastering traditional-straight shaving is readily transferable to shavettes, and vice versa. I don't see the vast difference that some people talk about.

That's good! And it supports my theory that the technique you acquire by mastering traditional-straight shaving is readily transferable to shavettes, and vice versa. I don't see the vast difference that some people talk about.

I don't know if it is a difference in technique, but I found a an adjustment in focus necessary. Shavettes are much less forgiving of even minor errors in angle and pressure. They are always on the verge of nicking you, as a beginner, where a traditional straight is very forgiving of these errors. That forgiving nature gives a beginner the opportunity to develop the skills needed to maintain proper angles and pressure without losing blood.

I used this shavette for a week before I got my first traditional straight. I bled more times in that first week with this shavette than I have in the subsequent 14 months with traditional straights. Even after about 8-9 months of using traditional straights, when I first picked up this shavette again, I was really nervous. But it didn't take long to realize that my new-found confidence and success with traditional straights cured the risks of the shavette.

So yea...long story short...In my opinion, it can be beneficial to learn with a traditional straight, even though the techniques are pretty much the same.