@freeschool @AmpBenzScientist @freemo My husband wants to switch to one of these but is a little worrid about the learning curve. He currently uses one like this https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/46a74d40-507f-401e-ac6c-219ff8175da0_1.9fbd291dfec985b8890ad8cc1d859570.jpeg How easy are the straight razors to use?

@jellycrystals @AmpBenzScientist @freemo I'd say it's easy or the same, sometimes sharper as it's thin sharp metal as new (it dulls as you use more than once each time depending on your hair thickness and then you can flip sides if it accepts the whole double sided razor at the head (or I forget maybe all you have to break in half). So same kind of logic applies, to go with the skin (flat) rather than digging / chopping style or do small chops/scrapes (quite obvious or natural).
Might even be too sharp at first and just lighter hand needed.

I used thin layer of hand soap before so it's even cheaper and glass of water to swish the blade in as finger wipes are obviously asking for trouble but also wiping the metal can take off it's effective layer each side has (can see has slightly different colour at the edges).

Another pic showing:
- razor (used / old) just to see shape.
- Handle is "Majestic" but quite the generic.
- Brush for cream (I thought it was to posh so used watery-soap to keep it ecological and economical.

@freeschool @jellycrystals @AmpBenzScientist

I started with safety razor like your husband, moved to a straight edge, then finally the three blade form i use now. I find the one i have now is the closest and thr quickest. Since i do my scalp where its hard to see and awkward the straight edge was quite slow and woukd take 3x more passes than the tazor i now use.

That said for a beard a straight edge can work quite well.

@freemo @jellycrystals @AmpBenzScientist hehe you wrote "tazor" for doing your scalp :D No wonder it's quick!

@jellycrystals @AmpBenzScientist @freemo Ah yeah the picture link are good, better perhaps for having both sides of razor available but if you have thick hair inevitably might collect under and need think wire to clean out what isn't able to swish in a glass.

I'd get both if you're rich ! Keep one for backup. You pictured handle can be a bit loose after a lot of use as often plastic or had metal part but plastic joins that fail (usually they have plastic screw which wears out or head than can literally fall apart so the barber handle can win longevity here with less parts to strain).

@jellycrystals @freeschool @freemo It was a very thrilling experience to use for the first time. After a small pass on my face, I immediately went to my neck and shaved it.

I've never managed to cut myself with the razor but then again, it would require me to resharpen the edge. It's the steam engine of razors. With that said, it will last a lifetime.

People will often use their thumb on a knife edge to see if it is sharp. If they do it on a razor, that edge is ruined and will need resharpening. So three sharpening stones and a good strop are highly recommended to keep one good and sharp.