Thread: Hmph, not what I expected, but interesting nonetheless

Just a general comment. When I started shaving with a straight in October, I truly didn't know what to expect. I put up with some less-than-stellar shaves because I didn't really have the touch of how to correctly strop and hone.

Lynn's DVD really helped because it gave me a reference point for how honing and stropping should at least *look* while you are doing them. You start there and the *touch* comes with practice. You learn to properly interpret the feedback your razor is giving you from the strop and/or hone. You'll start to develop a sense about whether your razor is ready to shave with. As a general rule, you should be able to feel the sharp edge of the razor *just* touching the strop and you take your strokes. Don't press down on the edge. The edge often makes a light rasping sound as you pass it up and down the strop. This sound is a good sign.

A properly sharpened razor should just glide through your beard hairs, popping them effortlessly. It's hard to believe now, but if you keep at it and do everything right, you'll get there eventually.

Even if you don't get Lynn's DVD, there are some free vids on the net about how to strop a razor. However, Lynn's DVD has the best honing demos available. The honing practice you might want to leave for later though.

Also, I can't understate the importance of good beard prep. Make sure those whiskers are well soaked. It really is half the battle. Beard prep is much more important in a straight shave than it is when you use a Mach 3.

I'll just second (or third etc.) what the other gents have said. Beard prep (and this includes proper lubrication via the soap/cream du jour) is critical with blade prep a very close second. Even truly 'shave ready' blades benefit from a proper stropping. An improper stropping can harm the edge. A nick in the strop is no big deal, but you're in for a bit of work if you roll the edge on the strop. Of course, I don't know of any of this personally. I have a friend...


Wayne

Also...I found that after about 6 months or so my shaves had improved a lot.

There really IS a learning curve. Often people say: "I've had my first shave and it was awesome!" but given time those shaves will improve even more. If I compare my shaves now to those that I had in the beginning (amazing though they were) there's simply no comparison.