Thread: First timer needs advice

I am new to str8razors. I have been interested for a while. As a gift to get started my wife and sister took advice from my brother-in-law. They went out and bought me an Ivy, a Roxo, and one that says "Manganese" on the blade. They also bought me a strop, mug, Williams soap, badger brush and "strop paste" in a tube. Not sure which to use or how to use them. How do I apply the paste to the strop? Also, no matter how hard and long I work the soap, there is not really any lather. I am getting kind of frustrated. YouTube has many videos. But same are contradictory to one another.

Strop paste is used for touch ups. And is usually applied to the back side of the strop or on a second strop either of cloth or leather.

I'm not a fan of williams, used it for 6 months then moved on to proraso but some people love it.

Can you provide any pictures of the razors? I am assuming that they have not been honed in awhile. But it sounds like you got a sweet start. And coming here for information was a wise decision. Be sure to check out the Library for more information than you can read in a day.... unless you absorb well and are a fast reader.

These are the first two gifts I got. The Ivy should be here tomorrow.

Second one

These are both shave ready. Just haven't used them yet. I wanted to have all my information right before a attempt to start.

Gorgeous razors!!! Hope you thoroughly enjoy it also... I would suggest read this first.


http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ead-first.html

I have read so much on this site that it's become more like homework. I am in medical school and don't do this much research.

Originally Posted by Firerescue142

I have read so much on this site that it's become more like homework. I am in medical school and don't do this much research.

Haha I know how you feel! Unfortunately I never got very good at building lather with williams. The best I could do was put warm water on the puck and let it sit for about 5 mins then ditch the water and load the brush. Then slowly added water. But I was never fully satisfied.

And I'm sure with all the research you've done on the subject your first shave will be quite enjoyable as long as you take heed to everything you've read. Be sure to update us and post any other questions you might have or run into.

Welcome to the forum. It's great you're in medical school, you can apply first aid if it all goes haywire

I'd not use the strop paste yet. It's true I've never used it, but I get the feel that some beginners ruin their razor more than do it good by using paste too much or incorrectly. I would simply use the strop without paste initially.

I'd also start saving up for a hone; I use two; a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k. I've used no other but these two are all I need. You can shave off the 8k but a 16k will give a smoother edge.

It appears a lot of people have trouble making a good lather from the Williams soap. I always recommend a cream for beginners, it's easier. I'd recommend something like TOBS, Truefitt and Hill, Musgo real or Body Shop; they are all very easy to make a lather with.

Good luck!

Carl

If you have read as much as you've said, then it's time to relax & work on one area at a time. Don't expect a good shave right off the bat & only shave the areas that you have confidence with now & keep your daily shaver close , so you can finish the shave, build confidence on the rest of your face as time goes. It took over a week before I could shave my whole face & even longer before I had a comfortable shave.

Wetshaving is a journey to me, with no end in sight. Enjoy the journey.