Thread: Introductions and a question

Hello everyone! Nice to meet you all. I am looking forward to learning about shaving my husband

Question: I bought a shave ready razor from Vintage Razors (Dovo "Best Quality", 5/8" Full-Hollow, Carbon Steel Straight Razor - Professionally Honed). Before it was even used once, my not so bright nephew thought it would be a good idea to see how sharp the razor was by cutting into cardboard.

He only did one slice before I caught and stopped him. Yes, I know how ignorant of him but then I suppose I am to blame too for not informing him of how you handle a straight razor. I jumped on him but the damage was done. I hoped to strop out whatever he did to it but my first attempt to shave hubby went less then stellar. After stropping the blade about 40 times, I am happy to report I did not cut him but the shave was pretty bad. Very rough and it was like shaving sand paper to be honest. Prep involved hot wet towel to face for about 2 or 3 minutes followed up by generous lather of Proraso soap with boars head brush.

The good news is we stopped before any real damage was done (no razor burn, etc). And more good news is I purchased a Norton Waterstone 4000/8000 Combo along with the 3" Hanging Razor Strop in Red Latigo Leather and White Linen. Am I guessing the reason for the horrible first shave attempt was the cardboard damage? Lack of experience? I am guessing I will have to learn the art of honing before I thought I was going to have to.

Welcome,,,here is a list of members who will hone your razor for you, see if any are close to you. While you wait to have it honed & returned, you can read through the "Library" section above & watch the videos. You can even consider getting a D.E. safety razor to assist in the shaves until you get better with the straight.

Enjoy the journey.

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Closest to me is Las Vegas. I live near Phoenix, Arizona. Thank you for taking the time to post. I will check out the Library.

Well at least your nephew didn't cut himself! I think the cardboard could certainly dull a razor. Send out for honing and make him pay for it!

Btw: it's a very interesting hobby you are picking up. What made you decide to shave your husband?

Michael

I would suspect it is a slightly dulled razor along with lack of experience that amounted to a rough shave. Perhaps there is a senior member in your area that can help by honing your razor and watching your technique, etc. If not, maybe a barber in your area who could give a few pointers. I have to say that shaving someone else would seem drastically harder than shaving myself.

Hi and welcome. Cutting cardboard is definitely not good for the edge. I would up the strop count to at least 100. If you still requires honing get a pro to do it for now and then learn to maintain the edge first before trying to hone yourself. Pressure and angle are the main reasons beginner have trouble. For pressure use just enough to cleanly wipe the lather off and then focus on your angles and skin stretching. Good luck and if you have any questions about anything feel free to ask. Ed

Max is in Vegas send the razor out to him for evaluation and probably honing!
Vintage & Custom Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Cutting the cardboard did not do the edge any good! PM me and I'll tell you my story about a fresh edge and paper!

As far as the hones go, please put them away for another day down the road! This art has a Huge Learning Curve and you have yet to even semi master making lather and stropping is a skill/art all in it's own!!

If you ask pinklather (a mentor here) why he chose that title he'll gladly tell you that he tried to learn it all at once and when you mix red blood with white lather/well you get the picture!!

Please don't get me wrong here, you will need to learn to hone, but just like an infant, you need to learn to crawl, then walk and finally to run!! When the time comes to hone, I hope you run like the wind!

Husband suggested this as erotic. I was interested purely for myself

Anyone within 1.5 hr drive of Phoenix Az by chance? I am reluctant to ship out the new razor mainly because I am interested in hands-on learning.

Kialya,

Welcome to SRP.

As previously suggested, the best honemeister I know of in your neighborhood is Maximillian in Las Vegas. Believe me, if you send it to him he will put one of the sharpest edges known to humankind on that Dovo of yours.

Best of luck.