Have all the gear!! sooooo scared to put that blade to my face!!

Got all my gear from larry, stoked to use it, but still needing to build that courage up!
couple of questions though;
trying to decide if I hang my strop and learn that way, or do I just leave it lying on the top of the counter so i have a solid surface and no sag in the strop?

also, how are brushes measured? i have one from AoS, i like it,but don't know it from anything else, just wondering if I bought a stand if that makes a difference? its the hand that hangs the brush, so just need to know the width of that i suppose? also, it seems to be much smaller in diameter at the brush end than some of the higher end brushes, does that affect quality and volume of lather that can be built? i'm assuming so.

I think that is it!!
my biggest decision is the 6/8 full hollow round vs the 4/8 square point half hollow...both look terrifying!

Start with the 6/8 hollow, they are easier for a beginner.
Also lather up your face with hand soap and grab a butter knife to get some practice on angles, mirror perspectives and switching hands etc. It won't feel so strange and scary with the real thing if you do this.

I'm in the same boat but just the opposite I wish I could force my beard to grow so I could shave multiple times today :rofl2: I'm debating about a full shave instead of just the cheeks, I'm far from afraid of it but I do respect it also!!

You're likely to get much better advice here than mine, but here's my .02

Hang your strop and practice stropping with a butter knife. Then practice more, and more....

As far as brushes go, personally I don't hang mine. I rinse them REALLY well, shake them out in the bathtub like hell, dry it a little more on a towel, them stand it back on a shelf.

Whichever razor you choose (personal choice) you will learn to use. Resist the urge to jump in feet first! Take it slow and easy and enjoy the journey! I was in too much of a hurry to learn everything at once when I started, and for the first few months I looked like I was dating Edward scissorhands lol.

Good luck to you on your journey,

Jim

Start with the strop flat on a table. Your razor will thank you...you will likely still dull it but it will be easier to learn the stroke while not having to worry about tension or anything other than the blade on the leather.

Hey noobs, if the razors arrived shave ready, you shouldn't have to strop them for the first shave, a mistake I made. Also if you look at the beginners guide, it recommends starting on just your cheek, from sideburn down, an easy area to shave, use low angle. Your confidence will build with each shave.

Strop flat on table if you only have 1 razor. Add to the learning curve as you go and as you get more razors to fall back on. As for your face , shave until you feel uncomfortable. When you get over confident or in a hurry is when you will scratch yourself. Waay to confident or big hurry and you will cut the heck out of yourself. Just concentrate and go slow. I have been shaving awhile now and if I get a cut, that is why.

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Hey noobs, if the razors arrived shave ready, you shouldn't have to strop them for the first shave, a mistake I made. Also if you look at the beginners guide, it recommends starting on just your cheek, from sideburn down, an easy area to shave, use low angle. Your confidence will build with each shave.

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I also have a strop but understand that it does not need to be used right away. What if you feel quite confident and want to give it a go first shot?????

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Originally Posted by Aaron71

I also have a strop but understand that it does not need to be used right away. What if you feel quite confident and want to give it a go first shot?????

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Take your time and have a go. Once you master the strop you can maintain a razor for a long time before it needs a re-hone.

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Take your time and have a go. Once you master the strop you can maintain a razor for a long time before it needs a re-hone.

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That's what I figured I would do!! I'm like a kid on Christmas hahahahaha

I started SR shaving in Jan of this year. I watched a video available at SRP or SRD, in which the founder covers everything, including a demo of how to shave. Also, there's a bunch of similar videos on YouTube. Watching someone else shave was very helpful to me.

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Originally Posted by Aaron71

That's what I figured I would do!! I'm like a kid on Christmas hahahahaha

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Yeah it is a lot like that. Like shaving, a light touch with only the weight of the razor while stropping, concentrate on technique rather than speed.

+1 on the speed an technique
I personally gained confidence with short strokes

I know I'm not frosting a cake LOL so no long quick strokes for me :)

If you have a hanging strop you can also copy it's size with a sheet of newspaper & practice with that held by a clip. You can do that with the butterknife or a razor. Save your leather.

My advice would be use the round point, go slow and small to start, don't strop before the first shave and try the newspaper strop.
Brushes are measured by loft(top of handle to top of bristles) and knot size( the diameter of the knot).

One stroke, then finish with your previous shaving implement. Next shave 2 strokes, then finish with other blade. Don't even think of completing an SR shave for a month or two. And then, it won't be super close. Take your time. Also don't try any silly ATG strokes for a long time.

If ever any pulling or tugging STOP, as your prep is insufficient, angle or pressure is wrong, or blade isn't as sharp as it should be. You should find out which one it is before proceeding. GO SLOW and enjoy.

This is not microwave popcorn, this is cooking with fire.

Great advice above.

Another thing to consider is the environment in which you'll be shaving. It should be just as relaxed and distraction-free as you will be. Bathroom doors opening suddenly or being knocked on loudly can bump into you or cause you to jump with predictable results. So tell anyone who shares your home to leave you alone for a bit, put the dog out (my sister's BIG half-wolf dog once went from 0-60 at my feet when someone rang the doorbell. That didn't end terribly well...) and aim for calm.

Then take it easy, and ENJOY!

Yesterday, the toothpaste dropped off the rim of the sink into the water. I looked down reflexively, slicing the underside of my chin. Oops.

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

One stroke, then finish with your previous shaving implement. Next shave 2 strokes, then finish with other blade. Don't even think of completing an SR shave for a month or two. And then, it won't be super close. Take your time. Also don't try any silly ATG strokes for a long time.

If ever any pulling or tugging STOP, as your prep is insufficient, angle or pressure is wrong, or blade isn't as sharp as it should be. You should find out which one it is before proceeding. GO SLOW and enjoy.

This is not microwave popcorn, this is cooking with fire.

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That's what happened this am!! It was almost like pulling hairs off and not cutting! I did double check of the angle and it was alright so I'm going to have to get it honed proper :) then try again!!

Soooooo....it went well, nobody said the styptic pencil would hurt that bad, but all in all it was a great first experience!
Definitely need to get a better lather going, was re-lathering quite a bit, more than usual actually.
Razor was ready to go from larry, so no stropping, went with the 6/8 round point, AoS pre shave oil and lavender shave cream.
Was going to just do my right side burn to jaw, but then found a bit of a stroke...so I continued...tried a couple of left handed strokes...went decent. No tugging or pulling, just able to tell when I didn't have that angle quite right.
Then i moved to the cheeks, obviously everything with the grain, really working on finding that sweet spot angle, nice short strokes, working both hands figuring out how to even see what i'm doing in the mirror.
took my time, was probably shaving for 20 minutes by the time I was done. Finished up the spots I had no Idea how to get to with my usual razor.
Had a few nicks, but, nothing that I would say made it an unsuccessful first try!
went with a witches hazel aftershave.
Asked the Gf if it was a closer shave and she seemed to thing so. Not sure if it was the change in post shave, or the poor technique, but definitely had some razor burn. Either way I am excited for the next shave! did a post shave stropping, and will do a pre shave strop before the next one, lynn sure makes it look easy and I did it with my strop on the bathroom counter top and noticed that if i focused too much on direction I would lose contact with the strop, or vice versa. I like that idea with the news paper, haven't seen that one before!
Thanks for all the tips and ideas that this forum has given!
thought i would have the discipline just to do the one stroke first try, but there was no hope when that first clean pass happened, no hope what so ever!
One of the best parts of my day yesterday thought was in line at the walmart, as I was buying some other shave soaps to give a try and the cashier noticed, turns out her husband is making his own soap and has been a SR user for 4 years so hoping to have found myself a mentor right here at home!
cheers
have a great weekend gents!

Good post noobs and its good to hear that your first experience went well. Its good to hear that you are starting out with both hands right from the get-go. Be careful not to get overconfident my friend... Enjoy and have fun.

What? A styptic pen on freshly cut skin is the best. Gets me going.

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

This is not microwave popcorn, this is cooking with fire.

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Ha ha, classic.