Thread: Intro and First try. :)

Hi and welcome. I tried using both hands to start but gave up and just went one handed. Lately now I'm more proficient I've started trying again and found it easier this time. Really it is personal preference and what works for you.

G'day and welcome to SRP ....Speedster, Walter,eddy79, Pfries and the rest of the gents have made excellent observations.
Take it easy, don't rush, be comfortable and find your own personal "groove".

As a matter of interest, what type of straight did you get from Whipped Dog ?
When starting out, I found a round point razor best and the least likely to cut my face !!

I have been shaving with the one hand for almost 3 years now, the main issue in my case with shaving with one hand is the first with the grain pass on the opposite cheek. (your right cheek in your case since you are a lefty) it is hard to get it as smooth.

With that being said, when you re-lather and take your second across the grain pass. It will all even out to be about the same on both cheeks.

I recently tried shaving with my left hand for that cheek and I must say, I got much better results from that first pass so I am slowly incorporating it now into my shave. I dont regret learning with one hand to begin with and then trying the left hand, I know a lot more about angles and pressure now so its kind of a safer approach.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I think I will be able to use both hands eventually with practice.

As for the razor from WhippedDog, I will take a photo of it tonight.

I was very pleased with the three pass shave with safety razor and Bald Frog Soap. I will be very excited when I get to do more with the straight.

Never used anything except cartridge/disposable razors in my life. Always been an against the grain guy, so I am used to a pretty close shaves. The result with the safety was more luxuriously close than I expected and feels very nice. No irritation or blood, but since I am cheating by working on a mustache/goatee at present, I did not have to do the hard parts

I've had barber shaves (shavette) a couple of times with mixed results (not close enough or missed spots).

Welcome to the fun adventure.

We have all struggled initially. Others have already said what I believe, which is get comfortable , slowly. It will all come together eventually.

I have been at it almost a year, and I still finish with a DE...partially for my own education and entertainment (if I hear whiskers cut with the DE, I need to pay closer attention to that area with the SR the next time) and partially because I haven't figured out a few areas yet (mustache area, point of chin).

You have a great beginning, typical of what many of us experienced.

I think you're gonna love it. Great start.

Practice non-dom hand in the mirror with a plastic- or butter knife. It get easy faster than you'd think. This from earlier in the week: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...hands-one.html

Whipped Dog items!



Razor is a Hartford Cutlery item with "Extra Hollow Ground" engraved on blade. It appears to be a well worn square type with the sharp corners well rounded.

Greetings and welcome to SRP - fellow Texan...
As others have said, you do what works for you. (we try very hard not to be judgmental here at SRP)

Just learning how to use a Straight razor takes some time - and it seems to come in steps for many of us, picking up a new level or pass every 5-10 shaves. It will be easier if you can work with both hands. Just as you can't do everything with your non-dominate hand that you do with your dominant, but you can do a lot of things, it seems to be the same for many with shaving. Much of the process is "muscle memory" and since its all new, why not try to bring both hands along at the same time (as you feel comfortable...)

One of my older Barber friends told me that in Barber school they learned working with shaving cream on a ballon. Let us know how that works if you try it, suggest you do it outside wearing something you can hose off.

And you don't have to do everything with the non-dominant hand. There may be only one pass/area/stroke that you can do in the beginning, but this is a one step at a time process.

We start off and we watch those youtube segments and cringe and say to ourselves "I will never be able to do that move" - and then one day you will be shaving and have to stop and have a moment to yourself, realizing that you did just make a pass from your Adams apple to the bottom of your lower lip and there are no parts on the counter...

It is one of those things that you get out of it what you put in to it, and you seem to be on the right path.

Smooth Shaving...