Thread: Today's the day

I got razor and strop in the mail Monday afternoon. I've been watching videos and reading a lot. I've been hesitant to get going as I don't want to screw up the blade by not stropping correctly. Well, I'm about as ready as I'll ever be. So later this morning it's going to happen. As Lynn A suggests I'll just shave my sideburns down and see how it goes.

I'm assuming that no stropping is necessary for the first shave. Is that right? I'd rather see what the blade should be like in case I screw it up.

Any and all help is appreciated.

if the blade is sent to you as shave ready ,don't strop it ,, you need to know what it is before you strop it,, then carefully strop before next shave ,, most strop after to clean up the edge also ,, but just go slowwwwwww and keep the blade flat on the leather , weight of the blade , little to no pressure,, you should be fine good luck tc

Good luck sdpike.

Good luck with your shave

OK I'm back from my first shave and it didn't go so well. I wiped off the razor oil with a paper towel being careful not to touch the edge and did NOT strop. I prepped as I usually do for my safety razor (pre-oil, lather). I fumbled with the razor a bit making sure I was holding the way the videos show. I wear glasses and found them in the way, but it caused me to be very concerned about my ear as the blade is sooooooooo much longer than my DE and without glasses I really couldn't see it. I stretched the cheek skin and made sure I was holding it at 30 degrees (or so I think). It just didn't seem right as it pulled and tugged. I can't really say what is right since this was my first time. But, my DE cuts right through the beard. In any event I just shaved the right side from side burn down and then went to the left side. Since I'm righty this really felt awkward. (BTW, I have no problem using my left with the DE). Again, were's my ear? I then proceeded to cut my cheek. OUCH. Good cut too. At this point I switched to the DE and finished up. One problem, I was thinking so much about the straight, I cut my chin real good too. In all the shaving I've done I've never been cut this bad.
It's got to be better than this... Why did it feel so wrong shaving? I know the razor was shave ready as it was Lynn who honed it.

Any help is appreciated..

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

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html

Have fun. It will get better.

Angle is everything ! I find the off hand is where I usually end up nicking. (But I'm getting using it now). It is an ART. And it does take time. Be patient. Take your time. Use small scrapes at a time. Maybe just try your dominant hand for now until you learn the correct angle.it will come. And if Lynn sharpened the blade it isn't the blade. He did my first one and I had the same thoughts about it not being sharp enough. Well as I learned I found its plenty sharp. (Still is) so be meticulous in your stropping and you will slowly get the hang of it. Good luck and take your time !

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll be doing it again tomorrow. Lynn thanks I read those and will re-read them before tomorrow.

Still wondering where my ear is?

Post your location in your profile so that we can help find you a mentor in your area. In days of yore this information was passed from father to son in a hands on manner. Now a days, learning is done over the interweb, convenient but not very helpful when you need immediate feedback and correction.

Though I have not used a regular straight razor as of yet I place my finger next to my ear when stretching the skin with split fingers (Think Spock's Vulcan salute) so that I can guide the razor clear of my ear. Keeping my hand there I then slide the razor up to my ear and then proceed to shave down to my jawline. This is a habit I picked up using an old safety razor as I had cut my earlobe more than a few dozen times.