G'day all from Wollongong Australia

Hi all,
Am a complete newbie to both this site and straight razor shaving and i have to say this site/forum is amazing. There is so much info it would take a lifetime to read! I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of my first straight razor and strop from SRD, i went with a Ralph Aust 5/8th black handle as it was a reasonable price compared to what i could find from Aussie sites and it comes ready honed (a guarantee most aussie sites could not back), plus a latigo red leather 3" strop as well (thought i would start cheaper so i don't wreck or nick a nice expensive strop, will be practicing with a butter knife first too)

I have a question???

I have come from the safety razor scene and have learnt my face contours and growth direction and what i can and cannot do.
How long will this take me to become proficient?

PS I'm in no rush as i know i can learn one area with the straight and continue on with the rest of my face with the safety razor. The one thing that scares me a little is learning to use my opposite hand to shave with.

Looking forward to the journey

First of all welcome to the Site. Now don't worry about how fast you will become proficient. Take your time. everyone progresses at a different pace. I would suggest to watch Lynn Abrams videos on stropping and shaving. since you already use a safety razor you know about creating a good lather and that makes a difference in shaving. Lynn has some very good videos that helped me and i'm sure they will you. Your starting with some good equipment and the razors from SRD do come shave ready so just kick back and enjoy. with straight razor shaving speed is not that important but will come with time and experience. The people here are always ready and willing to share the knowledge they have acquired.

Welcome to the forum. Glad you've signed on.

You'll find the Aust 5/8 a solid shaver. I have one and use it often.

On "How long will this take me to become proficient?" Varies by individual. This sounds like a long time, but probably 6 months. You'll go through stages and feel proficient, but then a little more time and you'll look back and see how much more you've improved. Just about everyone learns something on a regular basis. Stropping, honing, technique, etc., etc. will keep you busy and add to your skill level. The learning is probably the most enjoyable part.

Using both hands......I worried about that too. I'm right handed and forced myself to use the left hand on the left side. It was pretty awkward in the beginning, but my left became the more proficient hand, and still is. It'll come with practice, and faster than you think.

Again, welcome!! Enjoy the forum, and the journey! :)

You've got a pretty good member right in your back yard. He'll be along soon I'd bet.

Best Regards,

Howard :)

G'Day Mate and welcome.
Patience is the key Grasshopper and do not put undue pressure on yourself.
All will come in time.

My first suggestion is to willingly accept sub par shaves with your SR for the short term. They are harder to use than a DE and you probably won't find the success you wan and deserve right from the start. But start somewhere you must. Be patient and accept less than adequate shaves as an investment in the future. But lean on your DE and watch carefully what is working with the DE that isn't with the SR. Then try to duplicate the work of the DE with a SR. It'll take time and it's important thAt you be patient with yourself. It's a series of sequences and movements that result in a shave. You will have to develop yours.

Welcome, as has been said in answer to your question, it depends, i found coning in to this as a complete novice (i used to use a mach 3, i did use soap and a brush mind you), that 3 and 6 months were the milestones, at 3 months i could shave well enough to know what advice to ask for to improve, and at 6 months i became complacent and things took a bit of a downhill slide, but then i started concentrating again and things came good.

Oh and you really dont HAVE to use both hands, i am a lefty and pretty much cant use my right hand.

G'day, I find I shave better with my "off" hand, maybe as I'm more careful with it. Just give it a go!

Nice spot the Gong.

G'day & Welcome to the 'Place'.

Welcome to SRP. I recently started with a SR and it is moving along. I think you will be surprised how fast you will pick it up as long as you allow yourself enough time to be able to take your time. Don't rush! I visited Wollongong two years ago with my son and had a very good time. Sydney was fun too. Smooth shaves.

Thanks all for the welcomes!!

Im willing to be patient and just learn in stages, you all seem to be saying the same thing GO SLOW. And I'm willing to do that.

I have decided to start using my left hand (off hand) for my left side of face whilst using my DE razor, so hopefully it won't be a scary jump when using the straight when it arrives.

I have watched the Lynn Abrams beginners straight shave video a few times, can you guys point me toward anything videos or text, that you think is worthwhile watching as well?

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Oh and you really dont HAVE to use both hands, i am a lefty and pretty much cant use my right hand.

---

Hi there Ed Thanks for your reply, great to know there are some fellow aussies on here. So there will still be hope if i can't shave with my off hand then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

---

You should bring to SR shaving all the techniques of beard preparation you'd use with a DE, plus an additional item; i.e. skin stretching. With a DE, the bar or slotted comb takes care of it, but with a straight you have to smooth out or stretch the area to be shaved manually. Watch some videos and see what the shaver is doing to achieve this.

With regard to the number of passes, it's really what your face can stand. I've never gone beyond 2, i.e. a WTG to begin with and a combination XTG and ATG to finish- Others use the full 3. I'm assuming you're familiar with these abbreviations for with, across, and against the grain ;)

Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Thanks all for the welcomes!!

Im willing to be patient and just learn in stages, you all seem to be saying the same thing GO SLOW. And I'm willing to do that.

I have decided to start using my left hand (off hand) for my left side of face whilst using my DE razor, so hopefully it won't be a scary jump when using the straight when it arrives.

I have watched the Lynn Abrams beginners straight shave video a few times, can you guys point me toward anything videos or text, that you think is worthwhile watching as well?

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

---

yes you CAN still do multiple passes, however in the early days your face MAYnot thank you. There is a video around called "chimench's 30th anniversary shave" [sorry i may be more paraphrasing than quoting there, as i cant guarantee the spelling, or exact title}, which is a guy who has used straights for a long time. There is also an area here with videos too, but i can never remember exactly where it is, but you will see plenty there.

Going slow is key, i used to say allow plenty of time, and double it, i should say that more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Hi there Ed Thanks for your reply, great to know there are some fellow aussies on here. So there will still be hope if i can't shave with my off hand then.

---

There are quite a few aussies around actually, they will start appearing soon i am sure.
Yeah, one handed shaving isnt too hard, the difficultest bit was working out how to see what i was doing in the beginning with my arm in the way, but you figure it out quickly enough, and after a while you can sort of do it by just knowing how to do it, and the line of sight becomes less important. i am a one and a bit pass shaver, and dont have any real dramas.

Welcome aboard from a bit further north
Plenty to learn so take your time & enjoy the journey

Welcome, I grew up in the Sutherland shire and spent my many years of university in your fine town.

Knowing your face from your DE experience will give you a bit of a leg up, but a straight isn’t as nimble so you may find it won’t go where your DE did, this may also force you to go in directions you wouldn’t with your DE.

The biggest stumbling block I found going from a DE (merkur HD with feather blades) to a straight (full hollow DOVO 5/8 from SRD) was the feedback. Until I got a handle on angle/pressure and built up some muscle memory it felt like I was trying to clear a forest made of petrified trees.


Even now I still find the feedback off-putting such that I use my hollower razors less often. The shaves are just as good as my heavier grinds, but they require more concentration to achieve.

I’ve not yet learnt to use two hands as I moved to a kamasori fairly soon after starting; the lack of dexterity is no hindrance to a good shave and I know others that use only one hand, so each to his own.

Regards,

Neal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Thanks all for the welcomes!!

Im willing to be patient and just learn in stages, you all seem to be saying the same thing GO SLOW. And I'm willing to do that.

I have decided to start using my left hand (off hand) for my left side of face whilst using my DE razor, so hopefully it won't be a scary jump when using the straight when it arrives.

I have watched the Lynn Abrams beginners straight shave video a few times, can you guys point me toward anything videos or text, that you think is worthwhile watching as well?

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

---

Try using your left hand on the right side as well. Get a feel for using the offhand on both sides and your halfway there. One handed is fine if that's all you can manage, but I will always recommend trying to learn to use the offhand as much as possible. As an example, and as best as I can describe, I keep my hairstyle high and tight, very military looking without sideburns. So when I start my WTG pass at some point (the very start in this case) with the same side hand working the same side face, my vision is blocked. I can't see where to place the edge of the razor. Now if I swap to opposite hand to opposite side of my face, I can get an unobstructed view for about the first two inches from the top of my ear. At that point most normal people would then swap over to the same side hand, but I just shut my eyes and keep on driving for a bit...That's just me though. The point of me telling you this?! Being able to use your offhand, even just a little, will make things heaps easier. It might not be the sideburns for you, but it might be some little spot that just can't be got at, or to, very easily in any other way. Shutting our eyes during the shave...That's up to you. I just like a challenge, but I might have to start doing jumping jacks at the same time soon :).


Welcome to the forum mate.


Mick

G'day and welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome. Using the off hand just takes time. I found my left hand fairly useless so just used my right for a good year till my shaves were where I wanted thn slowly started to incorporate my left. I still can't use it anywhere near as well as the right but do find it seems to have a lighter touch so what I can do is at least equal to my right. Good luck with your shaves

Welcome to SRP! :)

Hello, and welcome to the forum! +1 on all the above advice. The learning process can be a enjoyable time if you go slowly. Don't over think it, and enjoy the journey!! Heres to many smooth shaves!!!!

The actual shaving you should pick up fairly quickly, but your shaves will continue to improve as your technique and ability to maintain your razor at the highest level (stropping) improve.

You do not have to shave with both hands. I shave with one hand and just change my grip. Right handed, I use the standard Barber Grip, (scales 90 degree to the blade and pinky on the tail to shave the right side of my face.

For the left side, I change grip with the scales straight, in line with the blade and a knife type grip shaving with 1” of blade at a time. Against the grain is reversed.

Check the photos of different grips in the library here.

Enjoy

Marty