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I did my first Straight shave this morning, i'm still alive lol. It whent good i didn't cut or nick myself the only issue was the blade angle. I did 2 pass WTG and finish up whit my superspeed, after my shave i clean the bade and the scale and a stroped 50 times?? Is that enough or should i do more? Anyway i really enjoy it whit practice i will really like that way of shaving. This morning i took all the precautions took a shower wash my face whit à mild soap. Papabear11
Welcome to the straight razor's world, glad to hear your first try went ok. After some practice your muscles will learn and remember the strokes. With experience you will get the superb shaves. Stroping after the shave is not a must thing, but if you want you can strop may be 10 passes to clean and dry the edge of the blade. On the other hand, stroping 50-70 passes is ok before every shave (depends on the razor).
I've only been straight shaving for a week and still end up doing an against the grain with my mach 3 to finish up...I was watching a video that said it could take up to 100 shaves to get it right, 90 shaves to go. :dropjaw:
That is great to hear your first go at it was good and enjoyable. After I clean and dry my blade and scales the blade get 10 strokes on a felt strop to make sure the edge is dry. I then leave it open to air dry for a bit too before putting it away. Before shaving the blade gets 10 strokes linen and 60 on leather, usually done the night before. Everyone develops their own routine for stropping but the main point is to do it correctly and not dull the blade while stropping. For both shaving and stropping slow and easy does it at the start. have fun.
Bob
Awesome. !! Glad to see you joined the "dark side" lol
Personally, I'm not too big on stropping right after the shave(a time thing), but I do about 10 laps just to be certain the edge is free of any moisture.
Congratulations! I find also that there is a certain amount of zen to stropping. I can concentrate on anything or nothing. The hand, the blade, the leather, the flip... Ahhhhh.... :)
I only strop post shave as a rule, somtimes i will strop a few laps pre if the razor has been unused for a while, i generally do 50 or so laps on leather only.
Congrats on your first straight shave. I am at one week, and loving it. I am getting better at holding a consistent angle without having to concentrate on it. Just go slow and it becomes easier and easier.
I used to only shave once every 4 or 5 days because of the irritation I got from the razors I used. Now I am setting time aside for a daily shave, and looking forward to it.
Good luck, and keep at it. I know I will.
Just to reinforce what the guys have said above - stropping is just one of the many YMMV aspects of straight shaving.
Like Bob and Ed I have my own routine, and it is of course different from what either of them do. :) But the important thing is that my system works well for me, Bob's works well for him, and Ed's works well for him. Etc., and so on... So don't worry about getting different advice. You'll figure out your own system with time.
The important things to remember are:
- always strop between shaves. Most probably do this before the shave, many do if after, and yet others (like Bob, like me) do a bit of both. But one way or another, strop between shaves
- stropping well trumps stropping much. All the stropping in the world isn't going to save an edge that you rolled by not paying attention
- Siguy mentioned the Zen aspect of stropping - I totally agree and encourage everyone to embrace that if possible. It can become a very relaxing process once you're more used to it and muscle memory starts to kick in
And for anyone starting to learn the fine art of stropping, this is a great place to start:
Stroptoberl
Good luck!
Here's a refresh after my first year of straight shaving.The first 2 months where miserable but whit all the help and the generosity of all of you(membres) i finaly went trough. Right now 95% of my shaves are done whit a traditional straight. Thank's to you all for all the good shaves that i get.Quote:
Originally Posted by Papabear11
After 20 months of straight shaving every thing is going fine. My shaves are consistant and very comfy, i do 1 pass WTG, 2 pass AGT on The neck and cheek area XTG on The moustache and The Chin area. I finish up whit a 3 pass XTG again on The moustache and Chin area. My shave is just perfect for me no irritation no Nick no cut, i'm also at The point that i refresh few of my Straights on a hone. To my opinion there's no better way to shave, back in The old day's men know what They where doing. The learning Curve is a bit difficult but when you got it right The results are great. A special thanks to all The membres this is a great Journey.
Straights are a doddle to shave with.
I remember my first try because my heart was pumping :)
What I will never forget was my first DE shave.
Blood and clumps of hair everywhere :(