Thread: The worst shave I have had so far with my Straight Razor

I went to give myself my morning shave. This is something I live for I know we all have our vices.
From the second I put the razor to my face it was the worst shave ever. Something must have been not have been set right in the stars.

I tried it with a new razor that I had gotten back from being sharpened so I know it was sharp. Believe me Bob of bobs razors knows how to sharpen a blade. I then tried it out on another blade that had been proven. I have shaved a few times with it so I know it shaves well. Then again nothing but bad.

I have had the week off so I have been shaving with the SR all week now. The shaves have been getting better ...far from perfect my chin area gets razor burn along with some other areas. I sometimes just feel like giving up but that is not an option. I have 6 nice razors and I am going to use them.

Not all was lost I took out my DE and got a baby smooth shave to end the morning. I am feeling its smoothness as I write.

I think I might just use the SR to shave my cheeks and mustache area for now and use the DE for the rest. Then a little at a time wounder into new areas. I just hope that my using the DE shaver is not going to get me cut from the herd of the SR group. Please forgive me I just ordered a Merkur progressive DE razor. Now matter what route I may travel SR or DE I will never again use caned shaving cream, a plastic or cartridge razor or a cheap shaving brush.

Is there any SR users who still use a DE on a regular basis?

I use a DE in about one out of five shaves. I get a slightly cleaner shave with the DE than with a straight razor, honestly. But...I also get more irritation and ingrown hairs from the DE shaves. It also took me 4-6 months after I started shaving with a straight razor to do a respectable job on the chin area.

Originally Posted by pathology101

I went to give myself my morning shave. This is something I live for I know we all have our vices.
From the second I put the razor to my face it was the worst shave ever. Something must have been not have been set right in the stars.

I tried it with a new razor that I had gotten back from being sharpened so I know it was sharp. Believe me Bob of bobs razors knows how to sharpen a blade. I then tried it out on another blade that had been proven. I have shaved a few times with it so I know it shaves well. Then again nothing but bad.

I have had the week off so I have been shaving with the SR all week now. The shaves have been getting better ...far from perfect my chin area gets razor burn along with some other areas. I sometimes just feel like giving up but that is not an option. I have 6 nice razors and I am going to use them.

Not all was lost I took out my DE and got a baby smooth shave to end the morning. I am feeling its smoothness as I write.

I think I might just use the SR to shave my cheeks and mustache area for now and use the DE for the rest. Then a little at a time wounder into new areas. I just hope that my using the DE shaver is not going to get me cut from the herd of the SR group. Please forgive me I just ordered a Merkur progressive DE razor. Now matter what route I may travel SR or DE I will never again use caned shaving cream, a plastic or cartridge razor or a cheap shaving brush.

Is there any SR users who still use a DE on a regular basis?

Man do I empathize with you! There are times when you just want to chuck it and do the DE full time. If it's any consolation, I've started to SR but not far enough along to store my DE yet. I will persevere until I get it or do major harm to my face! We need to start an SRsAnnonymous (SRA) group. But wait, I think there's plenty of rage room here to satisfy our frustrations! Keep trying path101, I suspect there's a bunch of blade brothers on this site alone who have gone before us.

When I am in a hurry, or just not feeling straight (lol), I will revert back. I probably use a straight 9 out of 10 shaves, which has steadily increased from a rough 50-50 split only a year ago!

Used a SR for many yrs,was all good,Than I came down with some health issues,cannot use a SR anymore
Is all DE now,Right Razor, Right blade,right prep,shave is a shave.

You need a can do attitude with straights , everyone thinks a couple months and it should be good, but in reality you never stop learning and 100 shaves is more true than we want to admit before it gets better. Hang in there it,lol come. I was doing this for almost 6 months before it really clicked and then I put the DE away. Tc

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Used a SR for many yrs,was all good,Than I came down with some health issues,cannot use a SR anymore
Is all DE now,Right Razor, Right blade,right prep,shave is a shave.

Hi Bill - been wondering where you've been, missed you around here, hope everythings trending towards the better, what DE are you using?

I started a thread here with the last year about that experience. I think I titled it "Have you ever had one of this days?" Surprisingly (or not) lots of folks said they had.

My solution was to keep that razor I knew was right, and REALLY work on my prep and lather, and then do a little face at a time. If that worked, I didn't change lathering technique or soap, but went on to another shave ready razor. Once things settled down, and only then, did I change soap, or brush. So changing one thing at a time was the key for me. I still use a DE about 2 days out of 7...Sunday morning for sure if I have to get to church, and usually one lazy day. Truth is, I enjoy DE shaving too.

You'll overcome it too.

So while I once hated shaving, now I love it, and it's just a matter of how I do it and what soap, brush and razor I use.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Hi Bill - been wondering where you've been, missed you around here, hope everythings trending towards the better, what DE are you using?

+1. I had been missing your posts, pixelfixed. I hope all is well.

I enjoy learning something new. I do fairly well with the DE and when I get my str8 will probably just do weekends at first. Will work my way up after that. If I stress over it to where it is not enjoyable or feel like I have to I shouldn't be doing it.