Thread: Yes, another Newb's First Time

Well,

I did it, had my first straight razor shave this morning; very exciting. My, wife asked, "what is that?" Received a nice 9/16 W&B from RGDominguez here on SRP, purchased two strops from TM (1 latigo hanging, 1 4 sided paddle with 3 pastes and 1 latigo side).

Stropped the razor last night, ever so gently, on both the latigo-side of the paddle - practicing my x-pattern, and also on my 3 inch hanging strop. Don't think I rolled the edge because the hairs on my arm popped when I tested the razor.

I've been DE shaving for a while now so my prep this morning was pretty good, however I don't think I hydrated my lather enough as it dried out on my face.

Only used the str8 for one pass WTG, and it worked fairly well, but dragged and skipped quite a bit. This due to the dry lather or could I have dulled it during stropping?

Anyway, I finished the WTG pass all though it just would not cut my chin whiskers very well, but that may be my technique.

Finished up with my DE. Can't wait to try again tomorrow! But should I take the blade to the .5 micron Chromium paste to touch it up or is it my lather?

- Jeff

Good one Jeff Dragging and skipping could be the lather drying out - or a dull edge (which in my experience feels like tugging or pulling, leaves unshaven hair, and quite often leads to blood). That's not to say it couldn't be a mixture of the two as well, combined with potential technique issues.

Try to eliminate the controllable sources of drag - I guess that means add more water to the lather next time. If it drags and leaves unshaven hairs then you know it's either a dull-ish edge or technique.

James.

James,

Thanks. There was a slight bit of pulling almost like a sticking or sticky feeling, but no blood and I didn't nick myself at all. Except for the skipping, the shave was pretty good. Like I mentioned, my chin was the tough part.

If you made sure to keep the spine in contact with the strop, kept the strop taught, and stropped slowly and carefully with little pressure I really don't think that you rolled the edge of your razor. I would definately recommend using more water in your lather because I have found that a dry lather is not really conducive to straight razor shaving. Shaving with a straight razor feels different than shaving with a DE and at first I was surprised that my Lynn honed razor was not as sharp as I thought that it would be. In my experience it takes some momentum to use a straight razor effectively. I start a little above the hair that I am going to shave (bare skin) and start moving the razor before it hits the hair. This way the razor is already moving and has some momentum so that the razor cuts the hairs better and is not stopped by the hairs. I find that if I start in the middle of a tough patch of hair it is hard to get the razor moving and it "sticks" like you describe. You can also try to use the blade at a little bit of an angle so that it is sort of like a sythe. After you get used to this, I think that you will find that you have more control with a straight razor and will get less nicks and irritation than you do with your DE. If you have not cut yourself then you are doing just fine for your first shave. Keep it up and you will be there before you know it.

Hey, Jeff,

My first shave was the same way.
It is technique--from using the strop, to lathering, to handling the blade.
Use plenty of water when whipping up the lather, and refresh the lather on your face using a touch of added water to the brush tips, and reworking the lather on your face.
I'd recommend only going WTG for awhile. When everything is comfortable and working well, then try other strokes.
Be patient. It takes time. I was plenty frustrated starting out, but after a couple months--whoohooo!
Ron

Well, today was better. Used a wetter lather and there wasn't any skipping. However, the blade still sticks a little with slight tugging so I am going to take it to the chromium on my paddle and see if that will help.

Thanks for the encouragement, this is fun. Already looking forward to tomorrow's shave.

Go easy. Less is more. You don't want to overhone and you can always go back for a few more strokes. 10-20 laps should do it.

X

X,

Well today was better, but still not great. Did 10 laps on the .5 and then stropped and shaved. Used a really wet lather that seemed to work better. But, as my shave progressed the razor began to stick and pull a bit. After my shave I went back to the .5 before putting it away. I'm thinking of using the 1 micron next.

When I do the thumbnail test it doesn't really bite, just glides.

Have some razor burn as well today, which is new.

Will keep trying...

Jeff - glad to hear things are improving a bit. As X said, be a bit wary of overdoing it on the sharpening front - degradation of the edge during the shave and razor burn could be signs of an overhoned edge.

There's so many moving parts that all have to come together to get a good shave - razor sharp but not overhoned, lather wet but not running off your face, properly stropped edge, shaving angles, proper skin stretching... Sounds like you're making great progress when you look at it from that point of view.

James.

James,

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, I too believe that I am making some progress each day. My DE experience has really helped me out on the prep front and understanding blade angles. But, as you know, str8s are their own beast. So, your recommendation is not to go to he 1 micron and just shave again to check? I figured the razor burn was from me pushing too hard on my face.

The blade does pop the hairs on my arm.

So far, I've only done a total of 20 laps on the .5. If it is indeed overhoned I assume then I would need to run a match stick over the edge, go to the 3 micron and work my way down; or is that over doing it?

Jeff