Thread: First shave and stropping

Hi everyone

I've been reading the forums for a while and watched Lynn's DVD. I bought an unseen razor, poor man's strop and barber's hone from Whipped Dog. Very quick delivery to me in the UK, less than a week.

Been using a safety razor for a year or so and have been trying to make sure I've really hydrated my face prior to shaving over the last few weeks, ready for trying a straight.

Had a go at shaving my cheeks this evening. It felt a lot less natural than I expected, although maybe I was expecting too much.

Tried shaving my arm a little beforehand and shaved a few hairs off pretty easily.

After finishing my shave with my safety razor I stropped 20 or so laps and then tried shaving my arm again. It was jumpier that time. When stropping I tried to make sure the strop wasn't flexing too much. I see people saying it's "trial and error" when learning to strop but the problem I have is I don't get feedback until the next time I shave and by then it could be another issue causing the problem.

My razor's a 'Gladiator'. Seems in reasonable condition from what I can see.

If the razor's a bit jumpy on my arm does that mean trouble?

Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about what it does on your arm. When you shave next you'll have the answer.

Thanks for that. Trouble is if it behaved differently before and afterwards maybe there's something wrong.
Maybe it still had oil on it from the packaging though.
As you'll say I'll try tomorrow and see how it goes.

I'm left handed and couldn't get a good angle on my right cheek trying with either hand.
Just keep trying I guess.

This isn't the easiest type of shaving there is. It takes time to learn how to shave on your non dominant side, but with a lot of practice and time you'll get it.
Try using a butter knife to get the "feeling" of shaving that side. Muscle memory will get you where it is good to go

Thanks for that, good idea.
I've used that on the strop but hadn't thought of it for my face.
Was worried I'd get the angles wrong and I'd end up taking my nose off or something when shaving the other side....

Yep, The non-dominant hand is kinda tough. It took me a couple weeks just to get to the point of not being afraid of what I might do. It still feels odd in that hand and I have to keep switching hands just to check to be sure I'm holding it right. Time will make it all better. I too am left handed. We are the ones in our right minds. At least that what my mom told me. ha.

Had another go. Stropped beforehand and tried shaving a bit. It felt slightly more natural than last time and I shaved a bit on both sides. Tried the chin and under the chin although it was more of a wave than a shave. Finished off with my DE.

Tried a few laps on the barber's hone afterwards, stropped again and shaved a few hairs on my arm.
Tried shining a light on the edge and using my thumb pad as well.
Keep practicing I guess

Since you are new you should leave the honing till it needs it. You are far more likely to damage the edge than sharpen it. You should also up the stropping to more like 50 laps. Good luck with your shaves and remember that in the beginning the shaves will be rough till you get the technique down

Originally Posted by eddy79

Since you are new you should leave the honing till it needs it. You are far more likely to damage the edge than sharpen it. You should also up the stropping to more like 50 laps. Good luck with your shaves and remember that in the beginning the shaves will be rough till you get the technique down

Yes, What he said. Strop and shave only! Till you get good at shaves. Then think about honing for a while before buying hones or using then. Watch lots of vids on honing and shaving to improve your shaves and learn differences in hones.
Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks guys. I've read the threads of people ruining their razor with hours of bad honing, and yes even a few seconds of bad technique will do more harm than good.

I've realised I had too much pressure on the spine when honing, so good job that I didn't do it very long. There's probably plenty of other errors in there as well.

Re stropping, I'd been doing 20 or 30 afterwards and about 60 beforehand.

Thanks again.