And ... it begins ...

I got my razor in the mail - Boker King Cutter 5/8. I have supplies, strop, and have done some research. Yesterday I did my first ever straight razor shave. Here is what I have learned so far:

1. Shave ready means you don't feel it when the blade cuts your skin (yes, it IS very sharp!)

2. While I am good with a knife left handed, and can write just as sloppy left handed as I do with my right hand, shaving is different. Mirrors and stuff...

Anyway, yes, I got a couple of nicks. Nothing bad. I have been - and continue to - do my reading and watch videos so that I can learn from those before me. I have seen videos from Lynn Abrams & from ShaveNation on shaving. Both shave ambidextrously (right hand shaves right side, left hand - left side). I am wondering - is this what everyone does or is this primarily for seasoned masters?

FYI - I shave after showering, use hot-ish water, pre-shave oil, creme for lather, multiple passes shaving, and an after shave moisturizer.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Threads on one hand - both hand shaving have run in the past. I think in general most SR users use both hands but there are those that use only one hand.

I have tried using only one hand and did not like it at all. Of course, it is all in the muscle memory. If you practice either way long enough you will get good result.

Do what is comfortable for you and don't try anything that makes you uncomfortable. It takes a while to get good at this hobby.

try practicing the easy passes with the opposite hand (ear to jaw bone) you'll get used to the feel. I find it much more comfortable both hands then one, but if your comfortable one handed then stick with it. Like anything, some blood will be spilled, then we learn. Have fun

One of the things that has helped me reduce nicks is good skin stretching and holding. Also if your lather is on the wet side it will have more glide. As lather starts to dry if get sticky and then more nicks. Low blade angles also produce less nicks. As far as the hand thing goes, you will either learn to shave with your non dominant hand or not, but don't stress about it. Some do and some don't and both are correct.

I'm left handed, but use both hands straight shaving. I practiced using a shavette without a blade to get used to using my right hand. It only took a few shaves before using both hands felt completely natural.


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Practice, practice, practice. It is what is needed for using the opposite hand and anything to do with S.R. Shaving. And sense you are new to this and haven't got a lot of muscle memory yet i, its best to learn to use both hands right off the get-go. Its easier than trying to learn it after years of doing it with one hand. But I bet some folks just cant use both hands. I'm left handed and found it to be an easy thing to learn. Just be absolutely sure you have a good grip on the razor. It can come out of your opposite hand easy if your not used to using it. Good luck and welcome to the forum. The best place to learn all there is about S.R. Shaving!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5G62

1. Shave ready means you don't feel it when the blade cuts your skin (yes, it IS very sharp!)

snip...

Thanks in advance for any tips!

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:rofl2:

Razor on top of skin = good. Razor under skin = bad. :beer2:

Might want to give those a few days to heal before going after it again. Funny how a sharp blade like to catch skin it already nibbled and make it worse.

Fewer passes per shave while learning also makes for fewer nicks.

I use both hands. It just takes practice. It feels totally natural now. Have fun and welcome.

Welcome to SRP!
And as has been said there's a lot to this hobby. One more thing you might try is to use a butter knife to try and develop muscle memory.
And you can still practice while healing up the battle wounds.

Enjoy and have fun

Since you already have some degree of ambidexterity, I say start using both hands to shave. Like many others, I find shaving with both hands to be easier than forcing my dominant hand into strange positions and grips. It's best to start out learning to shave with both hands to see if this works for you or not. The non-dominant hand will take more time to develop adequate muscle memory, especially for odd grips and passes. Over time you will improve to the point where the feeling will be more natural. Just takes practice...

I enjoyed my first divot the other day due to lather not being wet enough. i use a 1/4 grind razor and it has a rather different feel against the skin, and some lather encourages a smooth and a shave less prone to nicks. My wife is being kind. It isn't bad. She expressed her opinion that I was too old to mess with a straight, so the battle is on...Good luck.

You don't have to be a Jedi master to use both hands. You just have to decide to do so.

My wife has been understanding as well. Slowly getting better. I couldn't find my styptic pencil, so I bought a new one. Just in case. I'm not trying to shave as close while I'm learning, but it's fine. Next series of questions:

1. Thoughts on preshave oils.

2. Preferences around stropping. Before shaving or after so that it's ready for the next shave?

Thanks!

In can't help you with preshave oils, but as to stropping Incan give you my opinion.
I strop before each shave linen/webbing 20-30 and then on the leather 100.
Also strop after a shave on linen 20-30 after to be sure the edge is dry

Personally stropping before each shave prepares the razor to shave and is just part of the ritual

Forget the pre-shave oils and buy better shaving cream / soaps and work on improving shave preparation (e.g., shower first or washing your face and neck). Cleaning oil from the blade becomes messy during the shave, so I still have 95% of the one pre-shave oil I bought.

I used to strop after shaving but have switched to beforehand like most others. After shaving, I wipe the blade dry and don't stow it inside of any box until a few hours later to give any unseen water a chance to evaporate off. While I'm stropping, I allow my brush to soak in warm water for several minutes to get it prepared.

1. Shave oil - Shave Secret.
2. Stropping - both, before & after.

Still working on it. Since I know everyone enjoys reading about my experience (:shrug:). Here's where I'm at: working on my angles, still working on both hands, moderate success; using a good creme but still using preshave oil (a little insurance and it's paid for), stropping before and after. Just minor nicks - I still have my nose (and goatee).

Those first shaves no matter what are like being a awkward teenager again. Soon it will start to come together and before long will be easy. Good luck finding your style

Pretty successful shave this evening. After reading another thread I tried lathering one area at a time. This was not a post shower shave but went well - I felt more at ease, not in a hurry.

I've been using supplies from AoS. I do have soaps from Van DER Hagen (got on clearance) and a cake from Colgate that I inherited (may be older than me). Anyway, thoughts on soaps versus cremes?

Soaps vs creams is a preference. I use both there is a thread here on soaps let me find the link. I highly suggest any of the top tier soaps. They will help give you a smooth shave with good cushion and nice lather.

Here ya go

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html