Thread: Three weeks in and getting there

I've been teaching myself how to use a SR for around three weeks now. My first week was with a shavette and since then I've started my shave with a straight, doing progressively more with it each day. Today I achieved a breakthrough of completing two passes with the straight and I only drew blood once, by carelessly taking the scab off a previous cut. It feels like it's beginning to get more natural – I'm instinctively more careful about where I put the blade. Onwards and upwards!

Congrads on the finishing of a full shave. Just keep remembering to keep the pressure light. I had an issue with that when i started. I had about 10 shaves with too much pressure and discomfort before i figured it out.
Keep it up and you will be doing just fine in a couple more months.

Congrats on the progress, it only gets better.

One of the best words of advice was: "Comfort over Closeness"
As your muscle memory and motor skills improve, along with edge care, your shaves will get closer.

When I travel on short trips I have to go back to a Cart..and it helps remind me how much better the shave is with a Straight (and practice, lots of practice).

Smooth Shaving...

Originally Posted by Gasman

Congrads on the finishing of a full shave. Just keep remembering to keep the pressure light. I had an issue with that when i started. I had about 10 shaves with too much pressure and discomfort before i figured it out.
Keep it up and you will be doing just fine in a couple more months.

That's interesting as one of the things I noticed on my second pass was how much lighter my strokes were. It felt like I had relaxed into it.

Originally Posted by MJC

Congrats on the progress, it only gets better.

One of the best words of advice was: "Comfort over Closeness"
As your muscle memory and motor skills improve, along with edge care, your shaves will get closer.

When I travel on short trips I have to go back to a Cart..and it helps remind me how much better the shave is with a Straight (and practice, lots of practice).

Smooth Shaving...

Thank you for your support. Yes, I agree that my two-pass SR shave wasn't as close as shaves I've finished with a safety razor. However, my skin feels fresher and more vibrant and I feel pleased for having done it all with my straight. I had a few days before Easter when I used a safety razor when on the road and for a few days after cutting myself by being clumsy with the straight.

Welcome to SRP!
There's a lot of great folks and info here
Sounds like you are off to a great start. Remember just shave the lather off, no pressure needed with a well honed razor

Enjoy and have fun

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Welcome to SRP!
There's a lot of great folks and info here
Sounds like you are off to a great start. Remember just shave the lather off, no pressure needed with a well honed razor

Enjoy and have fun

Thank you for your support and encouragement! So today was even better. No blood and I managed two complete passes with my straight (Erbe Solingen First Class 5/8). I remembered where the tender places were and took it easy. I'm definitely relaxing and using no pressure.

I'm not getting as a close a shave as I can with a safety razor and I guess that's because I need to put more work into stretching my skin tighter. Something else to work on!

Take your time, relax and enjoy it.

Originally Posted by MisterClean

Take your time, relax and enjoy it.

I'm certainly enjoying it! And after doing a load of forum reading and watching of tutorial videos I have accepted the wisdom that it takes around 100 shaves to achieve competence. I'm over the sense of sheer terror from using a sharp naked blade and I'm getting a terrific amount of pleasure from completing decent shaves with a straight. Thanks for your words of wisdom!