Thread: First shave... FAIL!!

Originally Posted by Aram

The member whom I purchased the Tosuke from informed me that it was shave ready. He said I shouldn't even strop it so I know what it feels like to shave with a shave ready razor.

On a side note, I'm assuming (and this is directed at everyone on the forum) that our forum honemiesters strop up razors they hone before sending them out. This may have been discussed before, but I have missed it since I've only been on here a month.

I'm assuming this because I believe each honemiester test-shaves the razors?

Thanks for the clarification...

~Chris

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

On a side note, I'm assuming (and this is directed at everyone on the forum) that our forum honemiesters strop up razors they hone before sending them out. This may have been discussed before, but I have missed it since I've only been on here a month.

I'm assuming this because I believe each honemiester test-shaves the razors?

Thanks for the clarification...

~Chris

Some suggest you strop whilst others don't. If your a newbie and you strop, you may roll the edge which will produce a crappy shave. However if you don't strop, depending on how many days it is in transit the edge may oxidize slightly thus also producing a crappy shave. 6 of one or 1/2 dozen of the other.

Welcome to SRP Aram! Glad to see that you are not giving up - the guys above have all given you terrific advice.....take advantage of the forums and the knowledge contained here and you'll be shaving with fewer and fewer problems as the days pass. Best of luck!!

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Some suggest you strop whilst others don't. If your a newbie and you strop, you may roll the edge which will produce a crappy shave. However if you don't strop, depending on how many days it is in transit the edge may oxidize slightly thus also producing a crappy shave. 6 of one or 1/2 dozen of the other.

The reason I ask is after reading through some of the manuals in the Documents area, stropping is a must after honing a razor. Then, after seeing posts saying "don't strop your freshly honed razor before shaving so that you don't roll the edge", I'm assuming they have been stropped by the honemiester and this is okay.

Aram,

As a fellow newbie, I have to say that your experience sounds exactly like my own. I've now shaved three times with my new razor (no cuts yet!), and I'm getting the swing of things.

One thing that really helped me was to remember that, unlike with cartridge razors, straight razor shaving is a two-handed operation. Remember to stretch the skin a bit with one hand while you have with the other.

That has made a world of a difference. This morning's shave wasn't perfect, but I didn't have to finish off with a cartridge razor for the first time.

if it came shave ready as stated, then I would say try easier areas, go slow, and give it a chance. I really can't advise you on use of japanese straights, but persistence is key.
If you have another shave ready straight on the way, you will soon be able to compare and decide for yourself.

best of luck!