My rookie tips with the straight razor shave.

[EBowman76]

I just thought I'd plug my story on switching to shaving with a straight razor-mostly because I fumbled through a few things that I never saw discussed.

Tip #1=So when I first started I bought a few very cheap razors, a strop and 1000/6000 stone. I practiced with the razors before the stone arrived--just to get the angles and the hand holding part a little more familiar. The lesson I learned in the next few months---cheaper can get you in trouble--but not always. The first few new cheapo's wouldn't hold an edge--the blades felt too thin--almost like a razor blade that you throw out after a few shaves? I won't plug brand names but I ended up buying two new German straight razors and wow---they were down right dangerous. I also picked up a few vintage blades off of ebay--one of them turned out to be a decent blade with plenty of steel left to make a good shaver.

Tip #2=Strop-STROP STROP STROP. It is ALL the difference between a razor that glides through the beard or tears through the beard. I use a linen cloth/leather combination and that really opened up a whole new world. Sharpening with the 1000/6000 is, of course, important-but I saw ALOT on the web about how to do that and the importance of it. But stropping seemed a little in the grey area. But basically I shoot for an edge that will glide through the hair on the back of my hand (my girlfriend finds delight in teasing me about how I have no hair on my knuckles or hands becuase I test out my razor) and a solid stropping is the difference.

Tip #3=Three pass shave. It was about 2 weeks before I tried the third pass and WOW. THAT really makes your skin come alive.

Tip #4=Aftershave. I'm a big fan of an old fashioned "liquid fire" type-burns like the dickens but the skin settles right down and is soft, smooth and ready for lotion.

Tip #5=Once you start shaving with a straight razor--give your beard a few shaves to get used to the cut and the grain will change to accomodate the new shaver. You'll see electric razors say the same thing-and straight razors are no different.

Just my pointers for those who are trolling for tips and pointers. I've been shaving with a straight razor about 4 months now and have thrown my old safety razor out! It really has turned a chore into a hobby!

Hope this helps!