Thread: Just can't get the hang of it.

The first straight I bought was the one you own. I had a heck of a time until I tried another razor. I have worked with around a dozen or so and have found after about 7 months that that particular blade is very very good, however it takes a completely different technique to use it compared to the other vintage blades I also own. It really isn't that the blade can't get sharp enough, it does. I am convinced that the blade has a certain flexibility to the edge combined with my particular tough whiskers makes it difficult to get a good shave unless I pay particular attention to how I approach the angle and the right amount of light pressure. Strange thing to say but I highly recommend using an older wedge or perhaps get your hands on a wapi because until you have enough experience with a straight the hurdles with this blade will make your experience miserable.

Good luck,

Sean

Originally Posted by Paddington

[SIZE="3"]Hey there Dave,
I think everyone who shaves with a straight at some point in time said, “bugger this, I’m going to buy a Gillette Mach 3” – I know I have.

+1

I shaved for years with a shavette, finally tried a real straight without anyone to teach me anything, and then gave up after a couple of months, saying 'this is crap'

I found it a couple of years later, and decided that this time I was going to succeed.
My first shave (no stropping, canned soap and bad technique) was fun because I enjoyed doing it, but a disaster vis-a-vis the effect on my face. I am pretty sure that my neighbors heard me scream when I splashed on the aftershave.

Then I decided to search the net, and after half a day I found SRP.
I asked a lot of newbie questions, had to learn the most basic things, and discovered that pretty much EVERYTHING I did was wrong: angle, lather, technique, stropping, ...

It took me about 6 months to get to the point where a shave was enjoyable. I changed 1 thing at a time, and tried it a couple of times to see if it was an improvement or not.

I have taught several people how to shave in person, and if you can, try to find an SRP member in your general area to show you how to shave in person. That will save you months of trial and error.

I know from experience that at this moment, you are probably wondering if straight razors can really shave you as good as something else. From my persoanl experience, I can guarantee you it can.

Hey, It sound's like your getting some great advice. I'm in to my second week of straight razor shaving & I'v had great results even on the first shave. My newbie advice that worked for me is slow down, let the blade do the work. The most important thing I'm always a ware of is my angel of the blade.
Don't give up, educating your self will save you-!!!!

I had problems with THREE brand new Dovo stainless razors. Thay all had warped baldes as shown in post #51 of this thread.

I eventually was able to purchase a Dovo stainless that was not warped (I bought it off Ebay, it was manufactured back in 2001) and it shaves great.

The fact that I had three different Dovos (2 were the pearlex, one was the ebony handled one) with exactly the same curvature, on exactly the same side makes me quite concerned about recently manufactured Dovos.

Check to see if your blade is perhaps warped like this?

I have given a severalf shave demos to individuals as well as small groups. I'll show them different styles and sizes of blades everything from W&B choppers, smileys, wedges and hollows, I will talk them thru the various aspects of the razors as well as shaving itself, blade prep, shave prep, how to stretch, angles and how to break the countours of the face into smaller planes. Then out of the razors I have brought(20-30) I will have them pick one out of the bunch and that is the one I will use for the actual demo. I will show them stropping, beard prep, lathering, stretching, angles and strokes and then when Im done I will let them choose a razor to use and talk them thru it. To get to the point, having someone to show you makes all the difference in the world!

I’ve found the process of shaving with a straight to require a feel and tactile understanding of what you’re attempting to do. Shaving with a modern razor involves whipping the thing over your face any which way you like but with a straight, time spent getting a real feel for the different directions the hair grows on the different areas of your face is time well invested. Also, when you begin, start very slowly with the grain and keep an angle of around 30 degrees on the blade to face – just think about the angle they put all those blades at in a modern razor. Pick a time when you have nothing pressing to do, shut the door on your bathroom (or wherever you shave) and after softening your whiskers in your desired manner, lather up with some well whipped soap and begin shaving while thinking about each and every stroke – move the razor in light but sure strokes. You need to hold the blade sturdily but stroke it against your skin lightly, and slowly don’t be afraid of repeating a stroke straight after your initial stroke of you think it’s not close enough – listen to the scratching sound of all those hairs severing under the blade. You won’t get a BBS shave with the grain although you will get closer with time and practise which is absolutely essential to mastering this. When it comes to against the grain shaving start off safe – stick to broad flat areas like your cheeks and the underside of your jaw as you get better. The most valuable thing to remember is STRETCH YOUR SKIN – it makes your hairs sit more rigid and essentially forces them to offer themselves up to the blade, of course doing so provides smoother surfaces for your blade even if you’re not quite at wrinkle age yet you’ll still be surprised how much closer you’ll get.

Most importantly though stick with it. As time goes on you will irritate your skin less, you will shave closer, you’ll knick yourself less if you remember not to take the process for granted - never forget that you’re holding a blade in your hand that has the potential to cut you faster, deeper and easier than any other blade you’re ever likely to own (unless you’re a samurai) so respect it as such. Simply enjoy the learning curve – the fact that you can’t just do it when you’ve never picked up a straight before is at the core of why people get hooked to the point of joining internet forums

P.S. A nice aftershave soothing balm is not a bad investment for those rougher than usual days

A big thank you to everyone for their excellent advice. I am going to try and find a new razor, a carbon from days gone by with a professionally honed edge. After that I will persevere until I crack this.

Keep up the good work guys, I have met such nice people on this forum, it is refreshing when the news around us nowadays is full of such doom and gloom.


regards
London

I'm even newer to this than you so by all means value my advice accordingly but I wondered whether you've considered going to a reputable barber for a shaving consultation/lesson? It's by no means a cheap option but I know that Trumper's in London do it and I'm sure if you shopped/googled around you might find other barbers offering the same service, or just willing to show you the ropes for the cost of a shave.

Originally Posted by guildofghostwriters

I'm even newer to this than you so by all means value my advice accordingly but I wondered whether you've considered going to a reputable barber for a shaving consultation/lesson? It's by no means a cheap option but I know that Trumper's in London do it and I'm sure if you shopped/googled around you might find other barbers offering the same service, or just willing to show you the ropes for the cost of a shave.

Great idea, but unfortunately from all of the recently posted trips to a local barber, the experiences have been pretty lousey. Due to health concerns they pretty much universally use Shavettes, not real straights for the shave, so it essentially a hopped up DE shave at best.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Great idea, but unfortunately from all of the recently posted trips to a local barber, the experiences have been pretty lousey. Due to health concerns they pretty much universally use Shavettes, not real straights for the shave, so it essentially a hopped up DE shave at best.

Obviously you know whereof you speak (and I don't because nobody near me offers shaving schools and I bet most shaves are with a shavette as you say) but I would hope that Trumper's at least is an exception and there will be others. According to the Trumper's website,

A session of one to one tuition with one of our barbers, lasting approximately one and a half hours and covering all aspects of the technique of wet shaving with an open razor.

Designed to enable clients of all ages to get the best from their shaving, the instruction period will include the selection and use of the most suitable products and help with special shaving needs.

It costs £75 so it's not at all cheap. Can a Shavette be reasonably described as an open razor? I reckon even if they use a Shavette, they'd probably be okay with you taking your own blade down there for the lesson - the customer is always right after all!