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

First and foremost-Don't Give Up! Honing a razor is an art-not a science. We could never be able to give a honing "recipe" that will work for all razors-plus honing takes practice-ALOT of practice.

I would strongly suggest that you get a pre-honed razor, by a known "honemeister" that you can use as a "Standard" to compare you honing efforts to.

Things like magnification-to observe the edge as you hone can be a great help. Every razor is different and its these very slight differences that can make or break getting a good,comfortable shave.

Personally, I prefer a Carbon Steel razor-stainless can be problematic to hone-especially for novices. That said, your technique could still be an issue as well. I cannot go against the grain in certain areas of my face-even with a SCARY SHARP blade.

It sounds like you have a good foundation, the Tony Miller strop is ESSENTIAL. Diamond pastes can be a wonderful tool-but can also create VERY irritating edges.

To answer your question-YES, you can and should be able to get the best BBS shave with a Str8 that will rival your DE. Don't give up-honing isn't an easy skill- and a razor that isn't READY won't give you a good shave.

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.

A couple of years ago I went to Rome. I found this little back street barber shop and had my first ‘proper’ shave. It was great: really smooth with minimal irritation. I decided that shaving with a straight was for me and bought one on the spot. The next day in my hotel room: “Oww, holly . . . Oww”. I’m sure the majority of people walking past thought I was being tortured (or having a really good time, depending on how you interpret screaming). I tried this for a couple of days and hated every second of it, so I gave up.

The last day of the holiday comes around, my friend decided to go and get a shave at the barbers. I went and told the barber about my experience. Nice old guy sat me down and spent a couple of hours showing me how to actually use the razor. Turned out I had been holding it like a meat cleaver, hence my face looking like a side of raw bacon.

I agree with the previous poster. You can read all the books on shaving, etc; however, it doesn’t compare to actually being shown by someone who can use a straight well. You can’t see the faults that you are probably making; they will be a habit by now.

Forget fancy razors, creams, balms – it’s not about what you use, it’s how you use it.

My advice: don’t give up! I nearly gave up after a couple of days, but then I wouldn’t have found something that I love to do. Shaving takes my mind off my problems – it’s that little bit of me time in an otherwise hectic day. Find someone who can help you, don’t give up on something that you obviously want to succeed at.

Happy Shaving,

Paddington.

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.

Thanks for the good advice gents. I think I might look for a antique, carbon, shave ready razor. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy the whole straight razor experience, especially when you add the strop, brush, mirrors etc but its so damn frustrating. I have two small shaving scars on my face that have healed but have still left two dents in my face, I see them every day and am determined to reach the stage where the straight is my daily shaver, its becoming a bit of a pilgrimage