Thread: Another newbie nervious as heck!

Trust me my double edges get that job done adequately.

Originally Posted by jmueller8

No; you had it right! I was stropping incorrectly! I watched a few videos and worked it out. I sort of flew over that part and I felt it today! Ah; failure is so humbling!

Welcome. You're in good hands here.

As punishment for stropping incorrectly I hereby require you to strop correctly for 100 passes on your unfinished leather strop. the first 50 passes with slight pressure and the last 50 with very light pressure. Maybe 150 total. I thought about this kind of thing when stropping this morning. Go ahead, you can quote me on this: "You can strop incorrectly, but you can't "overstrop" a razor."

Seriously though, if you lifted the spine 10 degrees you may have rounded the actual edge slightly which could account for the razor feeling less sharp than your previous few shaves. I do recommend the above as a corrective measure.

Keep reporting in though; we like to read the progress.

Chris L

I'll strop it another 15 minutes tonight just to get some more time in. My face was so sore this morning, I decided to skip the shave. What's the best position to mount my strop? I tried it waist high and shoulder high and it still felt funny! Even tried it with the other hand. (The down side of being an ambidextrous left hander.)

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I have never ever drawn blood with a striaght ever.

Famous last words

Originally Posted by jmueller8

I'll strop it another 15 minutes tonight just to get some more time in. My face was so sore this morning, I decided to skip the shave. What's the best position to mount my strop? I tried it waist high and shoulder high and it still felt funny! Even tried it with the other hand. (The down side of being an ambidextrous left hander.)

I bet you'll get some varied answers for this 'un.
Around waist high is good for me

Thanks for the tip onimaru55; I did try stropping waist high and it felt a bit better. I'm just not comfortable turning the blade over on the spine for some reason! The shave was more comfortable and a bit closer this morning but I'm spending too much time shaving! What is everyone's "average time" spent shaving?

Let me welcome you to SRP also! Probably one of the best sites on the internet! I had my very first shave this morning, and it was the best shave I ever had, I actually loved it and am looking forward to shaving the next time! You need to get a routine, as you already know, so you can develop good habits. Here's what I do (after exhaustive research here and Youtube);

I first put a 1.5 qt pyrex bowl of water in the Microwave with a shave towel in it, for about 5 minutes, while I go take a hot shower (showers in the basement). After the shower, i get the bowl out of the Microwave, grasping the edges. I take the towel, wring it out slightly and let it rest on my face for a minute, put it back in the bowl of water and put some pre shave oil on. I strop my razor 20 laps then Wring out the towel again and back on the face! Then I make my lather and put it on one section of my face, left cheek usualy first. This is the most important thing, I think, I take my time when I shave, try to pay attention to every angle of the blade, feel on the skin etc. I stretch my skin also by contorting my face. Using my hand to do it only when necessary. I picked up my razor from OLD SCHOOL in the classifieds here. He had refurbished it and honed it to perfection, in my opinion, so I don't even need a second pass. I found out today that if I go slow and effortlessly, just the proper angle of the blade, my facial hair is removed BBS. It was a real RUSH doing this and just feeling how smooth the skin was!. Best thing to do is to find out what works for you and stick with it, and PATIENCE!

Good luck and enjoy! God Bless you!

Welcome!

I will simply add that to avoid cuts make sure you pull your skin taught - if the skin is loose, that is when a straight razor will skip and get caught in the folds of the skin and cut you. If you feel any resistance/tugging, just pull away and regroup - don't push it - that is how you will cut yourself.

Lots of other great advice here!!!!!

Well that's one complex shaving process there rrp150; I'll try it though! I think I'm just expecting too much of myself and my blade at too early of a time. This morning I spent 45 minutes shaving which was very nice; but, too timely. I found myself going over the same spots many times. It's still just so foreign. Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Originally Posted by jmueller8

Thanks for the tip onimaru55; I did try stropping waist high and it felt a bit better. I'm just not comfortable turning the blade over on the spine for some reason! The shave was more comfortable and a bit closer this morning but I'm spending too much time shaving! What is everyone's "average time" spent shaving?

I can't remember who said it before but flipping the spine is like turning the volume knob up & down tho I use all my fingers twisting the scales over as well.
I enjoy the shave ritual too much to go fast so I do it at night but I think I did 2 passes in about 8 minutes when I was in a rush one time. Not BBS but presentable.

Stropping felt a bit better this morning. Onimaru55; great idea, I was putting too much into my wrist and keeping my fingers too tight.

Rrp150; the hot towel was a great idea and I think I will shave at night from not on.

Here's a question I'm almost too embarrassed to ask: does anyone ever strop in the middle of a shave? When I went to the barber he had to replace the blade twice because my beard is so dense. I shave the left side first and find that my blade is not nearly as sharp when I start the right side. Or is this another stropping issue in that I'm not getting the blade sharp enough?