Thread: Not as close as expected :(

It should also be pointed out that even with a good sharp razor, your first few shaves probably aren't going to all that. Not to say the experience won't be satisfying, but it takes time and practice to learn to shave well with a straight. If it was easy, a lot more guys would do it. Have realistic expectations, patience, and enjoy the whole process of learning and shaving.

I'll step down from my soapbox now

Jordan

I'm going to echo others and suggest that you get your 'first' razor from the classifieds here. It'll be the best deal, likely great steel and ready to go.

X

Welcome to the straightpath minitruth,

I've been straightened out a couple of months now.. started with a Dovo shavette and then things got a bit out of hand..

In my short experience I learned a couple of things..
-first you cant go wrong with a razor from the classifieds.
-the help and advice you get here is AWSOME

If you have taken that first step it will be a blast and before you know it you've got more razors than fingers on one hand...... I've got four razors now...


Maarten

It takes a while to get dialed in to gear, the process, probably variables that I have not even recognized yet. The learning curve can be sort of steep. So, it takes time to get a really close shave, and it takes even more time to get that close shave ‘most of the time’. It will be easy to impress yourself in a few days if you have a truly shave ready razor and don’t blow the edge while stropping. It will probably take a few months until you can repeat that success most of the time. Then you will look back and laugh that you thought you were kicking a@@ a few months earlier. It’s fun all along the way. This is the nature of the beast.

PS – forget about the Zeepk thing. Many people here have had a similar experience. It’s not what real shaving is like. We DO need to work out a castration regime for people who sell that crap. If you are the one who figures it out, you’ll be revered as a God.

Well.. it's been a few weeks and I ordered a razor from the classifieds. Wow. A world of difference. The shave is so much closer and I can feel that the edge of the blade is so much better than the Zeepk one I had bought before. I even nicked myself a few times, which was unintended but in a way more satisfying than dragging a crappy razor over my skin and missing whole swaths of hair.

Thanks to all who responded and got me on the right track!

You can get the Wapin from ken at RupRazor.com.

He hones the blade, he is a master at it, then sends it to you where you don't even need to strop it first shave. He also gives you a 3 month honing warantee incase you need a honing or messed up the blade. 58$

Originally Posted by minitruth

Well.. it's been a few weeks and I ordered a razor from the classifieds. Wow. A world of difference. The shave is so much closer and I can feel that the edge of the blade is so much better than the Zeepk one I had bought before. I even nicked myself a few times, which was unintended but in a way more satisfying than dragging a crappy razor over my skin and missing whole swaths of hair.

Thanks to all who responded and got me on the right track!

Great - glad that you enjoy the experience.

Originally Posted by minitruth

Well.. it's been a few weeks and I ordered a razor from the classifieds. Wow. A world of difference. The shave is so much closer and I can feel that the edge of the blade is so much better than the Zeepk one I had bought before. I even nicked myself a few times, which was unintended but in a way more satisfying than dragging a crappy razor over my skin and missing whole swaths of hair.

Thanks to all who responded and got me on the right track!

Amen brother! Testify!.... welcome to the fold

Do not worry about the Zeepk piece of crp. I would think that a goodly number here, myself included, started with one because they did not know any better. You live, you shave, you bleed & you learn

Enjoy your shaves!

Yes, make sure you get an actually shave ready blade. Your best bet is to get a good razor from a honemeister here, or to buy a cheap one and send it to a honemeister.

Once you've got the shave ready razor, you'll get a much better result, but dont expect perfection the first time around. Think of it like driving: when you get your license, you can move your car from A to B without major accidents, but you dont have the assurance, the experience, the foresight you've got a few years later. Respect the blade, be careful, watch the angle. It will only get better from there on!