Thread: Newbies first attempts

Greetings all,

I just wanted to say what a great forum this is and how much I've learned by reading the posts here. I've been wanting to try straight razor shaving for awhile and only recently took the plunge now that I finally have a bit of extra money to buy my first supplies with. I bought a shave ready T.J. Collins "President" razor off of Ebay last week.

It seems like a good razor to me, but then again what do I know! I have nothing to compare it to. My first shave was a disaster. Razor burn and nicks, you name it! I've shaved with it 3 more time since then and I'm happy to say its getting better but still not stellar. I'm not getting razor burn and cuts, but the quality of my shave is quite poor. I still have to finish off with my Mach III. I know I've got a large learning curve ahead of me. I'm terrified of stropping and accidentally ruining the razor's edge and I can't seem to build a lather like I see in the you-tube videos to save my life!

Yesterday I decided to take the advice I've seen on this board and stop over at SRD to buy a pre-honed Dovo Black Star to use as a bench mark, since I'm not quite convinced that a random e-bay bought razor is as sharp as it should be. I realize that the Best Quality probably would of served me equally as well, but the Black Star really called out to me and I don't mind spending a bit extra to get the razor that really suits me and that I will enjoy using in the long-haul. I also bought the world of straight shaving DVD to try to learn and correct some of my poor-newb techniques.

All in all it's a slow start but I'm determined to get it right and think I will really love shaving with a straight razor once I get the hang of it. I can also see how RAD could become an obsession in the future, but I'm fighting it at the moment!

Best wishes,

Nomad

Greetings!

Glad you took the plunge into straight razors! When I first read that you bought a shave-ready razor off ebay I was a little sceptical, and based on your testimony, it didn't sound shave-ready at all! Not all razors sold on ebay are by sellers who know a lot about straight razors, so their interpretation of shave-ready is far different from someone who actually has to shave with the thing!

But I'm glad to hear that you ordered a pre-honed razor from SRD. That razor will surely be honed to shave-readiness. You could always send out the razor you won on ebay to one of the members here for a good honing (found in the classifieds under Member Services).

Do you have a useable strop? It's important to strop before each use. Just out the Wiki here on this site, it's full of great info on shaving/stropping/etc. But you already ordered the Straight Shaving DVD, so I'm sure you'll get a lot of great info on there!

Let us know how the shave with the properly honed razor goes!

Thats right, determination. Just give yourself the time to learn. Its great fun to learn to master the technique.
I've been at it four months now and my confidence level has grown immensly. Feeling confindent was my first goal, now I can focus on the finer points of the technique. And don't forget the post shave. Find a good aftershave lotion and balm. It will make you feel like a million bucks.
Dannyr

I have to agree with you on quite a few points. I started reading posts here a couple months ago, just to get a feel of everything in the world of SR shaving. There's quite alot to be learned. Last week I bought a brand-new Dovo razor from a friend of mine who owns a tobacco shop and he swore it was shave-ready. After reading all the testimonials, I should have know better, but still went ahead and tried it out. Bought some Col. Conk shave soap and a brush and spend a Saturday morning trying things out. Holy Cow did it go horribly.

Needless to say, I ordered a Norton 4/8 and preceeded to give honing a try. Just like with shaving, I read a bunch of posts and even watched Lynn's youtube video on honing. Seemed simple enough, you know? Well...it certainly got quite a bit more sharp, and tonight's shave was exponentially better than saturday's, but I still have to go over it again with my Gilette, although I seem to be getting a much closer shave now, than I used to. Part of me is wanting to send my new blade out to be honed by one of the more experienced memebers, but part of me is also wanting to be stubborn and make myself learn (experience is the best teacher!).

Can't wait till I get good at this.

-Derek

welcome to srp nomad and derek sound like you both have been doing your research and are off to a great start if you need any advice just ask all the help is free at srp. great posts also keep it up

Lather can be a trick this might help How to make great lather from a soap ~ Tutorial - Badger & Blade it from another site but it helped me out. As far a quality of shave remember to give yourself time, it takes time to learn any skill and shaving with a straight is a learned skill for sure.

Originally Posted by Nomad

I can also see how RAD could become an obsession in the future, but I'm fighting it at the moment!

I don't think you have come to grips with the fact that you are already showing signs of it!

Take your time. This is not a race, it's the pleasure of shaving with a straight. Comfort first. You don't have to do your whole face for awhile. Start with small, easy areas and learn your pressures and angles. When you feel comfortable with that area add another.

Originally Posted by Nomad

I can also see how RAD could become an obsession in the future, but I'm fighting it at the moment!

OH you will give in to the dark side!!! RAD is real. I bought my first two months ago. My fifth came today and three more on the way.....


My first was a Dovo Speical from SRD. Those guys are a great choice, just be patient read your SRP wiki and enjoy the shave. Glad to have ya' here and happy shaving!!

Thank you to everyone who replied and offered advice an well wishes. Much appreciated!

Yesterday my Dovo arrived and I tried it out this morning. The difference was amazing. the whiskers just sheered right off. At first I realized I was using too much pressure, but once I lightened up my touch a bit things went much smoother. There was a huge difference between the Dovo from SRD and the "shave ready" razor I purchased off of Ebay. I think I'll be sending that one in for some honing in the meantime.

It was seriously the most enjoyable shaving experiences I've ever had. I look forward to the days starting off like this. I was almost disappointed after the last stroke because I didn't want to stop!

Regards,

Nomad

Glad you found a happy ending. Sounds like your a determined person and learned your lesson about ebay and "shave ready." Also, you have definitely been bitten by the RAD bug. Check the show & tell section for plenty of razor porn.

And welcome! Figth the good fight.