Thread: Intrigued by the Straight

You may want to do some practicing (learning angles and such) before your first shave. Practice may not make prefect but it sure helps get us closer. (practice stroping your razor too, believe me it helps)

Originally Posted by ENUF2

You may want to do some practicing (learning angles and such) before your first shave. Practice may not make prefect but it sure helps get us closer. (practice stroping your razor too, believe me it helps)

Definitely! Once I get the strop and razor I will definitely practice stropping and will get somewhat comfortable with it before I put blade to face.

Originally Posted by ENUF2

You may want to do some practicing (learning angles and such) before your first shave. Practice may not make prefect but it sure helps get us closer. (practice stroping your razor too, believe me it helps)

Just to bounce off of what he said, I went to my local flea market and bought a 5 dollar crummy straightblade. I practiced stropping for quite awhile with it before i actually started stropping my "good" blade. Although the blades were different sizes, this seemed to help me understand how it should feel to strop properly. I would suggest doing something similar, or doing what many people have suggested to me lately and use a butter knife.

Im brand new myself, will be attempting my 4th shave tonight. Good luck with everything

Originally Posted by shorynot

Just to bounce off of what he said, I went to my local flea market and bought a 5 dollar crummy straightblade. I practiced stropping for quite awhile with it before i actually started stropping my "good" blade.

That is an excellent idea. It will give me good practice without the risk of damaging my good blade. How are your shaves going so far?

Originally Posted by BullGoose

That is an excellent idea. It will give me good practice without the risk of damaging my good blade. How are your shaves going so far?

Eh? They are so so...im really having a difficult time with my strokes, when i watch the videos everyone is doing these nice fluid motions down their face. I just dont see how its done...once i get under my chin (jawline, whatever you wanna call it) its a mess. Im definitely reducing the hair on my face...but its patchy all over the place.

I bought some really good lather (Truefitt and hill) and have a badger brush on the way. Im having a hard time getting a good lather going...maybe its because of my cheap walmart boar brush. Anyways im sure all this will get better soon...practice practice practice.

Good luck

I've only been at this 4 weeks as of tomorrow I was set up with a professionally sharpened vintage razor, Badger brush, Heirloom Latigo / Horsehide strop, (2) good soaps (Ogalalla and Kiss my face) and a Barber hone. Still I didn't see a "quality" shave until almost week 3. I was well instructed and my shaves were alright (a few nicks, a few weepers) but there is a learning curve. You will hear guys talk about an ah ha moment, I had one. You will learn the angle that shaves best and you will figure out the different directions your beard grows. All these are small pieces which are needed to for better and better shaves. It seems like every time I shave I learn something new, you will too. Just remember slow and steady, be patient and lean of the advice and the wiki and you will do great.

I would highly suggest listening to what has been said already and get a rounded point blade. There is nothing wrong with starting with a spike point but it's like riding a motorcycle at the beginning...you WILL slip. It's only a matter of time.

That tiny point will stick ya when you least expect it to.