Thread: Trying to go straight...again!

Hello,
A newbie with a few questions, but first a bit of history if you'll indulge me. Last summer I decided to switch to a straight razor, I didn't know why at the time, I just knew I wanted to. As a previous poster stated, without doing the proper research I got a "fantastic deal" off ebay, which turned out to be a P.O.S. razor (Zeepk if you are curious). I probably could have gotten a better shave if I had used a serrated steak knife from the kitchen. I gave up after the first few attempts, tired of wearing toilet paper and the sting of razor burn, and went back to my Gillette Sensor Excel. Fast forward to the present and I have decided to give straight shaving another chance. I stumbled onto this site and have spent the better part of the last day and a half reading just about everything. I think my reasons for wanting to shave with a straight razor are stated by member MRGAD in his post, "Why Shave Straight." I think that pretty much sums it up.
As for my tools of the trade, I have a Filarmonica 3/8 straight, a Dovo strop, and soap, all purchased from ClassicShaving.com. The badger hair brush I have was a gift and is from The Art of Shaving. I have watched the videos for stropping and shaving and I have not had much luck and I know there is a learning curve to shaving straight, which brings me to the questions:

1. I have stropped my razor first on the linen side, then leather, tested it on the hair on my forearm, which now feels very smooth by the way, but when I try it on my face, it feels like it is dragging and not cutting the hair...not a very pleasant feeling. Could it be because I have yet to learn the correct angle on which to hold the blade to the skin?

2. Could it be my stropping technique?

3. Do I need to send my razor out to have it honed before shaving with it?

4. Or should I invest in and start with a larger razor to learn the correct technique?

I know this is a long post but any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

The 3/8 may be a little tough to learn on, but you can always go to a 4/8 or 5/8. Take a look at the Wiki on the First Straight Razor Shave write up and see if that doesn't help you some. Obviously the prep is important, but the angle with a 3/8 razor needs to be right on which should be 30 degrees or less. I would try just one area of the face for a few days to get the cutting down before taking on more.

Lynn

Also, I find that it is more difficult to strop a 3/8 razor. With both honing and stropping you want the blade flat on the stone or leather with "flat" meaning both the spine and edge are both making contact with relatively uniform pressure. With the 3/8 blade, the edge and spine are so close together that is is very easy to torque the blade and put the edge at risk. Even though there is only a quarter inch difference, you will find that a 5/8 razor (the most common size) is much easier to keep flat on the strop.

Since you already got a bad start with the Zeepk, I'd hate for you to struggle and give up again with that 3/8 razor. I know it's a common suggestion, but you might want to check out the Classifieds for a cheap larger razor to start with. Note, there's nothing wrong with a 3/8 razor, it's just harder to use and maintain.

Also, good for you for doing that reading!!! However, if you have spent a day and a half at it, you ain't even close to reading everything!

Hello and welcome, as stated above having a good razor makes a really big difference. You are only as good as your tools. When I am teaching people at work I tell them that its not as easy as I make it look. This is so true with straight razor shaving. You will see some people on the internet shaving and making it look easy, its not. If it was easy you would not want to do it, well that may not be true but you know what I mean.
A 5/8 or a 6/8 is a good razor to learn on. Make sure its shave ready well worth the extra 20 bucks. When learning you need good equipment, as you get better you can shave with a pocket knife (check the videos). Start slow on the cheeks work your way to the chin and lip. Go slow and enjoy.

Crom

3. Do I need to send my razor out to have it honed before shaving with it?

Yes, you do.

Most new razors aren't honed good enough to shave with . I know that may seem strange if I were in your shoes I'd send it to one of our vendors in the classified section and have it honed.
As Lynn said an already steep learning curve can be increased with the size of the blade you chose. I would get a 5/8th off the classifieds here which won't cost you much and will most likely be honed and ready to go. Also a roundpoint blade has less chance of nicking you until you get the basics down. That is the toe or end of the blade is rounded rather than squared off leaving a sharp edge. Watch the ears:-) Also as has been said start out shaving your cheeks then move on to other areas of your face until your comfortable with shaving your entire face. Difficult areas for new shavers would be around the ear lobes, chin and lips.
I hope this helps and welcome!!!

Something shaped like this PARFORCE P.G.BERG LUXEMBURG FRENCH POINT 11/16 - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

When I returned to shaving with a straight razor, I made sure that I had the easiest blade to shave with--5/8 full hollow, and that it was made ready to shave by someone that knew what they were doing. I focused on prepping my beard and making soap. Then for the first couple of weeks I only did the flat side of my face with my right hand. After I felt comfortable I switched hands and did the left side of my face, but only the flat portion. Finish your shave with a double edge and relish your success. Progress is slow--there is no rush. There is plenty of time to learn how to hone a blade. The keys to start are stropping, prepping, and making soap! We have all had to go through this in the beginning. Take your time and enjoy the journey.

Lewis

+1 on the good advice already given.Welcome to SRP.Love your avatar,Calvin and Hobbes is the best!

+1 on all that's been said. A slightly larger professionally sharpened razor to learn with will help. Besides with a professionally sharpened razor you will feel and begin to understand the what a shave should feel like. Play with the blade angle a bit. When you catch the correct angle for a certain blade it as amazing what it will do. Whatever you do stay with it. Patience is a key to the art of str8 shaving. Remember we learn more from mistakes than we do from success. If we never fell down we wouldn't know how to get back up.

Thank-you for the insights on straight shaving. I got the next 2 days off, so I guess I need to get back to reading more of the very useful information posted in this site. I will take the advice given and start my search for a quality 5/8. I did check out the wikki on brands to avoid, and which are quality, so now it just an issue of finding what I want. Wow, I haven't gotten that FIRST perfect shave and already I get to start on my collection of razors. lol! I watched Lynn's quick video of him shaving and caught a glimpse of all of his razors, just curious as to how many he owns?