My approaching second partial shave.

I just read the article on shaving with a straight razor (I always do things before reading the instructions. I blame it on testosterone) and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I'd approached straight razor shaving the right way! I hadn't actually intended to shave with a straight. I was into buying, restoring and selling DEs and started finding and collecting straights and starting to restore them. They're such pieces of real-life art! Anyway, I got beyond grinding and polishing and into honing (with a lot of guidance from the SRP) and when I finally got what felt to my thumb pad like a true shaving edge, I wondered... And there was obviously one way to find out, so I took one of the straights I'd honed, stropped it, and marched into the bathroom and lathered up. I explained to my beloved Super Speed that this was just a test. No worries. So I unfolded the straight, put the scales at 90º and made my first tentative stroke. And it worked! I actually shaved right below my right sideburn with a once-dull razor I honed myself! Not only that, but it was a really close shave! And the sound a straight makes... it's so much more pleasing. Anyway, I only shave a patch of about one and a half square inches and decided to call that good. I picked up my Super Speed and proceeded with my usual shave. But a couple of times I picked the straight back up just to see how I would approach other areas. Like under my nose, my neck and, most challenging, the left side of my face. But I didn't actually shave any of those places. I could tell I needed to do some reading first. So I came here this morning, learned that I was proceeding as recommended and am about to go in and try shaving a bit more with that straight. Is it wrong to feel this giddy?

Hey Rickosovitch, it sounds like it went well! There's
nothing wrong with feeling giddy -- straight razor
shaving is somewhat unique in its ability to impart a
great feeling on the shaver :)

Welcome to SRP!

- Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sebell

Hey Rickosovitch, it sounds like it went well! There's
nothing wrong with feeling giddy -- straight razor
shaving is somewhat unique in its ability to impart a
great feeling on the shaver :)

Welcome to SRP!

- Scott

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Thanks Scott. I went ahead and shaved my entire right cheek this morning. Got my first weeper, but I didn't feel it happening, just noticed it in the mirror. I shave right over the jawbone too, but when I got to the top of my neck I had to stop. The grain of the whiskers there go up, not down, and I lost confidence when I started to put the blade to the base of my neck to start a stroke. I'm going to take this just a little bit at a time and try to build my confidence in small steps. I really don't know if I'll become a full-time straight razor shaver, but it is something to be able to take a naked blade to my face with good, or at least okay, results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickosovitch

I'm going to take this just a little bit at a time and try to build my confidence in small steps.

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That's absolutely the best way to start. Take it
easy, know when to stop, and you'll avoid a lot
of unnecessary irritation and the resulting pain
and frustration. Use light pressure and keep a
consistent angle < 30°.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickosovitch

I really don't know if I'll become a full-time straight razor shaver, but it is something to be able to take a naked blade to my face with good, or at least okay, results.

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We'll see if that statement holds another month
from now... ;)

- Scott

Your experience brings back memories. You are doing well and don't worry about the weepers. When I go for a great BBS shave, there is usually a weeper or two, but they close up quickly with a cold water rise or just close up quickly on their own with a normal hot water rise.

You are in pursuit of the BBS shave! Keep going!

Pabster

Well, I did my third SR shave this morning, and, in my usual style, threw caution to the wind. First off, I used the 30º angle and learned that my blade could be a little sharper. So I need to keep after my honing/stropping till I get that right. Second, I took advantage of not getting that close a shave and kept on going. I intended to just do the other cheek, but after I did that I tried a few tentative strokes on my neck. I was really just learning how to approach each area. You know, how you hold the razor, what sort of strokes. Anyway, I did my whole neck too. Now, by this point, I had a pretty stubbly shave, but I didn't have a single nick, scratch or weeper. So, what the heck. My chin and was the only thing left unshaved so I went for it. Again, not a close shave at all, but I can see what everybody means about what a tough place this is to shave. So then I tried a little touch-up on my upper lip. And then I re-lathered my cheeks and made another pass. Then I re-lathered my neck and did a litte XTG work. And I still hadn't cut myself! So I was starting to feel a little glow. I really can learn to do this. I grabbed my Super Speed and gave myself a light once-over, did the back of my neck, rinsed off and put on my AS splash. Then I fed Steve, Luke and Dave (my two dogs and one cat) and went to my work desk and got out the venerable old pumice stone a very good friend gave me. I'd heard that the Norton grits (I have the starter set - 4k/8k, 1k/220, and cutter stone) aren't really as fine as American grits. So I wondered if my pumice stone would put an even finer edge on my blade. Can't really tell with my thumb pad. We'll see tomorrow morning.

I still don't know why using a straight razor is such a compulsion. I feel like a moth circling a light bulb.

It's fun though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickosovitch

I'd heard that the Norton grits (I have the starter set - 4k/8k, 1k/220, and cutter stone) aren't really as fine as American grits. So I wondered if my pumice stone would put an even finer edge on my blade.

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Hi Rick, being a DE shaver to start is an advantage in making the transition IMO. If what you have is a pumice stone such as used to refresh a razor strop or remove callus or dead skin I think you'll get better results using your nortons as described here.

When I was starting out with straight razor shaving a getting a professionally honed razor made a significant difference in the quality of the shave. It also gave me a benchmark to compare my honing efforts to. I started with the same set that you now have and found it to be quite effective. Also, if you read my sig you may find it helpful in avoiding cuts and nicks.

I need to correct my earlier post. What I have, in addition to my Norton set, isn't a pumice stone, it's a carborundum stone. I think it's from like the 1930s. It belonged to a friend's grandfather and has come to me as a trade for an Allegro type H. Anyway, I think that's a really good idea about having a pro hone a blade for me so I have a bench mark. I really want to get this right.

Jimmy is right on the money here -- while it is good
that you're learning to hone early on, it is absolutely
necessary to get a professionally honed razor to find
out what `shave-ready sharp' truly is. There is just
no other way to reduce the other variables and focus
on your technique as you learn.

Oh, congrats on the first full shave :)

- Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickosovitch

I still don't know why using a straight razor is such a compulsion. I feel like a moth circling a light bulb.

It's fun though.

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I can't quite figure it out either... but shaving with a straight, esp. one you've honed yourself, is just a repeatable rewarding experience...

-Chief