First BBS shave!

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08-25-2009, 02:05 PM
cegadede

First BBS shave!

As some of you might have seen HERE, some really nice chaps sent me a great shaving kit. As the package took 30 days to arrive, I've bough a "El Cheapo" shavette lookalike straight razor (mine uses DE blades) for US$ 3,00 to practice while wainting for the kit.

Some people saind Shavettes are unforgiving with bad techinique. Mine was downright strict (if I got it right it shaved, if wrong, no matter how little, it took a chunk of my flesh to get my attention). On the first day with it I got a HUGE cut on the upper lip (2cm wide x 4mm tall), that taught me something about paying attention to what I was doing.

Fast-foward 30 days: my kit arrives! Today I took the hoffritz for a ride, stroped a bit on newspaper then on the leather strop, applied some warm Taylor of old bond street shaving cream, and voilá, I've got the first BBS shave with a straight razor (just on the sideburns and cheeks, the troat, chin and mustache still have to be worked)!

Two things I've learned today: Real straight razors are much more forgiving of bad techinique, and, when really sharp, give a much more confortable shave than "shavettes".

PS: you've all gotta try stroping on newspaper, it rules!
08-25-2009, 02:10 PM
singlewedge

Glad to know that everything worked out for you. Newspaper works great and if you want to up its power you can add some chrom ox to the paper.
08-25-2009, 02:24 PM
keenedge

Cegadede,
You mentioned you stropped on newspaper, and then leather. Intuitively I would think newspaper would be smoother and should be used after the leather strop. So is newspaper used before leather because it is more abrasive? Please enlighten me. :)
Thanks,
08-25-2009, 02:28 PM
cegadede

Quote:

Originally Posted by keenedge

Cegadede,
You mentioned you stropped on newspaper, and then leather. Intuitively I would think newspaper would be smoother and should be used after the leather strop. So is newspaper used before leather because it is more abrasive? Please enlighten me. :)
Thanks,

Good question, I'll leave that one to the experts here! I sugest you try booth and see what works best for you.
08-25-2009, 02:29 PM
Otto

Gratulations on your first BBS :tu
08-25-2009, 11:16 PM
ENUF2

Congradulations on BBS. Continue to be patient and learn. Not paying attention can cause a "I won't do that again" lesson. Been there done that. Not fun.
08-25-2009, 11:25 PM
mainaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by keenedge

Cegadede,
You mentioned you stropped on newspaper, and then leather. Intuitively I would think newspaper would be smoother and should be used after the leather strop. So is newspaper used before leather because it is more abrasive? Please enlighten me. :)
Thanks,

newspaper is used after say CrO strop for final honing step. Hanging strop is always he pre shave step though.
08-26-2009, 05:06 AM
fritz

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainaman

newspaper is used after say CrO strop for final honing step. Hanging strop is always he pre shave step though.

My experience also. Newspaper is less abrasive than chrome oxide and just a little more abrasive or about the same as cloth (linen, cotton canvas, denim, etc.). In a pinch, you can strop on newspaper and then on the inside of your forearm.
08-26-2009, 05:49 AM
SiRed8

Glad you'd an awesome shave Jose! :Beer:

I started on sideburns and cheeks too. I took giant leap on my second shave when I did everything hahaha. I nicked myself once on my lower jaw as I attempted against the grain ( ATG ) stroke. I hope you've many great shaves bro!

With regards to shavettes, I don't know much about them but Lynn mentioned how unforgiving it was IIRC on his DVD.

What's so bad about shavettes?
08-26-2009, 01:23 PM
cegadede

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiRed8

Glad you'd an awesome shave Jose! :Beer:

I started on sideburns and cheeks too. I took giant leap on my second shave when I did everything hahaha. I nicked myself once on my lower jaw as I attempted against the grain ( ATG ) stroke. I hope you've many great shaves bro!

With regards to shavettes, I don't know much about them but Lynn mentioned how unforgiving it was IIRC on his DVD.

What's so bad about shavettes?

Mine ain't actually a shavette, but a locally made straight razor that uses DE blades. As DE blades are really sharp and a lot shorter than the blades of real straight razors, the force you use to shave is concentrated in a much smaller area, so it is a lot easier to get cuts and scratches, unless your technique is perfect.

Learning to shave with one of those is like learning to use a bicycle with a unicycle: it will be a lot harder, but if you make it, it will be a walk in the park when you use the real thing.