Thread: Preparing for SR shaving.

Hello members of SRP,

I am very glad to be a new member. Everyone seems so helpful and nice here at the SRP. I am 19 and after a few years of shaving had made the decision to try out a straight razor shave. I have heard so many great things about the shave.
I was hesitant to jump right in so I decided to enter slowly. I purchased a disposable straight razor, badger brush, and some Colonel Conk Soap. I feel that these supplies will help me get started and give me some feedback on whether or not I should stick to it.
I was wondering if I could have some tips or feedback, any thoughts welcomed.

Amazon.com: Col. Conk World's Famous Shaving Soap, Bay Rum (Net Weight 2.25 Oz): Health & Personal Care

Amazon.com: Parker SR1 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Razor and 5 Shark Super Stainless blades: Health & Personal Care

Amazon.com: Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care

it might be worth investing in a older vintage straight from the classifieds here, make sure it is shave ready. i think it would be better to start with the real thing. starter razors can be bought very reasonable. this way you can learn from the real thing and also learn stropping skills. the one you have now is similar but not the same as a straight...good luck

Originally Posted by Huizar6

Hello members of SRP,

I am very glad to be a new member. Everyone seems so helpful and nice here at the SRP. I am 19 and after a few years of shaving had made the decision to try out a straight razor shave.
................................
I was wondering if I could have some tips or feedback, any thoughts welcomed.

Shaving for a couple of years does not tell us much.
What have you been shaving with all these years?

For a lot of folks the big jump is to "Wet Shaving with a blade"
having shaved for years with an electric.

If you have been wet shaving -- are you getting a good shave now?
And with what?

Welcome to SRP. I can't comment on any of your acquisitions because I have no personal experience with them but other members will be along. Check out the SRP Wiki beginner's guide here if you haven't already and read SRP Founder Lynn Abrams suggestions for the first straight razor shave here to get off on the right track.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Shaving for a couple of years does not tell us much.
What have you been shaving with all these years?

For a lot of folks the big jump is to "Wet Shaving with a blade"
having shaved for years with an electric.

If you have been wet shaving -- are you getting a good shave now?
And with what?

-----------------------------------------------------
-I have been shaving with disposable razors and I have never been that content with them. I have never had a wet shave so I suppose I am making a rather large leap.

Dude you dry shave with disposable razors? Ouch.

Originally Posted by Huizar6

-----------------------------------------------------
-I have been shaving with disposable razors and I have never been that content with them. I have never had a wet shave so I suppose I am making a rather large leap.

Shaving with a shaving brush and a decent soap is very pleasant and superior to the canned stuff. You might want to look at preparation tutorials in the SRP Wiki. Pre shave prep will make a lot of difference in the shave. IME lathering in a bowl is also a good thing although some guys like to load the brush on the soap puck and then go directly to the face. I get a thicker and richer lather going to the bowl. Go to youtube and look for 'Mantic lather' video. His vid helped me a lot.

Originally Posted by Huizar6

-----------------------------------------------------
-I have been shaving with disposable razors and I have never been that content with them. I have never had a wet shave so I suppose I am making a rather large leap.

Aha.... a good wet shave with a blade even a disposable is
the next step.

Visit your local drug store and see if they have an inexpensive
shave brush and a puck of shave soap.

My local CVS has a shave brush for less than $10 and my first
and still favourite shave soap (Williams) for about $2.00. I saw
a CVS kit with brush, bowl and soap for cheep the other day.

With your same disposable blades a brush, soap and pan of hot water you can get started.

There are as many different ways to wet shave as there are beards!
My style is:
Wet the brush
Toss the puck of soap in a cup or hold it in hand and brush for 30 seconds.
Take the brush to my face and brush lightly for 30 seconds (washing)
Rinse the face.
Get a bit more soap on the brush and work up a lather
(in a cup, your hand or face) and apply. I like to build the lather on my face
with a classic boar brush.
Shave with what ever blade you have, one systematic pass.
Rinse and feel for missed spots.
Brush a bit of soap on the missed spots and take another light pass.

Rinse your face clean of soap, comb your hair, brush your teeth (not with the shaving brush) and off ya go for the day.

85+% of a good shave is starting with a clean wet face then keeping the whiskers wet with a good wet lather for two min before shaving. The next big bit is sanitation which matters a lot tomorrow.

And yes there are days when I pull down the "good" stuff or "experimental stuff" and take the time searching for the ultimate "fine" shave.

Take is slow -- one step at a time...