Thread: Next day: some questions after my first straight shave

Originally Posted by razormike

" Jeffe do you Know what a plethora is ? "

No El Guapo

Originally Posted by bradyjfrey

Wow, I didn't even assume I'd be owning more than one strop! Makes sense though, I'm sure it's like tattoos, I won't be happy with just one.

One strop should do you fine and last 20 years +/-.

After a month or more of stropping you may want to hone the razor lightly to bring it back to strop ready. The least expensive and easy to learn tool for this IMO is a balsa hone or two. Use green CrOx on one and on the other 1 or 0.5 micron diamond on the other. I believe a balsa hone is more forgiving and poses less risk of seriously damaging a blade than 'rock hones'. You can make them or pick a pair up from one of the folks here. 0.5u diamond on a hardwood backed hard-felt hone may also work to refresh the blade when the strop no longer can.

I like the notion of balsa because it is flat the way hones are and mostly preserves the bevel set by honing. Adding even the smallest amount of paste to a strop seems to round the cutting edge too much over time making honing more of a project than it might be (I still have a pasted strop though). Ask you honemaster if he used 0,1,2 layers of tape when setting the final bevel. You will want to do the same.

I had similar problems the first few shaves even with a shave ready razor from SRD. My face seems to have taken about 4 or 5 shaves before it started to get used to shaving with a straight. When I started I was holding the razor way too steep, probably more at 45 deg or so than the 30 deg recommended. That caused the sound of the wiskers to be more like velcro getting ripped apart than bacon frying in a pan, which is supposedly the sound us newbies should shoot for, and also tugged at the whiskers instead of cutting. My face was raw and tender so I waited 3 days in between shaves for a few, now I can shave everyday(3 weeks in) without too much irritation, I still get a little but it is for the most part confined to the lower neck region where my whiskers grow at different angles and has always caused problems no matter how I shave. It took until my third shave or so before I started getting the pressure at a better level, and it seems that as confidence rises so does comfort, tenantiveness is no good for comfort. I have also read around the forum that it takes a few shaves before the harshness leaves a razor(scary sharp becomes scary sharp and smooth), which seems about right as far as my experience so far, but I cant say for sure or if it was just my technique getting better. The point, even with a perfectly prepared razor, it will take time and practice to improve your comfort at least it did for me. When you get your razor back, spend more time preparing your beard, lower the angle of your blade, lower the pressure your exerting on the razor to shave(JimmyHAD has pointers on the correct grip in his sig-line) and dont be scared of the edge, be cautious and mindful of where it is at all times but dont be tenative. Once you start improving technique you will enjoy it far more since every shave just keeps getting better and better. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been so far.

Jason has given you great advice... i'm new to straight razor shaving also... about the same time as Jason... when you get your straight razor sharp... the next trick is trying to keep it sharp... that will come from the daily stroping... improper stroping technique will dull your razor and you'll have to send it off again for re sharpening/honing... so... practice your stroping carefully... keep the strop tight and the razor light... just enough pressure to keep the blade on the strop all the way across... I'd be practicing while your razor is off being prepared for your first real shave... you can use a kichen knife or a spare dull razor if you have one...

preparing your razor is also extremely important... shower/ or hot towels heated in the microwave.. preshave oil and a good lather.... after your first pass if you attempt another WTG... re apply the preshave oil... no pressure... keep light and your angle 30 degrees to 20 degrees...let the razor do the work...no pressure... if your razor is sharp you won't want to add pressure naturally... when you feel you have to... your razor is dull..

Straight razor shaving is a blast.... you'll get there.... don't get discouraged you've started with a non "shave ready" razor...but it's a great quality razor that will give you great shaves....

Keep asking questions... many of the guys here have been shaving for years...and are a great source of informationa and support...

Maq

So I finally received my Straight Razor back from Lynne, and I have to say, it was indeed the manufacturer 'shave ready' that was the problem. Lynne did a great job on this bad boy, it cuts like butter now.

I decided to take it slow and only do with the grain, cheeks and mustache - and I did fairly good for the most part, with the exception of 3 quality war wounds:
Yfrog - qp9d - Uploaded by bradyjfrey

I account that to me not handling the blade properly. I stretched my face, but opened my mouth a little bit, leaving some indentions that nicked just right.

I'll get it, I may save my next attack for closer to the weekend, but I'll get there with practice.

Many thanks to all of you for answering my questions, and the helpful guidance! I'll be sure to come back with questions, and hopefully return the favor.

Originally Posted by Jasongreat

...bacon frying in a pan, which is supposedly the sound us newbies should shoot for...

That's funny, I haven't read that yet- sounds like a fairly accurate description, I'll keep that in mind for round 2.

I have to admit, I think I'm holding the angle too high or too low like you noted. I'm sure I'll become a bit more comfortable with it as you said, but right now some of the edges around my face seem awkward to cross... I've been youtubing and favoriting lots of videos from you guys http://www.youtube.com/bradyjfrey - nothing like watching on the iPhone while straight razor shaving, mixing two worlds there!