Thread: Hi My Name is Steven

and I have a problem. Yesterday after my first straight shave I was left with a few nice cuts. Not nicks but cuts. I decided to fore go shaving today with anything as to let my face rest, but here it is s Saturday night 20:47 and I want to shave!
I think I need a 12 step program?

Oh, you don't need the 12 step program yet... Just wait 'til you catch the dreaded HAD or RAD, or what I have ETRTSSAD.
(hone acquisition disorder)
(razor acquisition disorder)
(everything related to straight shaving acquisition disorder)

Welcome to SRP! Be sure to take some time to read the wiki, especially the stuff for beginners.

I already have 5 straights! One shave ready restore with original scales and four more in various states of restoration?

Hello, Steven,

Patience is a strong potion in the world of straight razors. Slowly and carefully will do it. Don't forget, beyond the few initial cuts and nicks lies a pot of pleasure.

Regards,

Obie

First off, Welcome to SRP! Please don't let a few minor setbacks on your first attempt keep you from staying with it. I hope the following info will help you out.

Obie is so right in saying that patience is extremely important!

Judging by your thread, it sounds like you tried grabbing the bull by the horns and doing a complete shave on your first attempt. Please read the following in the Wiki, for you first str8 razor shave, posted by Lynn: First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki . Even though I didn't read this before my first shave, I did the same as he recommends. That recommendation is this: Don't try a complete shave on your first attempt. On my first attempt, I shaved only my right cheek and finished up with the disposable. The next day I did my right and left cheeks, and agian, finished up the same way. I kept on like this for at least the first week or two with the exception of moving to a new area each time before I did a complete shave. The advantage of starting out this way, is, it gives you time to get a feel of the razor & how it shaves. Most importantly, it gives your brain some time to make your aware of where the razor's edge is at all times and how to manipulate it!

Other than the fact of this being your first attemp at a str8 razor shave, there are are a few more things to consider that could be to blame for your cuts you described. Firstly, a razor should shave easily, don't force it. If you feel the razor pulling at the whiskers, it's either not honed right, needs to be stropped correctly or blade angle could be incorrect. Secondly, make sure you're stretching your skin enough. My lower neck area is where I find the most need to stretch the skin. When I first started out, I would get to the lower neck, and the razor would stop in motion because I didn't have my skin taught enough. Agian, when your skin is not stretched enough, the razor will sometimes stop as a result....Don't force it.

I hopes this will help you some. Please don't give up as you will find an undescribable satisfaction in that first complete shave that gives you the thought "Why haven't I been doing this all along". There's something about shaving with a str8 that I can't describe.

Happy shaving!

PATIENCE!!!....welcome and just take it easy for a little bit and do not try and rush it. there is a learning curve and each and every shave will get better with practice. don't worry, we all want to shave more as the experience gets better. also i would 2nd the vote on HAD, RAD and all those other straight shaving disorders....good luck

Iceman, welcome to straight shave and SRP. Light touch always and always know where your blade is when shaving.

Don't let it touch your face if you are not ready to shave. Once in a long while, I day dream and the blade touches a part of my face and leaves a tiny fine cut as a momento (takes 3 days to heal)

No loss in letting a few days go by before shaving. It actually makes the shave feel better.

Pabster

After four days I couldn't take it any more! Busted out the Straight and put 100 thoughtful careful laps on the strop.
Got some hot water running soaked a towel in hot water, applied Pre shave steeped my face with the hot towel for 3 minutes. Worked up a nice lather and went for it!.
I'm trying to start on my right side burn which is high up by the top of were my ear attaches. I have a hard time seeing this area clearly when the razor is in my hand. Anyways got it started and man it was uncomfortable cutting four days of beard. I stopped grabbed the Tech knocked the for days off quickly. Re-lathered
And started with the straight. A bit Lighter touch and I was shaving! I caught one previous cut a bit and opened it. Nicked my self one other time with the tip and a new moderate slice from being stupid.
Over all rating this shave as a 5 out of ten. Some irritation one new cut and not so BBS, but it's progress.I'll be using the Tech in the morning as this shave ain't gonna cut it for tomorrow.
My plan is to work the straight in the evening and on my days off till I have it mastered. It's more of a hand eye thing for me trying to find the right look to see the razor and my face at the same time!