Just ordered my first straight razor and have some questions

I've hated shaving ever since I started doing it, and I hate paying for cartridge razors that clog up or dull halfway through a shave and nick me like it's their job. The electric razor I tried left my face feeling like it was run over by a lawnmower and now sits in a box somewhere where it can't hurt anybody else. When my last razor cartridge was used up I didn't want to ever buy another one, so I haven't shaved for a month. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of beards so I had to do something. I decided to try out a straight razor and found this place.

I ended up ordering the Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop kit from RupRazor because I saw them recommended a few times. After I ordered it, I realized I missed the Sticky thread about the GD's and probably should have gone with something else. I'm still optimistic though, quite a few people here said they haven't had much trouble with them, and they've got a 3 month sharpness guarantee. I was mostly just looking for something cheap but serviceable to see if this is for me before I invest in some better gear, so I'm hoping this'll do.

It should be arriving real soon, and I've got a few questions I need answers to before I can start. As mentioned above, I've got a pretty good beard going right now, should I shave that off with cartridge razor first and then start learning with the straight razor on stubble the next day or does it not matter how long the hair is when you're learning? I've got an old vintage shaving mug and badger brush sitting on a shelf in the bathroom as decoration, would this stuff be usable or should I invest in something new? Lastly, what sort of soap or cream should I be looking at to start with? Does the canned stuff work for straight razors too, if not what's the difference?

Thanks everybody for the help I've already gotten from the site, and hopefully for the answers to my questions.

welcome to srp

while we no longer recomend the gold dollar
Some of the issues with the GD is eliminated by the guy you got it from

when you trade up its not wort selling it but it is still something that will do the job

if you decide to upgrade you can use the GD to learn honing if you want to go in that direction. You can also return it since you have not used it because you do not have it in your hands yet, and get something more expensive.

stubble can be a good thing for the first shaves (you see the results)
then finish with the cartridge if your not happy with your looks

you sould look for shave soap biggest differense from canned goo is probably water
and you will find you need it

the shaving mug should be fine as well as that badger hair brush as long as its not falling apart on you....do yourself a favor and throw away the caned goo and get a good shaving cream or soap.... it really come down to what you like. me i like creams over soaps. the dfference is quality. the can goo will work but i think that is way way to thick. some creams that you can get for pretty cheap are taylor of bond street and DR Harris. if you take a look at the soap and cream review section you can look and see what you think you may like best. just remember skin stretching light pressure and short strokes. think beard reduction, your not going to just cut all clean off in one pass
welcome and good luck

Personally, I would use a trimmer to get it down to a manageable level either at home or professionally done. It will be hard enough to do your first shave on stubble.

As far as the brush and mug goes, i suppose the way to out if it will work would be to test it.

I suppose that you could use regular cream from a can, but what fun would that be? Some people think that there are ingredients in them that dries out your face and that they are inferior products in general. There are a lot of widely available products which are excellent. They cost more money up front, but on a per shave basis they aren't any more expensive. Kiss My Face shaving cream is widely available in stores and I, personally, like it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by janivar123

welcome to srp

while we no longer recomend the gold dollar
Some of the issues with the GD is eliminated by the guy you got it from

when you trade up its not wort selling it but it is still something that will do the job

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+1
As one of the biggest proponents against GD's I have never ever said they won't shave...
Kenrup is well respected for putting good edges on razors too, so you should be fine...
Take your time, read the beginner tips about the first shave (Lynn has some really good ones), and yes get a brush and a good shave soap, as we do call it wet shaving for a reason, that extra water does make a huge difference in the shave....

Enjoy

Thanks for the advice so far everybody. I've read all the beginner Stickies, and I'll go over them again before I try to shave for the first time. I think I'll shave today with my old razor to get rid of the beard, and by the time the straight razor arrives I'll have some stubble to start practicing on.

I'll test out the brush and mug I've got, they seem to be in okay condition so I'm optimistic. Do they sell any good shaving creams or soaps at supermarkets, or do most of you order yours online?

The Body Shop has a decent shaving cream

other than that i shop online

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Starker

I'll test out the brush and mug I've got, they seem to be in okay condition so I'm optimistic. Do they sell any good shaving creams or soaps at supermarkets, or do most of you order yours online?

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Walmart has a Brush, Soap, and Small Bowl set by Vanderhagen that honestly makes a great travel kit for later, and a decent starter kit for now that runs $8.97
Nothing great but also more than functional...
Kiss My Face can be found at most markets that have an organic section and it ROCKS...

But yes mostly online...

Hi Starker,
+1 with the above.
I have to say that if you hate shaving as much as you say and it,s a chore - maybe str8 shaving isn,t for you.
Examine your motivation-shaving with str8s is not easy and the learning curve is long and arduous and requires a kind of "love" of shaving.All us guys on SRP are shaving nuts! -we enjoy all the minutae of shaving -every little detail!!
Also it (if you do it right ) leads to all kinds of expenditure on honing,pre/post shaving creams & soaps,etc which ain,t cheap!
If you just want to get rid of beard- maybe try a D/E (My Parker Butterfly is a beaut!!) and for the 8 weeks i used it i only cut myself 2/3 times.Plus it,s all over in 2 minutes!+ razor blades are cheap as well.
However if you want to learn a skill and have the necessary nerve and determination to succeed then look no further-we are all here to help!!
Don,t shoot the messenger.
Kind regards
Noggs :soapbox:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by noggs247

Hi Starker,
+1 with the above.
I have to say that if you hate shaving as much as you say and it,s a chore - maybe str8 shaving isn,t for you.
Examine your motivation-shaving with str8s is not easy and the learning curve is long and arduous and requires a kind of "love" of shaving.All us guys on SRP are shaving nuts! -we enjoy all the minutae of shaving -every little detail!!
Also it (if you do it right ) leads to all kinds of expenditure on honing,pre/post shaving creams & soaps,etc which ain,t cheap!
If you just want to get rid of beard- maybe try a D/E (My Parker Butterfly is a beaut!!) and for the 8 weeks i used it i only cut myself 2/3 times.Plus it,s all over in 2 minutes!+ razor blades are cheap as well.
However if you want to learn a skill and have the necessary nerve and determination to succeed then look no further-we are all here to help!!
Don,t shoot the messenger.
Kind regards
Noggs :soapbox:

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+1 on the motivations.

I disliked shaving as well...
Shaving with a str8 taught me a lot about wet shaving.

Enough that today I can pull out a str8 or a DE (depending
on the phase of the moon and my mood) and get a
smooth fine shave. I no longer aspire to a BBS but
when they happen life is good. Shaving can now be
pleasant....

Thinking back the one key lesson I learned is that Santa
knows nuttin about shaving. i.e. Never trust a non shaver
with advice about shaving. One exception was the
nice little gal at AOS that sold me a fine brush a couple
years back. OK she just rang it up but what the hey
she did not lead me astray.

Time to :deal: start my new christmas list.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by noggs247

Hi Starker,
+1 with the above.
I have to say that if you hate shaving as much as you say and it,s a chore - maybe str8 shaving isn,t for you.
Examine your motivation-shaving with str8s is not easy and the learning curve is long and arduous and requires a kind of "love" of shaving.All us guys on SRP are shaving nuts! -we enjoy all the minutae of shaving -every little detail!!

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I think most of my dislike of shaving is because of how frustrating it is to use cartridge razors, thirty seconds in and the blades are already hopelessly clogged. I enjoy doing things the old fashioned way, I like to cook from scratch, build things, and maintain my own vehicles, appliances, and tools. I work a lot in wilderness areas and do a lot of bushcraft activities and carving/whittling in my free time, so I've got quite a few knives and a bunch of sharpening stones. I've always thought straight razors were neat, but never got around to trying one until now. I think I'll enjoy shaving once I learn how to use the straight razor properly. I probably won't end up on a quest for the "perfect" shave, but I think I'll be able to make an enjoyable experience out of shaving.

Starker,

Good for you...I hope your foray into the world of str8 razor shaving will be an enjoyable one.

++1 on the advice offered in the previous posts. Although the razor you purchased is not recommended by SRP, the person you ordered it from will do everything in his power to make it shave ready for you. The razor & strop set he offers, which I presume you ordered, is a good entry level combo.

Consider purchasing some decent shaving soap or cream as well as a good quality, inexpensive brush. The addition of these two items to your shaving accoutrements will increase your enjoyment of str8 razor shaving.

Take care--and smooth shaving.

Starker,
I am pretty new to str8 shaving, but as someone who has to shave everyday I totally understand the hatred of cartridges. Now that I have left the "dark side" I actually look forward to my morning shave.
The best advice that I can give you is to read all the wiki articles on this site while you are waiting for your razor to arrive. It will save you from commiting many avoidable mistakes. You will knick yourself and your strop but the articles should keep you out of the ER.
Also of note: don't go for the BBS (Baby's Butt Smooth) shave the first time out. I recommend WTG (with the grain) and XTG (across the grain) passes until you get the hang of it. Once again, it is all in the wikis. So, dust of the badger brush, blow the cobwebs out of the mug and welcome to str8 razor shaving.

Best of luck to you.
MrE

My razor arrived today! It was about what I was expecting, the scales are really flimsy but the blade seems okay. The strop is a no frills strip of leather with a leather cord to tie it to things. It's a step up from the leather belt I've been using for knives and I think it should work fine. One thing I didn't like is the metal grommet on the hole the cord attaches to, I'll probably slip up at least once and end up hitting the razor into it. There doesn't seem to be much of a way around that though, something needs to be there or the leather will tear. I also ordered a puck of VDG glycerin shave soap and a cheap Marvy boar brush.

I tested the razor out a little while ago and so far I'm pretty happy with it. I don't think I worked up a proper lather, after a minute or so my face felt drier than I think it should have. I'll have to read up some more and see if I can get it better.

I took the advice in the beginner's thread here and didn't try to do my whole face on my first go. I shaved between my sideburn and jaw, and since that went well I did the rest of my cheek. I was a little timid at first, but after a couple of strokes I felt in control of the razor; I wasn't using much pressure, and I stopped anytime there was too much resistance. I only did WTG strokes until the end when I wanted to see if I could shave a little closer, then I tried a few across the grain and ended up with a little nick.

Overall, it was much more pleasant to shave with the straight razor than with my old razors. It was also faster; even though I was going slow, since I didn't have to keep stopping to rinse and unclog the razor I ended up finishing my right cheek faster than my left (which was done with a cartridge razor). Smoothness was about the same on both sides, and I also got nicked on my left cheek by my old razor. So far it's faster (not including the setup), less frustrating, and at least as effective as my old razors, plus straight razors are much cooler. This'll probably end up as my primary means of shaving.

Well Done! It can only get better from here, right?

Hi Starker,
Congrats on your first str8 shave!!-Don,t worry you are doing just fine.
1.STROP-when you start stropping you will soon get into the rythm of stropping without going near the metal ring.Strop before each shave at least 30/60 strokes.Don,t forget to strop 20 strokes after the shave to clean the micro teeth on the razors edge.
2.LATHER-Lather does dry quickly on your face as you shave -don,t be tempted to carry on when this happens.Re-wet your face and re-apply lather.( I started by lathering and shaving one side of my face at a time.This stops half the lather drying on the side not being shaved).
3.SHAVING-You are doing this just right- short strokes are the order of the day at first.As you become more confident you will automatically lengthen the stroke.Remember to stretch the skin as you shave.
4.ASTRINGENT-If you cut yourself use a styptic pencil or an alum block to staunch bleeding.
Hope above helps and once again congrats and happy shaving !!
Keep us informed of progress.
Kind regards
Noggs ;)

Congratulations on your initiation into the world of str8 razor shaving. Keep it up! You'll be shaving your entire face in no time.

+1 on Noggs's advice...Focus on developing your str8 razor shaving technique as well as pre and post-shave routine.

Now, imagine what your shaves would be like with an entry level Dovo or Boker...Only time will tell.

Take care--and smoth shaving.

For me, shaving has gone from a "chore" to an enjoyable event. I'm retired now, so i don't have to shave on a schedule.

I had got the str8 bug last fall and downloaded an article on how to shave with a straight razor. In it advice was given that lead me to this site and the classifieds where i bought my first real razor. (I had owned a "feather" for a few months before.

One thing that has happened is that my shaving instrument is a thing of beauty, to be admired and cared for. I absolutely never thought of my old fusion in that manner. You must be careful or like me you will become a collector. I'm just kidding when i say careful as this previous chore has turned into a pastime or hobby. This is a positive thing in my opinion. It really is amazing that i can shave with a razor that someone was using around the time of the civil war. (functional razors can be had from times of the Revolutionary war and even earlier)

Anyway, I hope you find using the straight razor as enjoyable as i do. Who knows,,maybe you will also enjoy collecting these "works of art"

Kirk

I had my second shave today, did the same thing as yesterday and then the opposite side with my off hand. After that I tried to do some across the grain passes, and that didn't work out so well. On the bright side, I got to try out my styptic pencil. Then I did a bit on my chin and neck and it turned out surprisingly well, I had to take it real slow but there were no nicks and just a little razor burn on my neck.

I'm going to take a day off and let my face recover a little bit (I also find it more difficult to shave when the stubble isn't long enough) and give it another go on monday.

You will get some razor burn on your neck at first .Use a good aftershave balm to soothe skin and assist healing on cuts.
If your skin gets too sore -the right thing is to have a days rest-continue to apply the aftershave balm or skin conditioner during this break- morning & night.Shaving exfoliates the skin every time.
Before long your skin will get used to the razors edge and as your skill improves this will cease to be a problem.
After a few more shaves your confidence will grow and you will begin to notice small improvements in your technique.
Keep going - you are doing fine!
Kind regards
Noggs :)