Time 4 a str8

I wanted to try my hand at straight razor shaving and didn't want to fork out on a razor if I didn't like it so I purchased a 'Focus' blade holder from The Gentleman's Shop and it arrived yesterday and couldn't wait to try it out, I know, I know, a shavette is not on a par with a genuine straight but I managed to do three passes WTG XTG ATG and suffered only one tiny nick on my chin, the blade I put in was an Israeli personna I had remaining that I bought in Morrisons. I have the angle off to a tee immediately. I put this down to always imagining I was shaving as a child when I played with my dad's DE (no blade in it of course) and practising the angle throughout my teens using my comb and other non life threatening instruments :)
Although the shave wasn't fantastic for a first go, my upper lip has never been so smooth for as long a period while I have been wet shaving.
So 2 questions to ask of you gents:
1. Which lather works better with a straight razor, shaving cream or shaving soap?
2, When I do get a stright, and it is inevitable now that I will, which should I choose - a carbon steel blade or a stainless steel one? Which is best? For obvious reasons, the SS will not rust of course but which steel performs better?

Thanks for any input.

Glad you liked the shave!

To answer your questions, both soap and cream make great lather as long as the items are of good quality. As long as you buy a decent make, and know how to make lather, you'll get a good result. I use both soaps and creams and I like them both.

In terms of the blade, it doesnt really matter. Both shave just as well as each other and both will give a great result. Stainless steel will also rust up though, so you'll have to make sure you take just as good a care of the blade or it will tarnish as well.

I've tried both types and I cant tell the difference in the shave TBH. Most razors seem to be carbon steel and as long as you take care of them they will last for decades. Just make sure you rinse the blade off well and thoroughly dry it before storage. Putting a little pack of silica gel in with the razor also helps, if you're worried about rust.

Good luck and keep us posted!

1. shaving soap or creme is mainly personal preference
2. for a razor SS is harder, will hold an edge longer and doesn't rust but it's harder to hone
carbon steel is more easy to hone and will not rust if you take care of it

hope this helps you

regards
Stijn

Hi Stub,

Yes, it was excellent. I have lots of good quality creams and soaps and without going through a comprehensive list of what I have, the makes are T&H, Trumper, TOBS, CF, AOS, Proraso. Also have Proraso pre shave cream and T&H ultimate comfort pre shave oil. I don't really use them with a DE as I find they make no difference to the shaves but I will use them for straight razor shaving.

Thanks. Yes, I'll keep postings going :)

Hello Stijn,

Yes, that does help, thank you. On a seperate note, I'm envious of you living in a nice place like Brugge :)

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Vllaznia

Hello Stijn,

Yes, that does help, thank you. On a seperate note, I'm envious of you living in a nice place like Brugge :)

Cheers,

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actually i live in a village near Brugge but since nobody knows it...
and it's not that nice to much tourists :p

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Originally Posted by geruchtemoaker

actually i live in a village near Brugge but since nobody knows it...
and it's not that nice to much tourists :p

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Been through Belgium a few times and never seen anywhere that isn't nice, you get to try the best beers in the world on your doorstep!! :mad: :) :) :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vllaznia

Been through Belgium a few times and never seen anywhere that isn't nice, you get to try the best beers in the world on your doorstep!! :mad: :) :) :)

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yes beers we have have you been to the brewery "de halve maan"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by geruchtemoaker

yes beers we have have you been to the brewery "de halve maan"?

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I certainly have, very nice brewer it is too and the drinks are nice (Brugs Zot!) Zit is certainly not a word for the citizens of Brugge!! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vllaznia

I certainly have, very nice brewer it is too and the drinks are nice (Brugs Zot!) Zit is certainly not a word for the citizens of Brugge!! :)

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one of the best beers IMHO

Tabac is an excellent quality soap for a little more than $10 bucks. Since it sounds like you're looking to be a little budget conscious, I don't know a better value. The cheaper soaps from $2 - $6 just don't compare to Tabac for lather, lubrication, etc., and going much more expensive doesn't buy you that much. I personally have a little better luck with soaps ... I even like the Tabac more than the Castle Forbes creams. Why not try the less expensive Tabac first, and see if you like it ... I'm betting you will.

Secondly, if you're on a budget, getting a used/vintage blade from the classifieds that is shave-ready is a good way to go next ... and Stainless will have a price differential as well. I would suggest looking for a "shave-ready" non-stainless from one of our known members who has a honing track-record, or the razor was honed for the seller by Lynn or someone like that. I bet you can get both the razor and Tabac for around $50 - $75 bucks and you will be well on your way and can move far enough along to for a few months to let your own experience and research guide you further. Other than your own developing skill level, I have found that the lather (soap), the initial shave-readiness of the razor, and stropping are the most important to getting a smooth shave ... so get something that gets you 90% there, while improving your shave technique.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by geruchtemoaker

one of the best beers IMHO

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It sure is up there with the best, my favourites are Kasteel Brune, Bush Ambree and t'Smisje Kerst. My fav Christmas beer. :)

Also, as an alternative, get a blade that is not shave ready, but is clearly in good shape, and have Lynn or one of our posters in the Classified "Services" section make the blade shave ready. Then you will know the blade is shave ready. You should be able to get a blade that needs a hone for $15 - $25 less than a shave-ready razor. I can say that Lynn certainly improved my blades!

Hi Tuxedo,

Thank you for that information. Still not sure whether to get a shave ready razor or get a new one and get it made shave ready.

Well I had my second shave with a shavette tonight and it was a little better although I did nick myself a couple of times more this evening but that was down to me holding the blade too close to my face as I stretched the skin. I tidied things up with my Feather Popular.
Last night's debut straight shave left my face 'tingling', I can't say sore as such but it felt tender and the after shave cream 'stung' a little. Even when I woke up this morning I could still feel the tenderness but it had wore off by midday. Tonight it is different, no tenderness and no stinging with the a/s cream :)
What I find odd is that the cuts don't seem to bleed as much as when I use a DE. Is this normal? Also, I am totally right sided and have never shaved before using my left hand - that is until last night taking my first tentative steps into the world of straights, I find it relatively easy to hold the razor in my left hand and shave whereas I cannot do this with a DE or the Mach3 and Fusion razors I had previously. Maybe this has something to do with concentration, I don't know.