Thread: Before and after

Yeah that`s a good point... I think if I can get to the point where I can get a shave like todays without having to finish up with the "Mock3" lol I`ll be happy. But half the fun is getting there. I`m so enjoying every part of it, sitting in the workshop stropping my razor is just soooo relaxing

I think your expectations of how long it takes to gain proficiency are what's off. I'm sure everyone's varies quite a bit. I've been SR shaving (daily) for 5 months and am still not able to get BBS on the neck reliably without razor burn.

It took me 1-2 weeks to get all the hairs to catch, then another 3-4 weeks to improve my technique to the point there was no razor burn. After 1-1.5 months after starting, my shaves were significantly closer than an electric, and about equal to a careful, multi-pass mach-3/fusion shave with canned shaving cream. At the 2 month point, I started working on BBS. It took another 2-3 days to learn WTG+ATG on the cheeks, underside of the jaw, and "easy" side of my neck - but 2-3 weeks (4 months "from start" point) to learn to do ATG without getting nicks or razor burn once in a while on the "tricky" areas like the chin, upper lip, and "swirly" side of my neck. I've been working on BBS over the last month. The upper lip took 3-4 days to learn to do reliably. The chin took 3-4 weeks. I'm going to need another month to get the swirly side of the neck to be BBS reliably and without occaisional razor burn.

ps: I can see the hair shafts even with a very close shave (ie: lasts 8 hours before stubble can be felt level of shave). BBS does cut the effect in half, but it's still there... I've tried the alchohol spashes to try to close the pores. Didn't work unfortunately.

Has anyone used these razors before????

I haven't honed one or shaved one, just looking at the ad and the pics in the ad I am seeing Krigar/Master/Cold Steel here...

Anyone????

That Imperial brand has come up before here.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/ladie...Imperial+razor

No experience with myself but yeah alarm bells going off in my head

Why the alarm bells then? I realise it`s not of any great quality but when I bought it I figured I`d just buy an inexpensive one at first then get something realkly nice once I`m actually proficient enough to appreciate it. As for expectations, I`ve been doing this for ooooh..... less than a month. I`m doing WTG ATG and sideways passes in tricky areas. I`m able to do a shave worthy of my old M3 but with the odd missed bit of hair here and there, just a few wiskers. I`m obviously not anywhere near proficient but I`m used to very very fine work, work involving doing things back to front and with the wrong hand so I think that has certainly helped me out here. I`m not sure if you think I`ve got it in my head that I`ll pick it up in five minutes or something? The way I see it, I`ve already learned the very bare basics, I`m able to shave my whole face without removing my nose and accomplish a half decent shave. I`ve not had any irritation/razor burn or nicks from my razor. I was sent some disposable straight razors when I bought one of my strops, I figured shaving with that might tell me something about the technique I`ve built so far.... No. It was so light, so bendy and horrible I cut my face almost immedeatly lol I made a really girly squeeking noise too lol No more disposable ones for me! I figure it`ll take a good YEAR of technique honing and patient practice before I`m even starting to approach some level of proficiency. That`s my expectations. At the end of the day, there`s no rush is there? It`s hugely enjoyable, a proper treat and I`ll pick it up in good time Now about my razor, if you guys are thinking this razor isn`t the best choice to start with, I`ll be very grateful to have some recommendations for suitable razors, I`ve just got three cheapy ones at the minute....

The alarm bells are popping off because we don't know the razor, I am hoping that some of the other UK members chime in and inform us...

There is a difference between sharp enough to shave, a true shave ready edge, and we don't know if that razor is capable of holding a true shave ready edge... So that leaves a huge unknown in our thinking....so consequently in our advice to you...

Feebo, I am not wanting to rain on your parade, but it takes good tools to do a good job. I am not criticizing you or your razor, but the razor seems to be an unknown variable.


Check out the vendors here or the classifieds here at SRP!

Oh rain away! That`s cool, I`m happy that experienced people are taking the time to help me out I`ve learned some pretty mad stuff in this way, my astrophotography for example, mostly learned from experienced people on forums, couldn`t have done it without them. I couldn`t have got where I am in my trade without listening to experience so please, feel free...
As I say I`m happy to take a few recommedations here as to what razor WOULD actually be a good starting point. The one I`m using at the moment still has visable grind marks near the bevel and the point which didn`t fill me with confidence straight away. I have managed to get it rediculously sharp mind you, the HHT is a dodle now, I need only touch the hair on the blade and I get a lovely "BEE!" sound as the hair just falls into two pieces. I never need persuading to get more tools though! lol If you`d recommend a few, I`ll pick one up as soon as I can.....

Originally Posted by Feebo

Right.... Yeah I was asking for pictures of the face. I suppose even if you have the closest shave in the world, you can still actually see the stubble can`t you? Todays shave has to be the best yet, I`d freshly stropped my razor with a few pasted strops. Red, black and then leather. That left my razor looking different, (the bevel was poilished) and sounding totally different too. I`ve started off with a cheap razor, I figure I won`t be ready for a beautiful antique for a year or so. Here`s my razor....
Imperial UK - SHAVING STRAIGHT CUT THROAT RAZOR + STROP on eBay (end time 22-Jun-10 21:13:38 BST)
I`m using Geo F. Trumper sandalwood shave soap and a pure Badger brush. I`m having a shower before each shave to try and soften the hair. I make sure my face is wet before I begin, lather up (one section at a time because I`m still quite slow) cheeks first WTG, then the top lip, scooping downward from the nose. I`m still finding this bit a little catchy and often have to come in sideways on the top lip. Then onto my chin, I`m still struggling to do the front of my chin properly because it`s too hard! If you see what I mean... Head up and WTG on the neck. I`m doing quite short passes, going back and forward again a little so as I cover the same spot a few times. Not really sure this is correct but it`s not causing irritation or anything. I then go ATG from the neck to the chin then cheeks. There are plenty of places I seem to need a sideways pass on, which I`m carefully attempting. I hope this is the kind of information you wanted and I`m not just wittering here lol So all in all I`m doing WTG then ATG and a few sideways to try and get some awkard hairs. There are plenty of places where I just can`t seem to get them. Like my neck where they grow in all directions but I guess that`ll come as I gain more and more experience.... How`s that? Enough? It`s probably worth mentioning that I`ve had a little trouble with the correct angle at first, it is quite difficult to maintain it with all those different contours isn`t it? As for my expectations, I would have thought I can achieve a shave so close I can feel NO stubble at all, like there was never any hair there, although as I say you`ll probably still see it a little won`t you. Even though I finished things off with my M3 today, I`ve ended up with what is definitely the closest shave I`ve ever had which is great!

If you are looking into a high power mirror (wife's make-up mirror) your face will look horrible. The magnification makes it appear like you did not shave since the pores are open and the stubble is (should be ) standing up. I did this and was shocked at what I saw. I no longer use that mirror.

As stated previously, let your hand, or better yet your wife's hand be the judge. There are other ways to test the closeness but those are better left for private conversations.

Hahahaha quite ! No I don`t use a mag mirror. I use a five foot by six foot normail mirror, it covers the whole wall in my bathroom