New Member and First Shave

Hello All,

I am inclined to say "Hello Gentlemen"; however, I understand that there may be ladies present, or do they mind that particular greeting. Either way, good morning.

I have been a member of this forum for about a week now, trying to educate myself as quick as possible by reading a lot of the literature here (great reads I might add). I feel as though I need to tell you all a bit about myself & my history with shaving so that you can see where I'm coming from. My beard hair is dark and thick and when I have about 3 or 4 days growth my moustache hairs poke my wife when we kiss. That really bugs her so I try to shave every 3 days at least. I can’t shave every day, or even every other day because my skin breaks out in a rash and it’s incredibly uncomfortable. This is even with pre-shaves, soap (Wilkenson Sword - not the best, I know), and a Mach 3 or something comparable. I have even tried an electric razor but I find that takes forever and heats up my face too much. Also another issue I have is if the razor is poor quality or too dull I get ingrown hairs (some on my neck and some around my mouth).

About 6 years ago I bought a straight edge razor with disposable blades. The blades were the same kind that you would put into a safety razor but you break them in half and put one half into the razor at a time. I loved it. I was basically self taught, with very minor tips from the barber I bought the razor from; however, it gave me the best shave that I knew - with no ingrown hairs. When I ran out of to barbershop blades I went to Wal-Mart to get more; however, they were not very good. The Barber told me that she couldn’t get anymore blades for my razor, so out of frustration I threw it away. I have been struggling for at least a year with the Gillette Fusion razor but I need to swap blades every 3rd shave and I really wanted to get back into the “real thing”. That’s when I found the SRP website and instantly fell in love, my wife says I’m obsessive… maybe (haha).

So currently I have a DEMON razor, made by Jones Bros & Company Ltd. which happened to be my Grandfather’s razor and it’s possible that it’s from 1914 or around that time. I gave the razor to a local knife shop to hone it; the gents that I spoke with seemed to know what they were doing when it came to sharpening a razor to “shave readiness”. While I was waiting for my Razor I started looking for strops and other razors, because one just isn’t enough hahaha. Anyways once I got my razor back I was excited for my first shave with a real straight edge, and at the same time a bit nervous.

I prepared for my shave by using a hot towel on my face, then I lathered up some of my cheap soap, and began to shave… now I use my right hand for my whole face, should I only use it on my right side? Just checking. I didn’t use a pre-shave because I ran out some time ago, but I did shave WTG and ATG on both sides of my face while only going WTG on my neck. During my shave I noticed a bit of tugging so I really focused on lots of soap and keeping my skin tight. I’m not going to say my technique is perfect but when I compare this razor to the one that had the disposable blades I feel it is not a sharp; however, it could be because it’s a hollow grind and the blade is actually flexing more than I know - just a thought.
What made me really think that the razor was not a sharp as it could be is when I got to my moustache and goatee. There was a lot of pulling and tugging and it didn’t feel right so I stopped and finished that area with my Gillette Fusion. All in all, the end result on my cheeks and neck were good with no nicks and very smooth. I will try another shave, but this time with a nice pre-shave oil and a cream. My strop is soon to come along with my other razor so I will have many new items to play with and try.

I would love some feed back on my first experience to see if your experience can guide me towards a better shave.

Thanks
Dave

most of the time its not the razor its the technique while holding the razor side of the spine 1/8 to 1/4 inch from your face that will give you a 10 to 20 degrees angle in which to cut your beard putting the blade flat to my face and pulling it back 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch helped me with my technique

1st warning light switches on at the knife shop sharpening your straight razor. Some may have competent, experienced people who know what to do, but open shaving razors are very different beasts from cutlery.

2nd warning light at Wilkinson shave soap. I have the blue bowl and it works very well. I love it, even with the strong, almost antiseptic medicinal smell it is a quality shave soap that has facilitated very good straight razor shaves. What kind of brush are you using?

I too have the blue bowl of shave soap, I guess I just thought that since it was from a department store that it would be substandard.

I currently use the same brand brush "wilkenson sword" but I have a silver tipped badger hair brush on it's way. Also on it's way is a new strop for me to sharpen the razor.

First things first: Big grats on taking the plunge.

Check the faq & wikis for Thumb pad test - compare the feel of your razor to the feel of a new double-edge blade (gently, carefully). If the DE is way more sharp, don't let the cutlery shop touch your blade again. At this point, I wouldn't bother w/ the hanging hair test. If the razor is as sharp as a DE blade, that pretty well points to technique in beard prep, shaving.

I don't know what area you're in, but there are likely honemeisters nearby. If other forum members are nearby, it might be of tremendous help to ask if any of them would mind your coming by for some tutorial time. It can be invaluable. The learning curve can be steep, but with some determination, can be mastered. Some help by a willing forum member would likely help you scoot through some of the basics, which can be the most daunting. I volunteered for another noob in my area, but haven't heard from them. 'Something to consider.

I will try the thumb test, great idea, thanks.

It's kinda funny, normally I would want my face hair to grow slow so I didn't have to shave as often. But now with all of my new shave accessories I can't wait to get some new growth so I can enjoy another shave. It's been 3.5 days now and I think tonight I will try another shave with some of the tips that you guys have suggested.

Also is there any length of hair (stubble) that would be too short or too long?

Thanks again

Welcome Dave! I think you will find this place will help you very much.

Right off the bat, I'd say your razor isn't shave ready. As mentioned previously, sharpening a razor to shave readyness is far different from sharpening knives. Look here for a honemeister near you, and send it off to get sharpened properly.

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

With your experience with the feather straights, I'm sure you will do just fine once your razor is sharpened up proper.

Hey Gents,

It appears there are many others dipping into the straight razor and posting their first shaves, which is awesome.

I am forced to be frugal with my purchases but i do have a desire to aquire alot of nice goodies.

I just got a new strop and used razor to add to my collection, plus some sample of shave soaps from TGQ which i'm excited to try.

For my second shave I used some pre-shave oil from the body shop along with their shave cream. It seemed to be a better shave; however, i still think the razor was dull. So i did some research on some home made strops and came up with a temporary solution. This may sound funny but i used a piece of drywall to strop on for about 30 strokes and then i used my leather belt for the same duration. My third shave was better but i couldn't finish around my chin since the pulling and tugging was too great.

I am hoping that stroping the razor on my new strop will make it better, we'll see. But in the near future i will get my newest "used" razor professionally honed and start with a good shave ready product to use as a baseline.

Eventually i want to get a norton new 4000/8000 hone and a 10,000 - 12,000 used barber's hone and learn to do my own sharpening since i know already that i won't be happy with just 2 razors, hahaha. I am addicted to the razors with wooden scales and i can see myself getting at least 4 or 5 razors.

Thanks for checking out my post, let me know if you have any comments

Dave

I hope you can get the blade to shave... But if the knife shop sharpened it wrong, you won't be able to do enough with a strop to fix it. Hopefully they sharpened it right. :)

I want to begin this post by thanking everyone that has offered me their input as well as gratuity, it's helped me begin to really enjoy shaving.

With all of the soaps, brushes, styles of razors, pre-shave oils, stops, hones, etc. it has turned the chore of shaving into a treat or even an art. I hate to say it but now i wish i could shave more oftern...or do I?

Anyways i figured i would just keep posting under this thread because it is still related to my first few shaves as i get into the "art".

Since my first straight isn't really sharp i decided to use my wife's grandfather's (vintage) safety razor, while i wait to get my newest straight edge sharpened. The safety razor is a Gillette and i believe it's from 1925 still in it's original case and in very decent condition. I bought some Merkur German DE blades, whipped up some lather, and started my first shave with a DE. Honestly it was smoooooth, and i got a little excited near the base of my neck where i got a tiny cut but mainly cause i was moving across the skin too fast. Great results when i was done, super smooth skin, zero irritation, and no pulling or tugging like my knife shop sharpened straight edge.

Don't get me wrong, i am still going to shave with straights; however, i will definitely keep the DE for traveling etc. BUT my question is this... how does a shave from the safety razor compair to that of a properly sharpened straight edge?

I shaved with a DE for about 20 years before finding straights.

The DE does a pretty decent job, but it still uses disposable blades. The disposable blades while sharp, just don't have the feel of the well cared for straight razor. The feel is not as smooth. It's hard really to describe. I think the stropping is what makes the difference. Get good at stropping your straight razor and you'll not wish to shave with the DE.

I went back to the DE a few weeks ago, was in a rush or something and thought I'd save some time. OMG. lots of blood, did not feel that same smooth shave... It will be a while before I go back again... I love my straights!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YaDave

Don't get me wrong, i am still going to shave with straights; however, i will definitely keep the DE for traveling etc. BUT my question is this... how does a shave from the safety razor compair to that of a properly sharpened straight edge?

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I recieved a straight razor by donation from one of the members (thank you) and it was sent as a sample to show me what a "shave ready" straight razor should feel like.

I have enjoyed two very decent shaves considering i am still a rookie. I have only nicked myself once and it was just under the ear lobe but very minor. First shave with the donated razor was good and sharp but i realized, through some more reading, that i was pressing the blade against my skin too hard. So the second shave i went a little lighter and i had less skin irritation and the shave was just as nice.

I'm not sure if i stropped the razor for my second shave as good as it was when i received it but my face hair was a little longer on the second shave than the first so that could be a factor. Any thoughts?

Also i seem to have a battle with my chin hairs; however, i think it might be related to my hair length. Is there a link between tugging/pulling and hair length? I am used to letting the hair grow for at least 4 days because of previous irritation but now with the staight edge i dont have that problem so perhaps i should be shaving every 3 days.

Your feed back is greatly appreciated.

Welcome aboard! As you've probably figured out, stropping is a necessity before any SR shave. Because the SR has such a fine edge, they're prone to slight tweaks and such during use. A strop will take care of these. You can get a good linen/leather strop through such sites as classicshaving.com, as I did. It cost about $35 US. 30 passes on the linen side and 60 on the leather, and it's off to the races. You might also review the sub forum dealing with soaps/creams. You really want something that will provide a nice cushion between your face and the blade. I'm currently rotating between AOS Lemon, Proraso, and Truefitt & Hill's West Indian Limes.

Chin whiskers are notoriously difficult to deal with. I would say the best thing is to watch your angle, use VERY short strokes (fractions of an inch), and keep the skin as tight as possible while working in that area. This is one of the few areas I still use a Mach 3 for cleanup, then again, I've only been at this for about 6 weeks.

Welcome to your new obsession!

I gather from your post that you already have a strop... Stropping takes practice to learn, just like everything else. Take it slow to start out (especially on flipping the razor) and you'll get it. Remember: slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

It sounds like the shaves are going pretty well for someone at your level. It just takes some practice to get the angles right, especially around the chin. Most of us had the same difficulties when we started out.

Keep at it, and you'll get there!