Thread: Triple Whammy of Straight Razor Shaving

Having been using Straight Razors for a few months now, I can share some things.

The difficulty is thrice. Shaving technique, Stropping technique, and Lathering technique.

Learning to Hone is separate, as many never need or want to hone their own. It is just as easy to send the razor out once a year or so.

I was a Double Edge Safety Razor shaver for 20 years before coming to this site, and never did understand that I was Lathering incorrectly. Having picked up DE shaving on my own with no outside help was a challenge in itself. Trial and error make for a long process. Thank God I found Straightrazorplace.com as I would never have been able to trial and error myself through Straight Razor Shaving without these guys!!!

The best advice I can give is keep it slow. If you don't have Patience, then perhaps you should not be picking up the straight.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. With the Shaving start slow at first, try a few spots with the grain. If you are feeling pain or lots of blood then stop, and take a few days off, study the vids and try again. If it hurts, or you are bleeding, then you are doing it wrong.

Do your stropping slow at first, learn to flip the blade without bending your wrist, learn the proper pressure keeping it flat and taught. I started slowly and only make one nick, ever. My Illinois Russian strop has no nicks at all and I am much faster.

Lathering can be a bit more trial and error. The difficulty lies in adding the correct amount of water depending on which shaving soap or cream you are using. There are some good utube vids on this as well. A real almost-lost art is making the shaving lather for your face. Don't skip this part and use goop in a can, making your own lather with a brush is a BIG part of the experience!!!

If all you allot yourself is 5 minutes in the morning for a shave, you are not ever going to be satisfied with straight razor shaving. I take from 30 minutes to an hour in the morning for my shaving shower routine. I consider this time my time that I deserve for me. The rest of the day I devote to my God, my Family, my Employer. This is MY TIME!!! Enjoy!!!

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

Shaving technique, Stropping technique, and Lathering technique.

I too believe these are the three pillars of consistently giving oneself a good straight razor shave. Not including the pedestal of pride and confidence that accompanies a contribution to the SRP museum (contact hoglahoo for details)

I agree with patience and practice as well

You're right about the components of good shaving. I've always thought of it as a systems approach and to become a shave master you need to buy into the entire system which includes honing. Unless you have someone nearby to do your honing it too much of a hassle to me especially if there is some mishap with the razor which can happen to anyone at any time. In the old days it was very easy to get a razor honed locally no matter where you were.

Just my way of looking at it.

The phrase "Slow and steady wins the race" has always applied to straight shaving for me. I did pick up a DE for a "quicker" shave but have found that once I got my technique down there really is very little difference in the time it takes between a DE and a Straight.

I normally shave at night as it is a relaxing experience and allows me more time to enjoy it than my frantic mornings.

Here's the weird things guys...When I'm rushed my shaves are bad buuuut when I try to consciously slow down my shaves go to crap also. If I just do it with no respect to time one way or the other I'm fine.

Not sure if we're saying the same thing but that's been my experience.

Great post. Hopefully the newer members here will take the time to read your post and gain some great insight that patience is a real virtue when learning how to shave with a straight razor.

Yep - good breakdown and on the money. And I also agree that it is a system approach. Each component contributes to the shave quality or shave experience.

Your comment about the patience and time are really important. This is not for a 3 minute shower shaver.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

you need to buy into the entire system which includes honing

In my limited experience, adding honing to my quest for the straight razor shave has had a positive effect on my shaves. Getting a feel for light pressure and repeatable strokes on the hones has improved my technique during stropping and shaving. I have a different level of respect for the edge, how delicate it is, and how it should be expected to perform.