Thread: In dire need of help!

welcome to SRP. as someone who just started straight razor shaving in March, i know exactly where you're coming from. here's a quick beginner's how-to:

1. read through the SRP wiki on how to shave, focusing on how to stretch your skin, and the areas of your face to start your learning curve on.

2. repeat #1.

3. get a razor from the classifieds here. don't go for looks (it's ok if the razor has some pitting), but DO go for one that has been honed by a honemeister on this website. Lynn is of course very very very good (i get my razors honed by him), but there are a number of other sellers who do a bang up job.

4. get the right equipment: a puck of soap, a brush (synthetic or badger at this stage), a leather and linen strop. buy a stypic pencil and a good post-shave balm (geo f trumper's works best for me).

5. repeat #1 again.

6. get a few days growth on your face, and shower prior to your shave. just start on your cheeks, as these provide the largest surface area and least nickable parts. go with the grain, single pass, focusing on your angle and stretching. finish the rest of your face with your previous razors.

7. repeat step 6 a few times, letting a few days' growth accumulate. this will also let your skin heal in case you do get cut.

8. don't give up! it took me about 5 months to get a good shave, and even now i don't shave every day.