My new foray into the straight razor...

Hey, just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. My experience actually started with one of my employees that absolutely refused to shave. Always had several days growth. I convinced him to use a new Gillette Fusion Pro Glide, and he loved it. After the second time, however, he was disillusioned, and explained to me how he didn't get the same shave the second time, and that it was expensive. I couldn't argue with that and my wife and I are always looking to save money.
My employee informed me that he had started using the old-school safety razors and that it was the best shave ever. He even started shaving every day!!! I didn't want to ask him for one, so I waited. After a while, I finally told him to hook me up and he went and grabbed me a small 3-piece from like 1927. Shaved like a dream. Gave myself major razor burn, but that's what learning is about. Been using aloe vera gel, but my trumper's skin food will be here tomorrow. Still wasn't quite enough. So......
I decided to take the plunge and bought a complete Dovo carbon steel straight razor set with a good soap, upgraded to super silvertip brush, and got a bone-handled Dovo Bismark, all from vintagebladesllc.com. Really phenomenal craftsmanship all the way around. Came with the label "hand-honed and ready to shave by Lynn Abrams. No need to strop." Pretty damned impressive. Tomorrow will be my first attempt at straight-shaving. Most likely won't do much more than my dominant side, but as a professional chef I kinda feel like I'm more comfortable with the blade in my hand and want to do the whole face.
I wanna thank everybody for all their quality posts. I have been researching this for several weeks and feel that I have learned lots from all of you. Thank you again.

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Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

I wanna thank everybody for all their quality posts.

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I agree. It's almost as though every single question you can think of has already been answered if you search correctly!

Welcome to SRP and congrats on what sounds like a great setup! Take your time and try and remember all you've read for that first shave. Feel free to ask questions as you go and know that it only gets better :)

Welcome aboard, chef! You're off to a great start! Just keep two things in mind: "tight skin and light pressure". That will keep things cool.

Welcome to the world STR8 razors. Enjoy the journey!!

Apparently, the learning curve is more than I expected.....
I started with the straight, practicing my hold and doing a couple of non-contact passes to get comfortable with the motion. Then I applied the razor to my face, just under the sideburn. CUT!!! Okay, deep breath, try again. CUT!!! Hmmmmm.....must be using the tip of the razor and not the flat part of the blade. Try again. Got 2" or so before CUT!!! It's amazing how much your face bleeds with minor nicks!!!
Switched over to my DE back-up as I lost my nerve and then thoroughly butchered my face with the DE worse than I have ever butchered it before. Pain and burning is severe, but what the heck. It's not like I never cut myself with a chef's knife afterall. And most of those required several stitches.
I will persevere. After all.....Blood: The other red meat.
I have a friend who has a son that only shaves straight. I will contact him for hands-on advice. Thank you all for the kind support.

Welcome abaord!

To add to flyman's post, you also want to maintain a proper angle. That's going to be 30 degrees for your WTG (with the grain) passes and 15 degrees for your XTG (across the grain passes). Also, remember to strop often. Pre shave should be 30 passes on the linen and 50-60 on the leather. Many of us strop post shave to help ensure the razor is dry before storage. This is usually 20 passes on the leather.

Believe me, this will get better. After my first SR shave, my face looked like a rare standing rib roast.

Welcome to your new obsession!

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Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

I have a friend who has a son that only shaves straight. I will contact him for hands-on advice. Thank you all for the kind support.

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Excellent strategy. In person is always going to trump photos or videos. Be patient and keep trying for a while. You may or may not decide to stick with the straight, but you should at least be able to find a DE razor and blade combo that works for you.

Good luck and be careful!

Ok boss, let's get something straight here.

1) I totally had the Proglide first.

2) That's it.

If I recollect properly, and I usually do, you had the mach 3 and was unhappy, so I convinced you to get the proglide. But it's all semantics at this point. We're both "dapper" men now.;)
Thank you for turning me on to straight razor shaving O. I will say that, even with my face looking rather "hamburger-ish" I have piqued the interest of 90% of the men in my congregation. Most have agreed that, once I get a lot better, they will let me shave them and try to get the bug in them.
I cannot recall a time that I ever looked forward to a shave, except once. I visited NYC and stopped at a barber for that shave that was supposed to be perfectly smooth, and left disappointed. I know now that it was the barber and not the method.

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Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

I decided to take the plunge and bought a complete Dovo carbon steel straight razor set with a good soap, upgraded to super silvertip brush, and got a bone-handled Dovo Bismark, all from vintagebladesllc.com.

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Is this the spike point or round point Bismark?

If it is the spike point, you need to really pay attention to that spike. Some who shave with a spike purposely dull the tip so that they don't have to worry about it so much.

Also, keep your pressure as light as possible. The straight will usually only cut if you are running the blade parallel to the edge, or with a spike point if you use too much pressure (which isn't much at all) on the tip.

it's a spike point. and I have learned very quickly to respect it. I don't want to dull it, after all the spike has a purpose. So, instead of ruining a beautiful tool, I will just pay real close attention to my technique and learn to use my tools properly.
Question: Should I be using the heel-end of the blade or try for complete and even pressure through the middle of the blade?

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Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

it's a spike point. and I have learned very quickly to respect it. I don't want to dull it, after all the spike has a purpose. So, instead of ruining a beautiful tool, I will just pay real close attention to my technique and learn to use my tools properly.
Question: Should I be using the heel-end of the blade or try for complete and even pressure through the middle of the blade?

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If the pressure is right, the tip shouldn't cause you any more harm than a round time. So I wouldn't try to avoid the spike, as you should learn to wield its tip. Personally, I found I like the middle for most parts, but like to use the heal or toe for specific parts. I'd suggest sticking to the middle of the blade for most passes, and learning to use the top to chop that stray hair or two. Experiment with all parts of the razor, and soon enough you will find your own way.

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Originally Posted by SkinnyChef

Question: Should I be using the heel-end of the blade or try for complete and even pressure through the middle of the blade?

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i usually use the toe for the sideburn areas and the heel for the chin area and middle of the razor for the rest but thats just my .02.

also in regards to your name, well i was told to never trust a "skinny chef" lol, just kidding. keep with it my first few shaves were terrible but it does get better

-dan-