Success :)

[otsheylnik]

After slowly getting into it using the tips from "First straight razor shave" (starting off with just the sideburns etc) I have finally started doing complete shaves and addicted.

I have done two now, with only minor cuts in difficult areas like the chin (stryptic pencil used).

I am still cautious about multiple passes; one WTG pass takes care of most of the hair, and then I use a SE razor (vintage everready, $5 from ebay) to take care of straggling hairs.

I am a one hand shaver (works best for me), I found a few videos on youtube about one handed straight razor shaves that helped with angles. Apparently they are posted by a member here and are on this site, but I haven;t tracked them down yet.

I'm now addicted though, and on the search for more razors to add to my collection.

Thanks so much to SRP for starting me off right.

[Bill S]

Congratulations!
Thanks for posting your success story.

[AFDavis11]

Such a sad story. The additiction you face is recoverable. Just buy lots o' razors and creams.

[kalerolf]

Welcome man.
the right place to ask questions here.
Regarding collection of straight razors avoid Ebay. Take an occasional look at the classifieds, you'll find interesting razors.

[markevens]

Congrats on your first straight shaves, and welcome to SRP!

Sounds like you've done your homework, and are wisely taking things slow. I can't wait to hear about your first perfect shaves!

[Catrentshaving]

Congrats on your first shaves and welcome to SRP. Sounds like youre well on your way

[roughkype]

Congratulations and welcome!

+1 to Kalerolf's advice--our Classifieds are a good place to shop.

Best wishes and happy shaving

[VladimirVernadsky]

Congrats and welcome, as a newbie myself, I can say we have some great shaves ahead of us! One handed shaving sounds scary! Its funny how you feel totally comfortable with one hand and I can't wrap my head around it... I am not implying right or wrong, just think its neat how everyone has there own styles, so to speak.

[roughkype]

It's been pointed out before that one-handed shaving doesn't sound nearly as scary as two-handed shaving!

[otsheylnik]

It's weird, I am actually normally quite ambidextrous (I can bat or bowl left or right handed in cricket, not played baseball so loathe to talk about switch-hitting).

But I never felt right trying to shave left handed.

The eureka moment (and this sounds stupid) was realising that I had to hold the razor in reverse (i.e. not with the point close to my ear) when shaving the left hand side. Sounds obvious, but since then been smooth sailing.

I have read what people have said about ebay, but I am actually bidding on one razor there at the moment (it's pictured against a ruler and is less than ten cm long). It's not a corn razor - so I'm curious. If it's junk it's junk, the price is right atm.

I am looking at the classifieds here though - in particular interested in 4/8, 5/16 and smaller. I have a thing about tiny accessories, and current razor is 6/8 so want something a bit different.

I may in the future collect corn razors just for fun, but at the moment I am in grad school, so that will have to wait for a time when I can spend money on things I am too scared to use .