Thread: Can't wait

Just starting out can't wait to get my first straight. I went with a Hart Steel razor and a strop from West Coast Shaving. They're great to me and have awesome customer service. I thought about getting a cheaper to start with but I have such an obsession we DEs I am sure this'll be the same. Any suggestions from experienced shavers out there? I've been shaving with DEs for awhile and have good technique and I was wondering if any of that (blade angle, attention to shave etc.) makes the change easier?

My hart razor was actually one of the more difficult razors for me to learn to use. The weight and stiff grind make for a very unforgiving razor, I find more hollow blades much easier and better for someone just starting out. That is only my opinion though hopefully you won't have my problems. One word of advice is to use a very light touch, the lighter your touch the better your shave will be.

@ theheckler- honestly I was hoping I'd get the, "it was a dream/breeze to shave with" answer lol. I appreciate the help and I'll go easy on the touch. I had to learn that the hard way with a Merkur with a feather. After that shave I thought I was gonna need a tampon to stop the bleeding!! Thankfully I got the hang of it pretty quick and now I enjoy BBS shave on a regular basis with my DE.

The transition from DE to str8 isn't that bad, but you will have to learn a few things again. The angle is quite different, remember 30 degrees for a str8 is about max, but a good target to shoot for. The lighter the touch the better. +1 heckler!!

Read lots of the wiki's about caring for your razor, stropping it and how to maintain your edge between honings. Make sure your razor is truly 'shave ready' or it will be the worst you have ever had. Trust me, you don't want to shave with a str8 that isn't really shave ready.

Good luck mate!! Happy shaving!

M

This week I received a new 6/8 Hart satin finish razor to go with my 6/8 Hart polished razor. I shaved with the new razor right out of the box without even stropping it. It was an A+ shave. I love the heavier weight of Hart razors. If you use a light touch, the razor does all the work. I found it very easy to use and would place my two Hart razors in the top echelon of my razors along with a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot, a 5/8 "en vogue 105" Black Micarta, a 13/16 J. A. Henckel 72 1/2, and a 5/8 Filarmonica Doble Temple 12.

I am thrilled that we have at least one US company making straight razors. IMO, I find the Hart razors to be well made, excellent shavers.

How light is a light touch? Don't try to shave the barbs, try only to wipe away the shaving cream. The barbs should come away with that.

Also, don't count on BBS right out of the gates. Technique counts for the greatest share of your shave quality.

I agree with mjhammer about the razor's need to shave ready. However, the _only_ way to test that is to see if it shaves your face nicely. Start with the spot below your sideburns. If it pulls at the barbs instead of cuts then it's not shave ready.

Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks guys for the tips. I'm waiting as wee speak for my package to be dropped of. I'm gearing up for the fun!

Please keep us posted on the shave!

As far as I know hart razors are the only production razors that actually come shave ready so you shouldn't need to worry about that. I didn't mean to alarm you my hart steel is one of my favorite razors and an excellent shaver it just commands respect and a light touch.

Originally Posted by thehekler

it just commands respect and a light touch.

That actually holds true for any straight razor. The minute you forget that you will be cut.