Starting with a Artamis Straight Razor

Hi, I've been stalking SRP forums for a week or so gathering information, information that I'm sure most of the beginners here wish they had known when starting out with the straight. I recieved a straight razor (and a few other items) for Christmas as a gift. It had been something I had wanted to try for years.

Ok so here is what I actually recieved: A straight razor marked with the name Artamis (told that it was shave ready), A strop marked Dovo (I was unaware of the name at the time I recieved the gift), a can of shaving cream (yes the aerosol kind) and finally a pack of balloons (yes, BALLOONS). I was instructed that before the razor even touches my skin that I must shave all the balloons in the pack. I actually tried what was instructed and decided to draw faces on the balloons. :P After shaving 10 balloons without popping a single one I attempted to shave myself (I used shaving soap on my face applied with a brush, not a cheap can of shaving foam). Oh it certainly was an experience that the balloons didn't prepare me for. When I had finished, my face was sore and patchy. I finished the shave with a mach 3 razor. I didn't shave with the straight for a long time after that, this was mainly due to there being nothing to hook the strop onto rather than the shave. When I did start shaving again with the straight (had hook fitted in the bathroom) it was anything but easy, but I was improving and hadn't had any serious nicks only a few minor problems caused by the razor losing sharpness midway through a shave. My father told me that his father had a saying "You only cut yourself on a blunt razor". I was certainly finding this to be true. I began to do a lot of stropping before a shave and after almost 6 months of shaving I realised no matter how much I strop now the razor really does need to be honed. And whilst browsing for a honing stone I stumbled across SRP.

Here is what I have learned: 1- There is a learning curve to shaving with the straight. 2- Stropping really is worth it's weight in gold and is seriously underrated at how effective it can be. 3- Don't buy an expensive razor and try to learn everything at once. If you want to learn the straight then buy a shavette. (I haven't tried one myself though but they are cheap and you don't need to worry about anything but shaving) 4- as you are learning to shave from the shavette hit the SRP forum and also watch as many vids as you can on youtube to learn about the straight. 5- When you decide you are ready to move to the straight, buy good quality.

However the one thing that I haven't learned though is places were I can buy a good quality straight from in the UK. The only place that I know that sells shaving equipment in the UK is the shop in Southport that my razor and strop were bought from.

I noticed that not many people know about the Artamis, so I thought I would be the ideal person to talk about it due to owning one. I belive it is only available in the UK, however I don't believe that it is actually produced in the UK. There is a ticket on the side of the box that says Sarome UK. According to their website this is a company that imports gentlemans gifts. Also the spine of the razor isn't exactly even on both sides so I know that this is built without very high standards in quality control. Although it isn't completely terrible (I would rather shave with this than go back to using a mach 3) and after roughly 6 month of shaving from a complete noob with only a strop to keep it sharp it has done very well. It currently has no blunting but it does have 2 very minor nicks through use which I believe is to be expected.

Here are some photos:

Attachment 83404Attachment 83405Attachment 83406

Hello GhostEdge, and welcome to SRP.

The shaving the balloon technique is new to me.

I would go to the community link in the forum and go to GoogleME to see who on SRP lives in your area. You might find someone who's willing to get your razor shave ready for you.

Just FYI, and I'm a newbie so this is only FWIW, I don't really buy into the whole thing that only a dull razor will cut you. If you use the right techniques such as pulling your skin tight, use the right angle (30 degrees or less for WTG, etc.), and use very light pressure, all a dull blade is going to do is pull at hairs and maybe stop dead. If you use too much pressure, then it's going to burn or cut you.

But that's only my opinion.

I would seriously check out the classifieds here and see if there is something that would work for you in terms of price and shipping. At least you'll know the razor's shave ready. As for your existing one, there may be a member near you who's expert in honing who can help you out with that.

Videos on shaving are good, but I'd also get very familiar with technique as laid out in the wiki. I watched a lot of videos and some of those guys are too confident, too good, and aren't really teaching the best technique. Some shave too fast, and others seem to use too much pressure. One of the threads here posted some guy who shaved very quickly but ended up finishing with a safety or something like that. His blade angle approached 90 degrees in some areas; I wondered how the heck he didn't cut himself (he probably had a dull razor).

It's nice to have you here, GhostEdge.

-Mark

Hi,

These guys do some really good quality stuff in the UK:

Introduction to razors

or

www.strop-shop.co.uk - hand made straight razor strops, razor pouches, shaving accessories, vintage razors, razor honing and restoration

There are probably others as well but I know these guys are both good.

I think what he meant by the saying was for someone who is experienced at shaving already and that with a dull razor it will either cause razorburn that results in bleeding or it will hit the hairs and snatch and hit the skin in a way that it shouldn't and cuts the skin. I find watching a lot of videos is necessary as if you only watch 1 or 2 vids then you will pick up on the bad habits of others were as if you watch lots and gather up as much info as possible then it can only help. :)

Thanks for the info on sellers that will come in very handy. :)

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Originally Posted by GhostEdge

Thanks for the info on sellers that will come in very handy. :)

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No problem, I'm always on the look out for UK suppliers, if you come across any good one yourself let me know

+1 for Neil at the Strop shop. I've not used him, but can't stop running into people who think the world of him and his products. 'Maybe one of the only places you can get a real flax-fiber linen component.

You paid 20 UK pound for that razor. That's $31.00. You probably got yourself a Pakistani or Chinese made razor. No wonder your shave was sore, patchy and the razor lost its sharpness halfway through the shave. Don't waist any more time and money on that razor and get yourself a razor from a reputable seller that's actually considered shave ready and shave worthy. Neil Miller would be a great place to find something locally in the UK. Give him a call and I'm sure he'll gladly assist you. You can also check the classifieds and there's several online stores in the US that sell quality products.

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Originally Posted by GhostEdge

I find watching a lot of videos is necessary as if you only watch 1 or 2 vids then you will pick up on the bad habits of others were as if you watch lots and gather up as much info as possible then it can only help.

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I agree with this whole-heartedly. Visual examples are the best. However, I've not seen a lick of bad advice in the wiki on shaving, so always look at videos with the advice in there in mind. It will help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

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Originally Posted by markdfhr

I agree with this whole-heartedly. Visual examples are the best. However, I've not seen a lick of bad advice in the wiki on shaving, so always look at videos with the advice in there in mind. It will help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

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Totally agree!

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Originally Posted by Maximilian

You paid 20 UK pound for that razor. That's $31.00.

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Well it was a gift so it cost me nothing but yep that is the going rate. I really would recommend for anyone to not buy one of these razors, but people will because the majority of society doesn't know a thing about straight razors. It's nice to know that the art form hasn't died out completely and there is such a resource as SRP as there is nobody I can learn from. It would have been nice to have spoken to my Grandfather about straight shaving when he was alive, and even nicer if I could have been handed down the family heirlooms that were unfortunately destroyed. :(

It's never too late to start again, GhostEdge. You're on the right track now and you came to the right place for good information.

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Originally Posted by markdfhr

The shaving the balloon technique is new to me.

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I've already heard of this technique.
My roommate once went to a barber school and that's how they all learned (before practicing on people).

I think this technique is not well known for us wet shavers because you mostly learn how to shave another face, not yours.
You may learn what to do and not to do (angle, pressure...) on a "face", but not on your face, so you don't develop the relevant muscle memory.


cheers
christophe