Thread: Anxious Newbie

So today I had my first partial straight razor shave. So far so good, still a little awkward, still have to work on skin stretch but all in all not too bad. Not quite as scary as I thought it might be and totally doable. Since I only did a partial shave do you think I can get away with another partial shave prior to stropping. Although I am practicing utilizing the butter knife strop suggestion, I am a little concerned about ruining the edge. I don't want to screw up the edge before I even get started. I am slowly getting the hang of stropping with the butter knife.

Sounds like you are following the SR shave Wiki for beginners, GOOD MAN!! Keep it up and take your time, you'll get more acclimated. In my opinion, you are going easy and I think you can get away with another partial shave without stropping. But you are going to have to strop sooner or later.

Okay, million dollar question, how long have you had your razor and how long have you been practicing your stropping? Take your time, don't worry about speed, just focus on technique with stropping by keeping the spine in contact with the leather and do not put any pressure on the razor. Just use the razor's weight on the strop and go slowly making sure the razor is flat on the leather, you'll develop the muscle memory to become more proficient with stropping. If you roll the edge on the strop, find someone here in the forum who will rehone your razor.

Link, I rolled my edge while I was learning to strop and I am sure many guys in this forum have done so too. It can be fixed, but we can possibly avoid your rolling the edge.

Originally Posted by Link8382

So today I had my first partial straight razor shave. So far so good, still a little awkward, still have to work on skin stretch but all in all not too bad. Not quite as scary as I thought it might be and totally doable. Since I only did a partial shave do you think I can get away with another partial shave prior to stropping. Although I am practicing utilizing the butter knife strop suggestion, I am a little concerned about ruining the edge. I don't want to screw up the edge before I even get started. I am slowly getting the hang of stropping with the butter knife.

I have only had the razor a couple days, and have not put much time into practicing my strop technique. I will spend more time with butter knife before I go at the new razor.

Go at a pace that you are comfortable with.
Feel free to PM me as well.
Patrick

Originally Posted by Link8382

I have only had the razor a couple days, and have not put much time into practicing my strop technique. I will spend more time with butter knife before I go at the new razor.

Originally Posted by weirdbob

There's a shooter or a former Marine.....

Yes a shooter, not a Marine. However my Kenpo instructor was a Green Beret.

So far so good. Five shaves down and haven't slit my throat. I can get 50-60% of my face pretty smooth and with minimal nicks. Still getting a good bit of razor burn from multiple passes but my technique is improving with each shave. Still working on strop technique but as long as I keep it slow all is good. I am enjoying the challenge and the very close shaves. I will keep working on my chin and upper lip. Thanks for all the support from SRP. Also kudos to SRD for amazingly fast shipping and quality products.

When stropping, keep it slow for now and make sure your spine is in contact with the leather. When you strop, do not press down on the razor, just allow the razor to lay on the leather. What I do with my strop is take some left over shaving lather and smear it on my strop and rubbing it into the leather with my hand and allow it to dry. It conditions the strop and keeps it supple. You can also rub your hand up and down on it several times for the same effect too. Your hands' oils help with the conditioning too.

Originally Posted by Link8382

So far so good. Five shaves down and haven't slit my throat. I can get 50-60% of my face pretty smooth and with minimal nicks. Still getting a good bit of razor burn from multiple passes but my technique is improving with each shave. Still working on strop technique but as long as I keep it slow all is good. I am enjoying the challenge and the very close shaves. I will keep working on my chin and upper lip. Thanks for all the support from SRP. Also kudos to SRD for amazingly fast shipping and quality products.

I have about a week in and things are going pretty good. Still a little trouble with upper lip and chin but I am not to concerned about that, it will come in time with more practice. I am however getting a good bit of razor burn. I am not expecting miracles after only a week but after reading some other posts thought I would verify if it is normal. I am watching how much pressure I apply and find it natural to use a light touch. I do have to make several passes to get a clean shave and feel this is the biggest issue. I haven't dinged the blade on anything but have nicked my strop a couple times does this ruin the edge? I am slowing down with my stropping and getting better overall but do I need to have my blade rehoned? I am getting a smooth shave after multiple passes and I do use alum/witchhazel as.

If it's just lack of experience I will suck it up and motor on.

It could booger the edge, but since the leather gives there's some hope that the edge is okay. Get yourself a 10x loupe and take a look at the edge under super bright light. While examining the edge, tilt the razor back and forth real slow to see if there are any bright spots coming off the edge. If there are, then your edge will need either a touch up or be rehoned.

You say how you are watching how much pressure to apply, you shouldn't be applying any pressure at all. It's all about the razor's natural weight that applies any pressure in shaving and stropping.

Originally Posted by Link8382

I have about a week in and things are going pretty good. Still a little trouble with upper lip and chin but I am not to concerned about that, it will come in time with more practice. I am however getting a good bit of razor burn. I am not expecting miracles after only a week but after reading some other posts thought I would verify if it is normal. I am watching how much pressure I apply and find it natural to use a light touch. I do have to make several passes to get a clean shave and feel this is the biggest issue. I haven't dinged the blade on anything but have nicked my strop a couple times does this ruin the edge? I am slowing down with my stropping and getting better overall but do I need to have my blade rehoned? I am getting a smooth shave after multiple passes and I do use alum/witchhazel as.

If it's just lack of experience I will suck it up and motor on.

I am attempting a zero pressure approach but being new at it and the feeling still a little awkward I am probably still applying a little pressure when I shouldn't. I have looked at the edge without a loupe and I can see the bright shine all along the edge on both sides of blade.