Thread: Anxious Newbie

That was one of the biggest reasons I chose SRD for my first razor purchase. From reading numerous posts I expected Lynn would have the razor ready to go. I thought I would look at the blade very closely and shave prior to stropping so I would know what a properly sharpened razor should look and feel like. I am actually going to see if I can get a couple shaves prior to stropping the first time since I probably will only be shaving a small part of my face to start. I know I am pushing my luck with that expectation but it wouldn't hurt to try. At least I will know the difference between shave ready and not.

I never used a butter knife...

I have one nick in my strop from day one. Just start slow. Remember.... Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. In order to get faster you need the muscle memory of the motion. Start with slow smooth motion, it will just take a bit longer that's all. Keep the spine on the leather at all times, lift the edge as you approach the end of stroke and don't lower the edge onto the leather until you are moving in the other direction. Also you don't need to use the entire length of a long strop, keep the blade away from buckles and rivets...

Enjoy!!!

Great advice!

Have you checked out the shave Wiki?
If not, here is the link: First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by Link8382

That was one of the biggest reasons I chose SRD for my first razor purchase. From reading numerous posts I expected Lynn would have the razor ready to go. I thought I would look at the blade very closely and shave prior to stropping so I would know what a properly sharpened razor should look and feel like. I am actually going to see if I can get a couple shaves prior to stropping the first time since I probably will only be shaving a small part of my face to start. I know I am pushing my luck with that expectation but it wouldn't hurt to try. At least I will know the difference between shave ready and not.

Yes I have. Thanks for the info though.

Great!
Just remember, all this takes time and practice. At this early stage, don't get hung up on achieving that BBS; trust me, it will happen before you know it. Focus on your pre-shave prep, shaving technique (take it slow and easy), and take care of your face and your equipment after the shave.

Here's a great tip I use myself, when you are SR shaving, strive make the next stroke of the razor better than the previous one.

Originally Posted by Link8382

Yes I have. Thanks for the info though.

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.