Hello all, interested in a straight razor shave

I was referred here by a thread at hammockforums.

I've never really liked shaving much. I have used various cartridge razors that Gillette sent me free in the mail and a few different electrics. I've just never really been happy with the results.

The first razor Gillette sent was a two-bladed deal which wasn't too bad for shave quality if not for the irritation. The next one they sent was a 3 bladed monster that I couldn't get into that notch under my nose and now the blades are so close together that my whiskers get stuck between them and make the shave take longer (it's hard to get them out of there) and increase irritation (the odd one I can't get out really scratches).

That encouraged me to try electrics for awhile. I've been through a few Norelcos, the latest one doesn't irritate my face (I think the self-cleaning base helps a lot with this) but the shave quality is not very good. Even immediately after the shave, I feel the whiskers. Trying to finish with a disposable or cartridge blade just causes too much irritation.

That thread on hammockforums got me thinking that this has got to be a better way. First off, it sounds like the method pays more attention to pre- and post- shave skin care which seems like it would boost the comfort level. And then just using a reusable blade where a high degree of sharpness can be consistently maintained seems like it would work well.

I decided I'd get some straight razor shaves from a barber before deciding completely whether to drop some coin on a good kit. My local barber does it, so when I got my last haircut, I had him give me a shave, too. I was impressed with the overall results regarding the comfort during the shave and the closeness. There was a bit of irritation at the jawline, though, and after reading here for a few hours last night, I wonder how much his pre-shave prep and the shaving method he used had to do with it.

His pre-shave prep involved some warmed foam from a dispenser that looked like it came from the 50's, so I don't know specifically what product it was. He lathered me up and then put a warm, wet towel on my face. Then after that, he re-applied the foam and proceeded to shave. I have a fairly sharp jawline and I know the grain of my whiskers changes below there, which makes me wonder if that was a factor in the irritation.

Still, it felt much better than a cartridge blade, and he wasn't even using the same sort of straight razor I see posted about here a lot. His had replaceable blades.

At any rate, I will continue to have him give me a shave when I go in for a haircut, since I don't have the budget for a good shave kit right now (in a long, drawn-out process of moving halfway across the country and trying to sell my current home and save for a down payment on a new home) and I will take the opportunity to get a shave elsewhere if I find somewhere else that offers the service to compare the differences in methods and/or equipment.

It seems I can at least practice stropping technique and maybe get some soap and practice lathering.

Welcome to SRP.

Take advantage of the time you have to learn about straight shaving and explore all our resources. keep an eye out on the classifieds for a razor that is quality but maybe not so pretty except for the price.

I plan to. I took a gander at ebay last night to see what's over there. I noticed some stuff that I recognize from some discussions here and the prices didn't look too bad. I noticed a LOT of antiques, a number of which looked like they'd have been completely useless for actually shaving and a good number just seemed to me of questionable quality. Would a $10 straight be worth much, even if I sent it off to someone for professional restoring and honing?

There's a ton of antique shops locally and I've considered visiting them on Saturday to see if any had any straights sitting around. I've noticed that some of them don't seem to try to get a true value on some items if they're not high demand items.

One thing I noticed was some talk of having a different razor for every day. If you strop before every shave, anyway, I can't see this reducing the time spent prepping...is the reduced wear on the razor significant? Or is this like any other gear whoring where it's just that the individual is passionate about the gear?

I mean, after all, I own two bicycles, a canoe, three pairs of still wearable hiking boots, half a dozen backpacks, two hammocks, three tents, etc, etc. I am no stranger to gear whoring. Just trying to get a handle on whether having razors for every day is for a functional reason or something else. :-)

You might want to check out whippeddog.com. I'm a newbie who started with a straight last month. I decided to go with Larry's sight unseen deal along with his poor man's strop kit. For $55, he'll set you up with a good razor that is shave ready, a basic strop (nothing fancy), and a balsa strop. I believe it's a good deal and a great way to start.

Well, there certainly isn't any NEED for more than one razor. It sure is nice to have though!

Partially because you still have something to shave with when (and if) you need to send a blade out
to get sharpened.

It's also nice to just have some variety when you shave. Every razor feels a little bit different, and it's
an exciting part of the journey to get to experience the feel of many different blades.

I know a few people that only shave with one razor, and they make out just fine.

As for buying a first razor, personally I would avoid E-Bay. You will probably be much happier, and have
a great deal less anxiety about purchasing a razor from a reputable member of SRP who knows what he's
talking about.

I bought a razor from an online dealer when I started out. I didn't know it at the time, but the edge was sub-par.
It gave me more headaches that it was worth, and thrust me into honing allot earlier than I was probably ready for.


Anyways,
Just my .02

Enjoy the ride, it's probably going to be a long one.

Welcome to SRP Nate(?).
I didn't imagine there would be a forum dedicated to hammocks - well there you go (and why not he says)
Apparently, barbers are not allowed to use real straights 'cause of 'health regulations' - hence the shavette.
Real straights, especially when wielded by your own hand, are a different experience entirely.
Glad to have you on board.
Hang on and enjoy the ride

That explains the different razor my barber used. Ah, having a spare for when you need to send one off for sharpening. That makes sense.

As for hammock forums, absolutely. In large part, it's about camping, backpacking, and traveling with hammocks but a good number of members also sleep in hammock nightly in their homes.

Welcome..

The single best advice I can give is to start with latherin.
A decent brush some shave soaps and creams...
If you learn to build a good lather and prepare your face well
you can get a much improved shave from a plastic handled tossable.
A lot of folk stop there very satisfied.

Depending on budget and room in the house consider
a DE razor for the next step. Modern double edge razor blades
run from scratchy to oh golly sharp with smooth and wonderful
in the middle.

For an open blade razor (straight) give the classified a look from time to time.
Some fine old steel shows up at very fair prices. If you can
live with battered scales on good old steel you can find a bargain from
time to time.

Remember to get a good strop... See the wiki for beginners.
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

So I visited a bunch of local antique shops and found a good number of razors. Of course the shop owners knew exactly what they had so no deals. I did find a barber's hone for $15 at one shop. If I knew what I was looking at, maybe.

My most pleasant surprise was walking into an old timey string shop where they specialize in bluegrass instruments - banjos and mandolins and whatnot, and saw they had a whole shaving corner. Soaps, brushes, mugs, but no straights. They did have a merkur DE but I could not tell which model or what the price was. I do plan on going back to the shop to get some soap and a brush. I have the perfect mug already - a handmade one from San Francisco that says, "Cancer is My Bitch." apropo

It's nice and big. Plenty of room for lather.

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Originally Posted by mtbikernate

So I visited a bunch of local antique shops and found a good number of razors. Of course the shop owners knew exactly what they had so no deals. I did find a barber's hone for $15 at one shop. If I knew what I was looking at, maybe.

My most pleasant surprise was walking into an old timey string shop where they specialize in bluegrass instruments - banjos and mandolins and whatnot, and saw they had a whole shaving corner. Soaps, brushes, mugs, but no straights. They did have a merkur DE but I could not tell which model or what the price was. I do plan on going back to the shop to get some soap and a brush. I have the perfect mug already - a handmade one from San Francisco that says, "Cancer is My Bitch." apropo

It's nice and big. Plenty of room for lather.

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Have you ever tried a safety razor? They don't have the same allure that the straights do, but they'll provide a DFS and they're easier to learn how to use. I suffered from razor burn on my neck from the time I started shaving when I was around 14 almost until my 30th birthday. Then I saw mantic59's vids on YouTube and I immediately ordered a DE razor, a blade sample pack, and a tube of Proraso shave cream. Within a week I was getting decent shaves without any irritation. I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting into straight razors, but a properly wielded DE will get you where you want to be in terms of less irritation and won't break the bank if you get one of the cheaper razors to begin with.

All that said, I love my straights and I only use my old DE when time is tight.

I have thought about it and there might still be one at my parents' house left by the previous residents. I remember finding it a long time ago and plan to look again before buying one.

As you say, good at least when time is tight. While I learn to make lather, I have a couple cartridge razors I can use that will take no practice to wield. As I have read here many times, "change only one variable at a time". This appeals to the scientist in me.

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Originally Posted by Adama

You might want to check out whippeddog.com. I'm a newbie who started with a straight last month. I decided to go with Larry's sight unseen deal along with his poor man's strop kit. For $55, he'll set you up with a good razor that is shave ready, a basic strop (nothing fancy), and a balsa strop. I believe it's a good deal and a great way to start.

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+1.

Alternative -- get a "shave-ready" razor from the Classifieds on this site. The vendors are reliable.

Alternative -- get a Dovo "Best Quality" razor (new) from Straight Razor Designs (or one of the other vendors active on this website). Make sure the razor has been hand-sharpened (the SRD blades qualify).

Unless you want to get deeply into "razor sharpening" as a hobby, avoid eBay cheapies, and avoid antique shops.

charles

PS -- I agree with a previous post -- a double-edge razor might be all that you need for a comfortable shave. Most Merkur's would be OK, and just about any antique-store Gillette will work. Use a good blade -- Astra or Feather for me, easy to get by mail. There's a much shorter learning curve for a DE razor, than for a straight razor.

Hi Nate, and first of all, Welcome! It sounds like you've settled on the right track, focusing for now on a new kind of lather. All the advice to start with a blade that's a known quantity--i.e., shave-ready from a reliable source--is the only good advice. You'll want a strop at the same time you try your first straight--stropping is key to daily edge prep and care.

Like you, I ended up starting with the lather and my old cartridge system, then shifted to straights gradually, shaving sideburns and cheeks with the straight and handling the trickier areas with the cartridge, until I got comfortable using the straight everywhere.

The main benefit (besides the cool factor and the excellent meditation) of the straight was that I no longer suffered ingrown hairs, nor did I shave with something that could harbor bacteria, old sebum, soap scum, or other yuckness between shaves.

Plus, of course, there's all that cool gear! (says the man with three belly boats, a tent, a bivy sack, a tiny camper, a metal lathe...)

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The main benefit (besides the cool factor and the excellent meditation) of the straight was that I no longer suffered ingrown hairs, nor did I shave with something that could harbor bacteria, old sebum, soap scum, or other yuckness between shaves.

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I have to say that I've read this enough here that it's fast becoming a big reason I want to do this. I don't have as many problems on my face now as I used to, but I still have lingering issues with ingrown hairs from time to time. In particular, though, the skin on my chest is pretty bad and I'm thinking that some of the washing techniques and products I'm reading about might be helpful there.

A different type of razor isn't going to be magic, so better understand what you're getting into.

With a cartridge razor you usually have 3-5 blades going over your skin with every stroke. Then between the shaves those blades are left to rust (yes they have special coatings but those wear off) so each subsequent shave is worse than the previous.
With a DE razor you have a single blade scraping at your skin and they are about 20c-50c so replacing them often is much cheaper than cartridges.
With a shavette type of razor you have the freedom to vary the angle of the blade at your skin (that's fixed in a DE razor and people usually call the ones with steep angle agressive). That of course means that you need a lot more skill, but the benefits of the extra freedom is worth it for many. Also to avoid cuts you will be forced to be much gentler than with those cartridge razors, which means less irritation.
With a regular straight razor you have thicker edge and bare steel (no coatings) and you strop the blade between shaves to keep the oxidation at bay (that's why the edge can last weeks/months/years vs. several shaves with a replaceable blades that you do not strop). Of course it's of utmost importance that the edge you have is good, so it's best to stay away from ebay and antique shops. Buy a razor from a person you trust to know what they are doing and who has honed and verified that the edge is what it should be. Gillette/Schick/etc have machines that put a perfect edge on miles and miles of steel, but doing the same thing by hand across a 3" blade takes a good deal of experience.

And the way you treat your skin and whiskers before and after you put a blade to them makes a huge difference too. With a soft whisker you don't need to apply pressure and scrape off a lot of skin, and the lubrication from the lather does the same.

So, it's up to you where you want to go, but the low hanging fruit would be switching to using good shaving soap/cream instead of the canned stuff that's optimized for convenience and shelf life, and after that you using the 1-bladed bic disposable razors - they're very cheap and dragging 1 blade across your skin gets far less irritation than than 5.

Hey Nate welcome to the forums, I started straight shaving two years ago and can still be classed as a newbie regarding my knowledge and expertise but I'm getting there slowly :)

I used to cartridge shave for years and found it a chore and never really gave it much though but I always loved the whole straight razor idea, I was eventually given money one Xmas and decided that was the time to switch.

I got a beginners kit, a dovo razor, strop and shave cream from the invisible edge ( a very good uk supplier) and haven't looked back since, however I also liked the idea of honing (sharpening) my own razor so I decided to buy a cheap eBay $10 razor to practice with so as not to destroy my dovo's blade, I'm still learning a lot about the whole sharpening side of straight ownership but it's all slowly falling into place and is turning into a little bit of an obsession for me.

If its any use to you I started out practice shaving with a replaceable blade shavette razor, so as to get used to holding a straight and how the strokes worked on my face etc. so when the time came to use a real straight I didn't cut both my ears off. Fingers crossed to this day I've not had a serious cut.

It's now something I enjoy doing and love all the prep for my skin, getting a good lather etc then the real joy for me is the actual shave.

+1 for Larry at whippeddog, he will sell you a sight unseen razor for $25, I think that even includes shipping! They are not pretty, but they are shave ready, an excellent value in my eyes! :)

Picked up a couple items locally. Got an inexpensive brush "pure bristle" and a small handmade earthenware bowl for my lather. Now to decide what soap to start with.

Funny story, ran into a guy I've known for a couple years after buying the brush, and after a bit, he asks me if I've got a shave brush. Turns out he's a big fan of classic methods but he uses a DE razor.

Hmmmm... Mtbiker, Hammocker, and now Wetshaver? Could you be my twin? Do you have sleep apnea too? LOL!

Anyway, I haven't been on hammock forums lately so I guess I missed that thread. I'll have to go look it up. It's great to see you here though. Definitely change one variable at a time, starting with making real lather with a brush and soap/cream. I don't shave with a straight yet but I'm going to eventually. I currently DE shave and frequent another shaving forum. Boar hair is usually what is referred to by "Pure Bristle". It should work fine to get started. It'll take a little time to break in though because boar hair needs to get split ends and soften up a little before it has the best performance (especially with creams) and comfort.

No sleep apnea but my rhythms are totally screwed up.

Good tip about creams and the brush I got. I had read that creams can be easier to get a good lather if you're starting out. Would a cream still be a good choice even if my brush needs some breaking in? I read a good bit about proraso being well-favored so I am considering starting with it.

Since I want to start pretty simple, I am wondering what might be good to start with for post shave? I read about folks using a variety of products and I am unsure what many of them are even for in the first place. All I'd like at this point is something simple to start with that will make my face feel nice.

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Originally Posted by mtbikernate

Since I want to start pretty simple, I am wondering what might be good to start with for post shave? I read about folks using a variety of products and I am unsure what many of them are even for in the first place. All I'd like at this point is something simple to start with that will make my face feel nice.

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Nivea aftershave - every grocery store has it.

Your brush should be fine to start with creams. Proraso is an Italian brand and the Italians love boar brushes. It is pretty forgiving too. Just keep in mind that you MIGHT have a little trouble at first building a lather with it. But after about 10 lathers you should be able to get a pretty optimal lather (with the right technique of course). It will continue to get softer on your face for a while after that as more hairs split. You should still be able to build a lather before it is broken in but it will just take longer and it might not be quite as rich and full. Your technique is going to get better with time anyway so maybe it is a moot point other than to say have some patience.

Are you getting a tub/bowl of Proraso Shaving Cream Soap or a tube of Proraso Cream? If the former then most people consider it to be a "soft soap".

Post shave, if you are getting Proraso soap or creme then definitely consider the Proraso pre-post shave creme (aka Proraso Preshave cream). It has a hearty following (though I haven't used it myself).

Basically, you have 2 different categories of aftershave products. First, you have an aftershave lotion which is mostly for soothing skin and closing pores. Many, but not all of these have alcohol in them. Traditional aftershaves like Old Spice, Brut, and Aqua Velva fall into this category. Second, you have aftershave creams which are thicker and vary in consistency from what you would EXPECT a lotion to be up to a thich creamy cream. They are targeted at moisturizing and soothing. Some people will use a lotion and then a cream afterward to get the benefits of both. What you need or want will vary based on your personal preference, your skin type, and what shave soap or shave cream you use (how drying it is).

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Originally Posted by nomoore

Your brush should be fine to start with creams. Proraso is an Italian brand and the Italians love boar brushes. It is pretty forgiving too. Just keep in mind that you MIGHT have a little trouble at first building a lather with it. But after about 10 lathers you should be able to get a pretty optimal lather (with the right technique of course). It will continue to get softer on your face for a while after that as more hairs split. You should still be able to build a lather before it is broken in but it will just take longer and it might not be quite as rich and full. Your technique is going to get better with time anyway so maybe it is a moot point other than to say have some patience.

Are you getting a tub/bowl of Proraso Shaving Cream Soap or a tube of Proraso Cream? If the former then most people consider it to be a "soft soap".

Post shave, if you are getting Proraso soap or creme then definitely consider the Proraso pre-post shave creme (aka Proraso Preshave cream). It has a hearty following (though I haven't used it myself).

Basically, you have 2 different categories of aftershave products. First, you have an aftershave lotion which is mostly for soothing skin and closing pores. Many, but not all of these have alcohol in them. Traditional aftershaves like Old Spice, Brut, and Aqua Velva fall into this category. Second, you have aftershave creams which are thicker and vary in consistency from what you would EXPECT a lotion to be up to a thich creamy cream. They are targeted at moisturizing and soothing. Some people will use a lotion and then a cream afterward to get the benefits of both. What you need or want will vary based on your personal preference, your skin type, and what shave soap or shave cream you use (how drying it is).

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Originally Posted by gugi

Nivea aftershave - every grocery store has it.

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Thanks for the suggestions. I have not decided whether to use the "soft soap" or cream. I will probably place an order for some stuff this weekend. When I had my barber give me a shave, he used an aftershave lotion (not sure which brand - I've actually never used a true aftershave before...never really understood before why I would) and I liked the way it felt after the alcohol evaporated off. I've mostly been browsing the soap section of the forum. guess I ought to spend some time reading in the post-shave section a bit.

one thing I thought was amusing...I just saw on Facebook the other day that an old college friend just bought his first straight razor.

Well, I bought a few products yesterday that I can try out. I got everything from SRD so I only had to pay 1 shipping bill. they have a good selection, but were unfortunately out of Proraso pre-post. I'll have to try that later.

What I did get:
Proraso cream
A selection of SRD soap scents in sample size (minus a few...I don't want to smell like tobacco, patchouli, or lavender).
some thayer's witch hazel aftershave - I'm curious about how I'll like an alcohol-free formula
a pre-shave exfoliating wash from Pacific Shaving Company

It sounds like you ordered some GREAT products. Enjoy the shave!

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Originally Posted by nomoore

It sounds like you ordered some GREAT products. Enjoy the shave!

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It seemed like it, from looking at product descriptions and comparing to posts here. I labored over the decisions and browsed so much that my shopping cart timed out twice before I placed my order.

Had a long post typed out but the damn ipod does not have an undo option when something screws up the whole post. Ugh.

Shaved with the proraso cream today and boy, does that stuff feel nice!

And it is noob friendly to make lather. I had no troubles there aside from making a good bit more lather than I needed