Got My First Straight Razor for Valentine's Day

Hey guys!

After a long time of trying to decide what razor to get, my girlfriend surprised me with a beginner straight razor (link below) for Valentine's day.

Amazon.com: Parker SRB Straight Edge Barber Razor and 5 Shark Stainless Blades: Health & Personal Care

Since then, I have had my first shave and to no surprise I have a few questions. First of all, do I need to strop this razor even though it uses disposable razors? Also, I didn't seem to get a good lather from my soap. Should I keep the soap in the bowl and bring the brush to it (slightly wet), or should I lather the soap separately and only keep lather in the bowl? Finally, can anyone recommend good aftershave for sensitive skin? I used to use Nivia, sensitive skin aftershave, however it seems to not good as good a job now. Maybe because the straight razor gave me a much closer and cleaner shave. Thanks in advance for any advice. Shaving with this beginner Parker is extremely invigorating. I can't wait until I'm ready to buy a real one in a couple months!!!

-Boris

Link for tutorial on building lather below.
As far as your after shave the Nivia is decent stuff, a little more time, a few more shaves adjusting your angle (when I am using disposable blade straights they are almost Parallel to my face), letting your face adjut to the new style of shaving and you should be alright. There is a miriad of products but I would give your skin and you a little time to adjust to using the straight.
Happy shaving

Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks, pfries. I also forgot to ask, should I out oil on the razors since they are disposable? If so, what kind of oil? Someone told me I can use canola, but that seems a bit strange to me.

I only oil for storage or the very occasional up keep (overly zealous cleaning).

Canola oil is fine, many stay away from petroleum products, mineral oil is on I have used.

If you are shaving regularly oil is not needed, there are some that prefer it.


And I forgot to mention no you do not need to strop your disposable blade.

All of this takes time, I am just over a year in and starting to hone along with my switch to real steel. Shaving was a chore, now it is bliss.

Pat

Lieu,

The blades being disposable, there's no need to strop them. Just safely dispose of them once they don't shave to your standards anymore (those blades can be 10 cents each or so and you won't feel bad changing them out).

You also don't need to oil the razor. It's stainless steel so just make sure you dry it well and you should be good to go. It's the high carbon steel straights that are rust magnets.

Personally, I do not use anywhere near a 90 degree blade angle but find whatever shaves you close without irritation. Shavettes can be unforgiving but once mastered are very good and economical shavers... Good luck with it and the eventual traditional straight you mentioned. They're good times.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shifty

Lieu,

Personally, I do not use anywhere near a 90 degree blade angle but find whatever shaves you close without irritation.

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Good catch I was answering questions from my 7th grader and had a total brain fart corrected to state parallel not perpendicular.......
Wow I need some sleep.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pfries

Good catch I was answering questions from my 7th grader and had a total brain fart corrected to state parallel not perpendicular.......
Wow I need some sleep.

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Haha! I was trying to imagine the AMAZING lather you must use to not scrape your face off.