Thread: First straight razor shave

I started wetshaving when I was 14 and I was using wilkinson sword stuff and at 16 years old I got fed up with the blade prices and I started using electric razors.
Until august 2006, when I lost the electric, I started using DE razors. RAD hit me bad and I got about 10 safety razors (2 gem ( didn't work out, wasn't gliding), 2 injectors and 6 DE's). I didn't thought it would be interesting to use a straight razor, since the DE's are so cheap.
Around november things were getting boring with DE and then a friend told me how he shaved with a knife. I suggested him a straight razor and because of that I was curious too.
So here I am, just got my straight razor that is shave ready (probably not by honemeister standards). At first I tried shaving my arm hairs, but somehow, they were too flexible and thin? it didn't shave them, so I tried the hair test and first they didn't pop, until I put it at an angle like someone's picture in signature space here. It started popping, so I tried shaving with it.
I have barely any beard growth on the cheek, most of it is concentrated on the chin and moustache. So I started with the moustache, it went ok and I moved over to underlip to the chin. There is where I started nicking myself. After seeing some blood, I slowed down on the chin, did things very carefully.
Then comes the valley of the cheeks? Upside down area. N-S stroke was sick, I just couldn't lower the angle enough, so another nick appears (this was a nick from the day before yesterday by DE) So I used S-N on the valley of the cheeks, it was much easier that way. After that one pass and 3 nicks, I stopped before I pushed my luck too much. I'm looking forward to the next straight razor shave and of course my hone .

It looks like your razor still needs some work on the hone. Try lapping it and then taking the razor to it. You are very close so a few gentle strokes should do the trick.

Good first step, just watch for the nicking. As a DE user I'm sure you know what your tolerance levels are.

I want to support Ilija's statement about sharpening the razor. A very keen blade will provide a smooth effortless extremely close shave for you and you deserve it. You've come a long way, baby.

X

I think you guys have misunderstood me, the razor was bought sharp. My Norton has yet to arrive, so the ebay razors are on hold.

Who did you buy the razor from?

ernestrome, in this thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=8897

It still looks like the razor will need more (but not too much) work on the hone to be shave ready. Lap the Norton before you start honing with it.