Thread: Just Received My First Straight Razor

I do have a strop, the razor came with a strop, leather travel case for the razor, soap, bowl, and boar brush. I am thinking about trying the shave soap and the boar brush with my normal shave tomorrow morning. That way I can get a little practice in on making a good lather. I am definitely going to take my time this saturday when I try to shave with it. I am honestly scared of it, but at the same time I am excited! I may be weird but oh well. lol

Originally Posted by DAHE4

I do have a strop, the razor came with a strop, leather travel case for the razor, soap, bowl, and boar brush. I am thinking about trying the shave soap and the boar brush with my normal shave tomorrow morning. That way I can get a little practice in on making a good lather. I am definitely going to take my time this saturday when I try to shave with it. I am honestly scared of it, but at the same time I am excited! I may be weird but oh well. lol

Yeah, I was shit scared when I got my Burrell two years ago. I thought there is NO way that's going near my face! That first shave with a straight is so cool, you'll feel like you've skinned yourself afterwards, your skin will feel so raw. It feels so cool to shave with a straight the first time; you feel so gung ho.

Great idea about practising with the lather. You want an 'oomphy' lather that's not dry at all, and not TOO frothy. You want cushion and glide. Pre-shave cream like Proraso can really help a beginner. What sort of soap did you get?

Carl

BTW, I note on your other thread you have a Norton 4/8. Just wondering if you have a plan if you feel the razor isn't sharp enough on the first shave? Also, do you plan to strop before the shave? If so, how many strokes? I'd like to offer you a plan if you don't have a plan...FWIW...

It came with Van Der Hagen soap. I know it is a cheaper one, but it came with the razor and is something to start out with. I don't have a plan set in stone for the shave on saturday. I am still trying to figure out this strop. It is a smaller one, with a black leather side and a light brown leather side. Im not sure what side I am even supposed to use. Should I strop it before I shave for the first time? Any advice you have carlmaloschneider is greatly appreciated. I am completely new to this and have just been reading posts on this forum to figure stuff out. So, I am greatly appreciative of any and all help! I saw a video of honeing that I will have to find again. I believe it was gssixguns that made the video. He was doing circular motions on a norton 4/8 and I figured I would try that if the razor turns out not to be shave ready. I am trying to keep sending it out to get honed as a last resort, as the mail system out here is extremely slow and I will be changing duty stations in the next 2 months.

Originally Posted by DAHE4

It came with Van Der Hagen soap. I know it is a cheaper one, but it came with the razor and is something to start out with. I don't have a plan set in stone for the shave on saturday. I am still trying to figure out this strop. It is a smaller one, with a black leather side and a light brown leather side. Im not sure what side I am even supposed to use. Should I strop it before I shave for the first time? Any advice you have carlmaloschneider is greatly appreciated. I am completely new to this and have just been reading posts on this forum to figure stuff out. So, I am greatly appreciative of any and all help! I saw a video of honeing that I will have to find again. I believe it was gssixguns that made the video. He was doing circular motions on a norton 4/8 and I figured I would try that if the razor turns out not to be shave ready. I am trying to keep sending it out to get honed as a last resort, as the mail system out here is extremely slow and I will be changing duty stations in the next 2 months.

Call me Carl, please. I wish I'd never used my full name here! People don't know what to call me!!

Anyway, here is what I reckon. See if you can get some cream before Sat. If you can afford it. Maybe some Body Shop Macca Root, O Melhor, Truefitt and Hill, C O Bigalow something like that. Cream is great for a beginner, it removes a variable somewhat.

Grab a kitchen knife or anything else to simulate a razor before the shave. Stand at a mirror and work out how you're going to hold the razor.

Obviously you've watched some shaving videos first (if not, do so). Plan to swap hands (R H for R side, L H for L side) but that is NOT imperative. You're only going to do your right side (or left side if you're left handed) on the first shave anyway. Relax, you've got plenty of days to build up to it. Rome wasn't built in a day.

DO NOT strop the razor before the shave. Don't touch the edge. Prepare well for the shave, shower, hot towels, good lather. Let the lather sit for a few minutes. You could even wash it off and lather again. Then, short, soft strokes with the razor. Don't try and do long strokes. CONCENTRATE, just like you're at the range shooting targets at 300 meters.

LOW angle, double the width of the spine. STOP after you've done a cheek. Then use your normal razor to finish off. I know you want to do the whole thing with the straight, but we want you to live and fight another day.

THEN you can either not strop at all (at this point in time) or maybe do 20 or so SLOW strokes on the strop. KEEP THE RAZOR FLAT. In fact, I'd rather you put the spine in contact more so than the edge, you can wreck the edge pretty quickly by holding the razor incorrectly. You can use a razor for a week or so (depending on your hair, etc) without stropping, but can dull the edge with one bad stropping session. I normally strop 30/70 linen/leather each shave with 10/10 after, but at this stage you can do more harm than good stropping.

I can't tell you what side to use first, the colour of the leather to me means nothing. Try and post a pic of the strop showing each side.

If the razor tugs on the hair rather than cutting. Stop. Shave with your normal razor and ask us what to do. At that stage we may suggest a light stropping or even 10 laps on the 8k hone, but don't rush it, I really suggest you ask questions here first. That's a nice razor you have, your very first one, you don't want to ruin it (or your face)

Good luck.

BTW, Australians don't normally say this, but thanks for your service...

Carl

Thank you, that really means a lot to me. Especially since you aren't from the U.S. I will see if I can get my hands on some of the cream that everybody is talking about on here. The selection of hygiene products on base is not that great, and being in Japan it is very difficult to find stuff unless you know exactly what you are looking for. Many people speak english out here, but it is very limited. I have learned some basic Japanese, but I still have a hard time figuring out what someone is saying. I am posting a couple pictures of the strop that came with it. The black side has some type of fabric on the back of it, but other than that it is all leather. Also, I just noticed that the kit came with a bottle of fromm strop dressing. I don't remember that being part of it, but it is there! I'm not sure what to do with it either. I have been watching multiple shave videos, and have been paying particular attention to how they hold the razor while shaving. That being said, I am glad you mentioned to keep the angle at double the width of the spine as that made the whole angle thing much simpler. Now, if on Saturday I get my left cheek done (I'm left handed for writing) without any nicks or cuts would it be advisable to try my right cheek? I am somewhat ambidextrous, but favor my left hand for tasks such as writing. Thank you again Carl for the help. It is very much appreciated.

BTW, you can call me Alex.

ok, just realized the pictures didn't come up. here they are.

I hope you don't shave barefooted!!

Military here as well(Coast Guard), Carl is leading you on point. If nothing else just using a brush to lather will be night and day compared to can o crap. Your shaves will last longer and be much smoother as I converted over to a brush about 7+ years ago and just very recently started with the straight razors and double edge razors, I'll never go back. Just a suggestion for what its worth, if your rushed in the mornings after pt you can always utilize a double edge razor, if you cant find one locally(usually at a antique store or flea market for under $5 so I've found)let me know and Ill shoot one your way. This way you can still enjoy the MAJOR benifits of one blade on your skin compared to multiple. Good luck.
Respectfully,
Christian

Just a couple thoughts here. First of all, welcome!! You are among like minded friends here, a huge, International, friendly and sometimes dysfunctional family; that are always ready to answer questions. Don't hesitate to ask things as they love to share their experience and advice. Next, thank you so much for your service!! It's you guys and gals that watch the door for me, day and night, so I can sleep safe at night!! Also, my best wishes and prayers to your 21 brothers who were in that "hard landing" yesterday in Korea, I see they were based in Okinawa, so they may be people you know, good to hear they are all OK.

As far as shaving advice, I'm still fairly new at this, but you are in good hands here. If I can add anything, it's not to rush anything. Whether it be stropping or actually shaving, never get in a hurry; that's when things go South. Take advantage of the videos that are available, gssixgun and Lynn and others have videos that can be very helpful. And, they don't bite!! Don't hesitate to send them a PM if you have a question. Also, as Eagle mentioned above, a DE razor is handy to have, I have one for those days when I'm running late or for the times when I can't quite seem to get a problem area right, as a touch up tool. Till you get the angles right and prefect your shave, they are damn nice to have around.

So, again, WELCOME ABOARD!!!

Don V