Thread: hello, i'm new.

Lay the razor flat on the strop, a short distance from the handle with the edge towards you. Holding it flat on the strop, make the first stroke upwards and away from you. At the end of the first stroke, about two-thirds along the strop, raise the edge without lifting the back of the blade off the strop and turn it over till the other face lies flat and make the second stroke upwards and towards you.

i read this part and didn't think it sounded quite right - it does seem badly worded and it's not what i was led to believe. should the blade be edge away? in fact like your avatar?

i will be using my previous shave prep routine which is a shower using very hot water, a face scrub, a face wash and then prior to shaving, more very hot water, some shave oil which i leave for around 10-15 seconds and then lather up some soap ( i have been using an aloe shave gel sometimes) and apply with a shaving brush brush on top of the oil. afterwards i use a post shave healer with a high aloe content. i may moisturise a little later if my skin feels like it's getting drier but i find as long as i drink plenty of water through the day, i don't have to.

i watched mr lynn's instruction video and was surprised at how little time shaving with an open razor can take - possibly the same or less than with a safety razor!

the way backwards is definately the way forwards!

Randy's avatar is demonstrating honing. When honing, the cutting edge leads the action.

When stropping, the spine leads the action. Other than that, they use the same X-pattern.

ahhhh. okay, i understand that better!

there's so much to learn!!

Greetings Johnyhotdog!

I certainly agree with you--there is indeed so much to learn (including patience..lol), which makes this hobby lots of fun.

Hal

Welcome John,

As you can see this is a really great group and everyone is willing to share information. Remember there are no stupid questions. You might also want to try Prorasso cream before latering up, great prep. I have only been shaving with a str8 since December and I now do it before work every day. It doesn't have to take a great amount of time to shave with however it will take some time until you can wield a blade like Lynn. He really knows his stuff. Enjoy.

RichZ

i'm enjoying this place already - so many resources to refer to and everyone seems helpful and friendly!

i have never heard of prorasso cream before - is that a brand name? it may be available in the U.K but i just haven't opened my eyes to it yet!

also, can i just say, i was intrigued by Dr. Phong's test tube series as it is something i am currently in the middle of now! haven't recieved any products yet but got a nice catalogue from Geo. F. Trumper along with a shaving and stropping guide and a small shaving advice booklet, and a catalogue from www.mankind.co.uk.
dr phong - we'll have to compare notes at some time!

Proraso is an Italian cream, it comes in two varieties. The green (which I find very invigorating) and the red, which sadly I have never tried. My favorite cream is Taylors Almond. Followed closely by Green Proraso.

well, i've now had my first proper shave - and it was good!

i read just about everything i could find on the internet and felt really ready to give it a go.

i showered and took my time preparing my face and stropping my razor and then took the actual shave pretty slowly - paying close attention to my technique.

it was close enough after one pass to be reasonable and i just did a little tidying although i had some trouble getting to the parts just under my nose! i stopped there as i didn't want to push my luck!

the only mistake i think i made was right at the end when i dried the razor on the towel i was wearing and accidentally cut through the towel and sliced my leg! doh!
it only bled for about an hour and doesn't need stitches so i think i'll live!

other than that i actually really enjoyed the whole process and i can see it becoming part of my life really easily! i won't be drying any razor on sometyhing i'm wearing ever again though! i have learned the "respect the razor" lesson now!

Originally Posted by johnnyhotdog

well, i've now had my first proper shave - and it was good!

Way to go John! The razor started to become a more complete concept once I'd actually put it to my face. Stay well lubricated and pay close attention to how the strokes are going and you'll get those stray hairs soon enough. I'm still improving the shave on my upper lip.

Originally Posted by johnnyhotdog

i dried the razor on the towel i was wearing and accidentally cut through the towel and sliced my leg! doh! i have learned the "respect the razor" lesson now!

New guys like us need to find ways of preventing accidents like this.
I never put the edge against anything but the hone, the strop and my face and I always leave them closed when I set them down. I also fold my towel twice, creating four layers deapth. I wipe one of two ways:
1) just like stropping during the shave
2) final cleaning with the towel wrapped from around the spine reaching to just behind the edge and drawn carefully along the length of the blade with my thumb and fore finger.
I use rubbing alcohol to take care of the edge itself as well as disinfect the blade at the very end.

X

Originally Posted by johnnyhotdog

the only mistake i think i made was right at the end when i dried the razor on the towel i was wearing and accidentally cut through the towel and sliced my leg! doh!
it only bled for about an hour and doesn't need stitches so i think i'll live!
other than that i actually really enjoyed the whole process and i can see it becoming part of my life really easily! i won't be drying any razor on sometyhing i'm wearing ever again though! i have learned the "respect the razor" lesson now!

I think it wise to protect all dangling appendges with heavy armor, lest an errant projectile cause severe injury leaving both the shaver and his wife in a bit of a pickle.