Thread: One year on

So its been one year on since i took up straight razor shaving for real. The story so far.

20 years ago I went to a scissor/razor/sharpening shop, I can't remember what I was looking for. I started chewing the fat with the owner, who was from Germany, and he told me about straight razors and talked me into buying a DorKo razor. Onimaru55 told me today it was an organisation bought out by Dovo. I took the razor home without knowing that shave ready doesn't mean shave ready. After trying a few times i gave up in disgust and chucked the razor in storage. Unfortunately the Internet then was nothing like it is today

Fast forward 19 years and I am reading that straight razors are making a comeback. I find SRP and the rest is history as they say.

Some things I have learnt so far:

Get your razor sharpened by a honemeister, thanks onimaru55, until you do you wont know what shave ready really means. Most places will only sell factory shave ready razors. SRD and a couple of others being the exception.

Stretch that skin for a good shave

Hold the razor lightly and apply light pressure.

Lather is important. Read as much as you can about it here and choose what works for you. There are a lot of ways you can do it.

Cold shaving works but so does hot, i prefer cold

Accept that most razors on ebay are rubbish. Although I am glad I bought some as it lets me practice honing.

Antique shops sell rubbish, expensively!!!!!!

Don't get excited if you are shaving listening to the game on the radio and your team is winning the game.

Make sure you're partner doesn't get too ****ed off about you banging on for hours about shaving and honing. Not every one understands why you have 3 loupes and 6 hones and why sharpening is an obsession. I've been lucky so far to have been blessed with a very patient woman :-).

Remember you're sons will try to imitate what you do. Its not a good look walking into a bathroom and seeing a 6 year old with a razor at 90 degrees on the neck.

Enjoy shaving and be patient. You will get their in the end.

Fancy mo's are hard to do in movember with a straight razor.

Don't be afraid to ask questions on SRP. Most people have asked the question before or have learnt the hard way and are willing to share.

Read and watch as much as you can on SRP. People are happy to share their experience.


Things I would like to learn:

How to hone properly. I have a long long way to go.

How to shave others so I can share the joy.

Things I would like:

A set of shapton hones.

A new razor.


Thanks everyone for reading my enourmous dialog. Just felt I had to share in some way.