Thread: Hello from Massachusetts

New member here but I've been lurking for a few months before I joined. Got into straight razor shaving this Father's Day when I got my new razor and associated bits. Been loving it since and wish I switched years ago!

Welcome to the hobby / addiction!

Enjoy the company - this is a fun and friendly place.

Lots of knowledge here if you have any questions.

Most important is to tell us how your shaves have been!

Thanks EdG!

Shaves have been excellent. First month it took some getting used to but I used the straight every day and touched up with the mach3. I thought I'd have more of a problem using my off hand for shaving but its been fine. I am now able to do a pretty good 3 pass shave in a reasonable amount of time so I'm happy

Good to hear!

I was concerned about the time it took when I started out. I posted it in another thread somewhere else, but after a while of straight shaving I ran an experiment with a cartridge.

I kept the prep and pre shave and lathering routine the same. It took me four passes with the cart to get a BBS (I sometimes have to go four passes with a straight too). I did get the same result in regards to smoothness. What was interesting was that it took about 10 minutes longer with the cart than the straight. And the stubble came back a lot sooner than with a straight.

Welcome, I live nearby in NH and work in MA. I have been into SR shaving for over two years and now get a close comfortable shave with most of my face BBS. To get close to BBS or BBS everywhere, I still must do cleanup with a DE.

Using a SR with DE cleanup gets me a smoother longer lasting shave than when I use only the DE. I get fewer cuts and less irritation with the SR, but must be ever vigilent or risk a nasty slash from the SR.

During cleanup, the DE glides over my face making almost no sound, except on the few difficult spots. DE blades last longer since they are doing almost no cutting.

I shave at night when bathroom traffic from my extended family is low. This makes getting a very close long lasting shave important for work. Having a DE backup takes pressure away from using the SR, the final result will always be an acceptable shave, but the learning may be slower having DE "training wheels" as a crutch.

The DE helps discourage forcing a SR shave with greater risk of irritation or injury. It is important to keep SR shaving fun or there will be an incentive to give up SRs. My goal is to get the best shaves possible while having fun. I look forward to a time when my shaving, stropping, and honing skills reach the point where a DE cannot improve on my SR shave.

Welcome to SRP

Welcome to SRP.

The shaves get better. I started shaving with a SR about a year ago after using a DE for about 7 years. Until recently, I've been following my SR shaves with touchups by my DE for smoothness. I've gotten better at mapping my hair growth pattern and shaving it with the SR.

Enjoy the shaves.

Welcome Aboard...a lot of faceturbating will help to map out your beard pattern.And don't lean on the Mach for "touch-ups"....just go all in with the straight !! It will make you a better shaver...without the training wheels..When I started..it took me 3 months before I could do an up stroke / against the grain on my throat..Practice ,Practice.....ENJOY