Thread: Hi

First post just to say hello and give a little introduction. Just started using straight razor, threw myself in at the deep end and purchased new ready to shave DOVO and all associated equipment to give me good start. Been using the usual three bladed types for years now. You have probably heard it all before, the price of those things is just ridiculous. So decided enough is enough. Thought I would invest in a nice piece of kit, something I could take a bit of pride in and master the art of the straight blade. I have to admit it, I think i've already got a bad case of R.A.D although I still only have the one but doing plenty of window shopping. These things are just amazing. It's great to be able to get your hands on a nicely crafted fine looking and tactile piece of kit like this that you know is going to last you a very long time with a bit of care. Anyway, took first shave having disposed of all previous shaving equipment with the view to never going back regardless of how long it took to master. I wasn't prepared to part with any more of my hard earned cash on this stuff. I have to say I must have studied just about all video's and advice on internet from various well known sources prior to the arrival of my first blade so thanks to all who post there fantastic instructional videos. A picture paints a thousand words and well a video does even more, so great keep em coming. First shave went well and I am very pleased, took my time and found it a pleasurable experience. Kind of clears the mind doesn't it. One slight nick to front of chin but nothing major so hopefully things will only get better.

Welcome to the forum. It is nice to read that another, but still very few, member has done his homework and is taking it one slow step at a time to master (If you ever can) the art and mystery of str8 shaving. Keep up the slow and steady approach, you will save yourself a lot of heartache and money in the long run. And do remember to ask, ask, ask, a lot of questions. All of us are more than willing to share what we have learned to date. And try to hook up with other shavers that are SRP members. Clarify on your info block more exactly where in the UK you are and you will be getting messages from even possibly next door to you. We are a chummy bunch, no matter where in the world we are living.

Thanks for the response Razorfeld. Yes, will update my profile. Still at the excited stage, I couldn't wait to receive my first straight razor and yes I'm well known at home for getting engrossed in a subject, I've done a little studying, my missus thinks I've gone mad. I feel like a big kid in a sweetie shop at the moment. Plenty of questions to ask also. Could do with a little advice on achieving a decent lather to my soap. Haven't quite got it yet. Suspect too much water. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.

337edy, how close are you to Newcastle upon Tyne? A young, good friend of mine, a SRP member lives there. If you are close I'll ask him if he could meet with you and offer some advice one on one. I'm not sure how strong one on one meeting are in the UK, here, in the States it is encouraged. I meet with my mentor every three months if he isn't to involved with the rest of his life and I gain a great deal from the encounter.

Welcome mate.

And as for lather building, as many ways as there are stars in the sky. Some soaps take a lot of water. Some don't. Some creams the same way. If you have hard water many soaps just play dead. Many with hard water use bottled water that generally is soft and can build a good lather for you. And then there are those that do uber lathers (like me). I have sensitive skin to menthol, eucalyptus Shea butter and a little bit to alcohol due to a case of Rosacea (that dates me). My go to lather most days is a combination of Mitchells Wool Fat, Maca Root, a few drops of glycerin, a few drops of Vitamin E oil and a lot of mixing. But, for as fussy as I have to get, there are guys out there with faces made of stone and all they need is a splash of cold water, a face lathering of anything at hand and they get as good a shave as I do. So there is an area of great delight and study for you. Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome MrMagnus. I'm a long way from Newcastle upon Tyne. Well I am by UK standards. Probably considered no more than a walk up the road in the good old U.S of A. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Welcome in .

Which soap are you using?
This would help us know if it is Hard/soft/thirsty/ and so forth.
Also do you have hard or soft water?
When I try a new soap I tend to bowl lather (Why? It just helps me gage what the soap is doing)
I lean to the dry side on initial mixing, every 10 seconds or so of good swirling I will add a good couple of drops of water until the lather starts to build up quickly.
I will then build up the lather a bit and actually feel it, I dip my finger onto a peak and rub it onto the back of my hand.
I will then add water according to how the soap feels.
When it is creamy and slick I will lather up. During the shave I watch the lather on the areas I have not shaved yet.
You can add a bit more water if needed and re-lather as well. I will adjust accordingly for proceeding shaves.
Everyone will have there own method, I have fairly hard water so I do pay attention to building my lather.
On some of the trips I have taken my lather from a known soap will just explode and be even more luxurious.
So I have come to realize that soaps will respond differently, and what works well with some waters may just work ok with other water or not at all.
I guess I could use bottled water as some hear do, I just have not taken that approach.
At least with building your lather you can practice multiple times a day, unlike shaving.

Thanks pfries. As simple as it sounds I never gave the water hardness a thought but both you and Razorfeld have said the same thing. Yes a little time and practice I think. Currently using OSMA soap and water here is as hard as it gets. Thanks for the info.

The hard water will make it a bit more challenging.
It would make the learning curve easier to use bottled/purified water.
Just a thought for you.