Still Have Not Done A Straight Razor Shave

I'm Bob and I live close to Washington, D. C. I have not done a "complete" straight razor shave yet on my face. I got started with using Merkur and old Gillette double edge razors a few years ago, and I purchased a straight razor from someone on the Badger and Blade forums. However, I only used it one time and then only for a part of my face. I was terrified I would cut myself. I set the razor aside. After a while, I even grew a beard -- and had a rather grey one until a few weeks ago.

Now I'm returning to the routine of shaving at least every two days. Sometimes even daily. I looked at Lynn's video on getting started with straight razors and I think I need to be more patient, start more slowly, and build up my shaving skills. I will return to a straight razor, this time in learning mode, and hopefully I will calm my fears enough to learn how to shave.

The thing I like most about shaving is what comes after it. For me, that is applying aftershave. I want to put on aftershave that has a nice alcohol burn to it for a few seconds, but does not smell powerfully afterwards. I like that alcohol burn. I don't like the sandalwood or Polar Ice smell to hang around for too long.

In other areas, I'm just an ordinary guy. I like walking about the urban landscape here. Everything is so much more interesting when I walk it instead of drive it. I'm becoming more interested in plants and insects. I also like aquariums, and aquatic plants. I have the seeds of an interest in wood turning in me, but no shop space or money for tools. I see so much more when I walk, or care for my fish, it costs a lot less than driving, and it is very calming for me.

Bob

Fear will block what your supposed to be thinking about. Just relax, go slow and pay attention. Stop when you get uncomfortable. Remember your just gliding across the top of your skin not trying to scrape the hair off it. Progress to other parts of your face when your feeling good about trying it. Stretch the skin as best you can and keep a nice slick lather on. There is no hurry, you will get there if you want to.

Bob, Nice to meet you and good luck in your efforts.

My confidence started building immediately after shaving with a properly honed "shave ready" razor.

I started out trying to learn shaving with razors that were not "shave ready". After getting one properly honed the difference was night & day. The first stroke was smoother than any before. No pulling it just cut the hair smoothly better than my safety razor did. I started with taking a few strokes on the easy part of my face and then finish with my old safety razor. After 6 months I'm just now getting my whole face shaved with a straight. It is taking time to learn how to hold angle and stretch skin. I'm working on figuring out how to do my chin. Got most the rest figured out just need more practice with left handed.

Take your time, be patient and go slow with it. Let your confidence build over time. If I remember correctly, you said in another post that you have a DE, use that for those areas that you still aren't comfortable with. Shaving with a SR razor is a Zen experience that we as a species of males have been forced to forget for expediency. It's as if you were to go back to being a hunter/gatherer, but without saber tooth tigers to contend with.

Welcome to SRP the most helpful place for shaving with a straight and just about everything else too. I agree with walking. Slows life down, it's good for you and great way to gain new perspectives.

Shaving with a straight razor does not have to be all or nothing. I talked with a mentor months after I was getting good shaves without cuts and he still had some great ideas for wet shaving I had not considered. Breaking down your face into parts you are comfortable with at first then finish shaving with what you know.

Each aspect of wet shaving with a straight is a unique skill, lather creation, lathering for a shave, stropping, shaving , honing all need to be practiced and mastered.

The reward for your time will be awesome shaves and relaxing time spent much like taking a hike in the city or wilderness.

Hi and welcome. Go slow and start on the easy parts doing just a bit and keep at that till you are comfortable with it. Move on a do a bit more till comfortable and so on. As for fear I reckon you are just as likely to cut yourself with a safety. As long as you use the right angle and go slow the most you should get is a couple of nicks in the learning process. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask.

Well I see you've got some good advice regards achieving a good shave and getting over confidence issues. I can't add anymore. I can tell you how to get a lot more fire in your aftershave, and that's to say (and not recommend actually doing it, because I am just joking) all you have to do is press really hard when shaving. That will add so much pain and agony, along with razor burn and a decent cut or two, that your aftershave will let itself be well known the instant you apply it! ;)


Mick

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Originally Posted by MickR

Well I see you've got some good advice regards achieving a good shave and getting over confidence issues. I can't add anymore. I can tell you how to get a lot more fire in your aftershave, and that's to say (and not recommend actually doing it, because I am just joking) all you have to do is press really hard when shaving. That will add so much pain and agony, along with razor burn and a decent cut or two, that your aftershave will let itself be well known the instant you apply it! ;)


Mick

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Hi Mick, ha ha, that is a good joke! Last night I was thinking of doctoring my Polar Ice aftershave with a few drops of isopropyl alchohol, but this may be a sign of my own insanity.

I will work on building some confidence.

Bob

I'll second what everyone else said about relaxing and taking it slowly as you build confidence (and technique). Like you I also like the sting of after shave, but I use Thayer's witch hazel as a soother and toner first.

I'm originally from MD, and know the history of Greenbelt. There should be plenty of wildlife to see around the park!

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I'll second what everyone else said about relaxing and taking it slowly as you build confidence (and technique). Like you I also like the sting of after shave, but I use Thayer's witch hazel as a soother and toner first.

I'm originally from MD, and know the history of Greenbelt. There should be plenty of wildlife to see around the park!

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Thanks so much! Yes, there was recently a massive debate about beavers and their cutting down trees in Buddy Attick Park, and someone killed two beavers and triggered off more debate in doing so. We don't know who the killer is. Forensic investigation seems indifferent with regard to tracing killers of wildlife. I've also seen deer tracks by my house, and I'm fairly sure we had a raccoon at one point.

Bob

Now I know it is subjective, but the talk of 'the sting' of aftershave, has prompted me to add, that if you feel aftershave stings when you apply it, you probably need to lighten up your touch a bit with the razor. A light tingle lasting all of a few seconds is what I would consider normal after shaving. Anything worse than that and I know I've been a bit heavy handed. Of course it could be a skin sensitivity thing as well. Perhaps other issues I haven't thought or heard of too, but in general shaving issues, a light touch goes a long way with a properly honed razor.


Mick

Thanks, Mick! I think my shaving method with double-edge razors must have improved, because I rarely nick myself or cause bleeding any more. I used to be very impatient and rushed. Today, I try to slow down and smell the roses. So perhaps my aftershaves are disappointing me for that reason -- I am shaving better hence they don't give me much of that desired "tingle" or "burning" sensation. Maybe I just need a lotion with more zip to it.

It is really hard for me to say. I don't consider myself an expert shaver. Still, I'm surprised how having a beard for quite some time, and then perhaps also experiencing an attitude change over the last 4 or 5 years where I tell myself not to be in such a rush, and then coming back to wet shaving has seemingly improved my results.

I will keep going and see what my results really are with time...

Thanks a ton!

Bob

By chance do you like hot peppers? That could lead to some burn. :p

No hot peppers for me, but I do like tandoori cooked seafood which is spiced sufficiently to almost bring tears to my eyes. Indeed I'm willing to drive for miles just to feast on a particular cook's tandoori shrimp. Unfortunately he left that restaurant and the replacement cook cooled down the spice mixture applied to the shrimp.

In other culinary adventures, my office has a chili cooking competition each year to benefit a charity. Contestants bring in a pot of their chili and sell samples to other employees. These folks then judge the chili entries and declare 3 winners. I'm hoping to cook up a winner of an entry in 2015. All money goes to the local food bank or some other charity.

So many thanks

Bob

Welcome Bob. +1 to what everyone else said. Clear your head ,feel the hot towel on your face opening your pores and softening the hairs. Take pride in getting the lather of your soap to the right richness feel it lift the hairs and provide the glide for your face. Start with straight light stokes , start at your sideburns and glide down to just above your jawline. STOP your done, with that side. One more chance to repeat your sucsess on the other side. DONE. Take your little wins. Build your confindence and learn both your tool and your face. Do this for several weeks or until comfortable and the community will aid you in your next step. One question though. Your straight, it has been proffesionally honed? You have a strop? these two aspects are going to make a world of difference with the outcome.
This is going to be fun. And you will be good at it. You just have to try

Have you tried Clubman. Their Bay Rum does not linger, has an alcohol base and gives a nice tightening to your skin.

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Originally Posted by Avenolpey

Have you tried Clubman. Their Bay Rum does not linger, has an alcohol base and gives a nice tightening to your skin.

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Thanks, Avenolpey! I will look into some Clubman Bay Rum.

Bob

Try a few bay rums I would suggest. They aren't all equal, but they do tend to have a bit more fire in them. Ogallala has a few flavours to try.


Mick