Thread: 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

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

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!