Thread: Hello from NH

Hi & welcome to SRP. You will love it here & there is plenty to learn as there is a wealth of information on here! Here is the first bit of information for you to know:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/conte...ber-2014-1750/
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...sked_Questions
You will want to buy you a nice straight razor to begin with whether used or new. Beware of used ones not that they are bad but know what to look for like a lot of hone wear on the spine & edge or chips in the blade. Stay away from razors with rust on the cutting edge as that will only result in it chipping more metal off as it is honed. Here is also a list of straights to stay away from:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...azors_to_Avoid
Here is a list of good brands of razors you will want to own plus there are more than just these out there which you will find out from other members here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...t_Razor_Brands
If buying a new razor, I suggest you buy one from Straight Razor Designs - Gifts for Men | Straight Razors or SRD. The owner & founder of this forum is Lynn & he is also part owner of SRD. When you buy a straight razor from him, he will personally hone that razor before you get it plus you will get a certificate for another free honing for when that razor needs it which should be a few months. There will be vendors who will sell you a straight razor that is supposed to be shave ready but really won't be. You will most importantly need to know how to strop & you can learn in the Library or here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...azor_stropping
You will need to strop your razor before & after you shave. If you buy one from Lynn, chances are you won’t have to strop it before you use it the first time.
You will also need a shaving brush, a shaving mug & some shaving soap. Later it will also do you good to get a second straight razor so that when you send the first one out to be honed, you will have a backup to shave with.
Here is a link to the Library where you will find stropping in there & everything else you will need to know including how to hone:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe..._Place_Library
Also here is Lynns bevel setting video & some of gssixguns honing video's:
https://www.youtube.com/user/gssixgun/videos
Bevel setting on a Chosera 1K taught by Lynn Abrams
Here is another good link to know:
Welcome to the Workshop: How do I / Where do I / What do I / answers are here
Should you have any questions, there are a lot of knowledgable members on here that will be more than happy to help you out. If you want to find someone in your area, you can look here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...php/Local_Help
And if you can't find anyone near you, just ask and someone that lives in your are & hopefully they will let you know how to meet up & you can get some one on one mentoring. There is a lot to do on here, just search everywhere on the forum & in the Library. You will spend hours on here & have fun doing it, so there you go, have at it!
Good luck & have fun!
Steve

Well done & welcome!

Hi and welcome. I would second angle and pressure. Two of the most important pieces of the shave after a shave ready razor. Goo luck and happy shaving

@engine46 Yes, I got a Dovo from SRP (as a XMAS gift). Thanks for the links on stopping and honing. More to learn still.

Second shave went much better... Way less irritation, when I used the alum block after (my informal way of telling how well I did, in addition to smoothness). It seemed like the following helped quite a bit (all from advice here)...

- using more water with the TOBS cream.
- applying fresh lather to the quadrant that I was working on.
- keeping the spine about 2 widths away from my face.
- desperately trying for a very light touch.
- not going over areas too much, trying to get it BBS.

At a minimum, I've got to still work on...

- trying to figure how to position my hand, for certain areas, especially to do XTG (it's a lot easier to maneuver a DE).
- keeping the angle consistent over jawline/chin.
- making sure to pull skin tight.
- have the guts to go a bit faster than turtle pace (took me about 40 mins this time).

The lather came out much better and it felt like I got a slicker coating on my face (never realized how forgiving the safety razor was with some of this). Probably was starting to dry out.

I had periods of time, where, even on the first pass, the blade just seemed to slice right through the hair with little resistance. It was a bit surprising, given my first shave experience, and I thought that maybe the blade was gliding over the face and not cutting at all, but sure enough it was. I need to work on getting that feeling consistently.

There were other times, mostly on the first pass, where there was resistance and it was harder to move the blade along my face. Like it was having a hard time cutting the whiskers. Clearly, it's my technique. Lots of improvement to go there.

Thanks for the advice folks! It really is helping!

Originally Posted by pcm

Second shave went much better... Way less irritation, when I used the alum block after (my informal way of telling how well I did, in addition to smoothness). It seemed like the following helped quite a bit (all from advice here)...

- using more water with the TOBS cream.
- applying fresh lather to the quadrant that I was working on.
- keeping the spine about 2 widths away from my face.
- desperately trying for a very light touch.
- not going over areas too much, trying to get it BBS.

At a minimum, I've got to still work on...

- trying to figure how to position my hand, for certain areas, especially to do XTG (it's a lot easier to maneuver a DE).
- keeping the angle consistent over jawline/chin.
- making sure to pull skin tight.
- have the guts to go a bit faster than turtle pace (took me about 40 mins this time).

The lather came out much better and it felt like I got a slicker coating on my face (never realized how forgiving the safety razor was with some of this). Probably was starting to dry out.

I had periods of time, where, even on the first pass, the blade just seemed to slice right through the hair with little resistance. It was a bit surprising, given my first shave experience, and I thought that maybe the blade was gliding over the face and not cutting at all, but sure enough it was. I need to work on getting that feeling consistently.

There were other times, mostly on the first pass, where there was resistance and it was harder to move the blade along my face. Like it was having a hard time cutting the whiskers. Clearly, it's my technique. Lots of improvement to go there.

Thanks for the advice folks! It really is helping!

Just take your time PCM until you feel more comfortable with your shaves. Don't try to go faster because you think you are going too slow. I have to go slow at times & because my feet hurt due to my medical condition I still have to be patient with my shaves so that they come out good. I hate feeling stubble after a shave! Just take your time until the rest of your body just slowly follows the pace, allowing your shave to go well & you'll be ok!

Oh yeah, I don't want to rush things, but I do need to work on being more efficient at the process. 40-45 mins is quite long for me to do during the work days. Fortunately, I'm on vacation last week and this week, so I can spend all the time I need. Next week, I may have to do some with the straight and some with the safety razor, if I run short on time.

I find I'm doing a bit of "thinking" as well as shaving, trying to figure out which way to hold the blade for a certain pass or angle.

That's good. I can understand when you do't have much time on your hands & thinking it out can help also, so you're going about it right. I was only saying to be patient with it & understand what you may be doing right or wrong & changing anything wrong you might have been doing. Just trying to be of some help.
Steve

Hello, and welcome to the forum!!

@engine46 appreciate the support and suggestions!