Thread: G'day, fresh to the straight

Hey fellas. Another member from Down Under. Been wet shaving for a couple of years now, been through my fair share of DEs and love them - mainstays nowadays is the Feather AS-D2, Weber PH and Fatboy. Yesterday was my first shave ever with a straight, and today my second shave.

I'll share a little of my adventures and hope to learn more about straights and myself on SRP.

...17...18...19...20...ready
Working my honemeisters's instructions to the letter my straight was ready for the shave. So here we go....oh, yeah, sorry, of course what straight? what strop? Hmmm, so here's the morning's shave



So my first, and I'm hoping 'only' (oh jeez who am I kidding?) straight is the George Butler 5/8 KEEN and the strop is an extra wide roo (tail) and linen custom....I really like the crocodile trim on loops. Warmed the roo leather with some laps of the palm and slowly went to work. After the third stroke - which I think I counted about eight times, such were my nerves sent to distraction - the lapping of the strop stroke felt more natural. Very slow. Very deliberate. Very meditative.
...17...18...19...20...ready

Thought to make this first shave special that I'd use all my favourite stuff. So MdC built an exquisite lather on the face and the original scent filled the room with the smells of a European garden. The 1305 is now where it should be, great backbone and flow, soft tips, just excellent. So lathers built and the deliberate act of shaving begins. What a buzz to be new again. It reminded me of my first wet shave with a DE. The magic of the ritual was back and I was very much in the moment. I held the straight as I'd seen during the 13 and a 1/2 hours of youtubes I'd watched in preparation. Three fingers forward, pinkie on the tang and thumb underneath. Starting on the right sideburn area, pull skin taut with the left hand and....I can't see a thing. OK start again, hold razor, three forward, one back, skin taut and...nope blind - nothing but hands and elbows in the way of the mirror. Hmmm...do I need another 8 hours of videos to resea....oh f&*k it. Grip, check angles, pull skin taut and off we go....First stroke, complete and the lather gone. I look no blood, no pain, no...well anything, it just felt like nothing. Resume and continue with small strokes. Visibility was granted after the first stroke and I was getting into it. Was weird pulling the skin tight, as it's not something I do with the DE, so I had to keep reminding myself. Remember angles, grip, tighten skin and...oh so much to remember....anyway got through the right sideburns and cheeks and now left hand. Oh boy! Felt so odd. But after the first few strokes it came together. I'm committed to continue practicing with the left hand as I'm convinced getting the muscle memory right (for the left) from the get-go is a smart idea. So left side done. That's it. Not great, not bad. Had a feel of the face without the lather and there was still stubble - not sure what I expected but.... So finished the rest of the first pass with the DE. Rinse and relather. That's it for the straight. Put it down on the towel and then relathered.

....yeah right.

...still buzzing I went in for another go with the straight across the grain on the sideburns and cheeks....and neck. I couldn't help it I had to try. The straight in hand just felt so natural, but why did it feel so different from the first pass? Then I looked down and noticed I'd unconsciously altered my grip. I was now two in front with ring finger and pinkie on the tang and it was like I'd been doing this for a while. Not sure if this is Bad Habit #1 but that grip felt better. Post XTG pass was smooth with the pass but there was still some stubble ATG. But less than with the DE - I know because the ATG DE pass was cutting through micromillimetres.

So in summary.
This sh*t is good.
Funny how natural it felt having a straight in hand and on the face. I assume prior wet shaving experience helped here. Knowing my face, understanding angles. But, weirdly, it felt more natural with the straight in hand - after I adopted the two front/two back grip - than did the DE. Very weird. Maybe I used a straight in my previous life.
I will struggle with not using my right hand.
I will struggle with remembering to hold my skin taut
I will struggle with the lather clean off (it doesn't come off being whisked (super-carefully) in a basin full of water - will try either running water or a towel next time - what do you guys do?
I will struggle with the goatee area
I will not struggle with wanting to keep on this straight path.

Big thanks for those who helped ease me (with gentle prods and rough pushes) to get here. I feel doomed and yet resigned and with a smile as wide as my shoulders.

...and so were my first steps on my journey on the straight path.

Same straight (George Butler 5/8 KEEN), same strop (handmade 3" roo and linen), different brush (Semogue 620), different soap (Barrister & Mann 'Latha')

Stropping this morning felt a little less weird, then again I started by holding the scales - I assume this is a no-no. Was comfortable but... Don't worry I reverted back to flipping the shank.

The 620 built a beautiful thick protective lather, but it seems maybe the Latha's lather was a little too thick for the purposes of the straight shave. Was weird, compared to yesterday (and the MdC) the lather seems to have made my fingers more slippery - had less surer grip on the shank and tang - but on the face the lather didn't give the same glide as the MdC. Odder again, the wake of the Latha was far more slippery to grip for the skin tightening than the MdC. So I assume I made too thick a lather. All-in-all today was a little messier than yesterday. Caught myself in the reflection at one point and my face looked like a toddler eating an ice-cream cake. Seriously how the hell did the lather get up there? Anyway, most strokes were a little surer but again the slippery shank was a little off-putting (and, no, the jimps didn't help much).

One thing I achieved today, that I didn't yesterday, was to hear the blade sing.....twice! First time was early on the right cheek readying the first stroke, blade to face, touches skin, a little downward for the stroke but it resisted immediately. "TING!". "WTF was that?". Thought nothing of it but then the area went a little red - my first micro-cut, nick, slice, not sure what you call it? No blood dripped just slightly highlighted red across the shortened line. A little later on the second pass across the left cheek. Preparing for the second stroke and "TING!". This one was louder with better resonance (I'm sure it echoed!) and I could feel a little bite. Again, no blood to really speak of just a thin (longer) red line. Stung a little more 10 minutes or so on though. Funny how the blade bites at the rest. Is it an angle thing or?

Think I did better yesterday. Not sure if it was the lather, more attention (though I was still pretty damn focused/fearful) or what it was but I felt less adventurous by shave's end. Still did both cheeks, neck and even ventured to immediately under the lip.

Much to learn...which is exciting.

If you can get that razor honed by one of the pros down there , your shaving experience will be even better , I,m surprised you didn't learn to stretch the skin with your DE, I used one for over 40 years and that's where I learned my wet shaving technique, But everyone learns a different way. Good luck on future shaves. Tc

You are off to a better start than I was, congrats. As far as grip goes, use what you are comfortable with. Personally I have 2 fingers in front and 2 behind also. You might be getting those cuts because of the angle you were using. Mind the gap between the razor's spine and your face. Try about 2 spine widths. If you open the gap too much I think the blade will dig in giving you a cut. Also if you don't stroke the blade straight down but have a slight sideways movement at the start that can also lead to an ooops. Keep having fun.

Bob

Sounds like a great start!

Some use a towel over the shoulder for wiping and some use a large kitchen sponge... Just a couple ideas. On the grip, using and Alum Block and rubbing your fingers on it prior to shaving may help the grip. For strange little cuts here and there the other thing to watch for is strange head movements at the end of the stroke as you may be targeting somethjng else with your eyes as you are finishing the stroke and catching a little cut that way... Keeping my eyes absolutely fixed on the blade while it was on my skin helped when I was starting out.

Keep up the great work!!

Shawn
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Welcome to the forum! It's obvious that you are clearly addicted already. Which straights are you getting next? Good luck with your progress.

Hi and welcome. Sounds like you are off to a good start. Make sure you are moving the blade before touch down. Never just touch down then start moving. I use a wet flannel on the edge of the basin to strop the lather off. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Thanks for the warm welcome fellas.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

If you can get that razor honed by one of the pros down there , your shaving experience will be even better

I was pretty lucky to have gotten this straight from a local honing specialist. It arrived freshly honed, and with another free go over the stones down the track.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I,m surprised you didn't learn to stretch the skin with your DE, I used one for over 40 years and that's where I learned my wet shaving technique, But everyone learns a different way. Good luck on future shaves. Tc

I know. But I am going to introduce some of those contorted poses into my DE shaves. Nothing like some yoga first think in the morn.

Originally Posted by BobH

You are off to a better start than I was, congrats.

Sorry to hear that mate. So did the stitches heal OK?

Originally Posted by BobH

As far as grip goes, use what you are comfortable with. Personally I have 2 fingers in front and 2 behind also.

Appreciate the reassurance. I forgot to mention I adopted the two fingers either side approach for the second shave and it still did just feel right.

Originally Posted by BobH

You might be getting those cuts because of the angle you were using. Mind the gap between the razor's spine and your face. Try about 2 spine widths. If you open the gap too much I think the blade will dig in giving you a cut. Also if you don't stroke the blade straight down but have a slight sideways movement at the start that can also lead to an ooops. Keep having fun.

Thanks Bob I'll keep an eye on this...wherever I can sneak a peek between all the limbs that seem in the path of the mirror.

Originally Posted by Prahston

Some use a towel over the shoulder for wiping and some use a large kitchen sponge... Just a couple ideas.

Hmmmmm I like the idea of the sponge. Even I can clean that, as I fear the proliferation of towels coincident with the arrival of more parcels of shaving gear will stretch the better half's patience.

Originally Posted by Prahston

On the grip, using and Alum Block and rubbing your fingers on it prior to shaving may help the grip.

Cheers Shawn. I've meted out this advice to novice DE shavers in the past and hadn't even thought about doing the same with the straight. Great reminder thanks mate...jeez I can be a little thick sometimes....

Originally Posted by Prahston

For strange little cuts here and there the other thing to watch for is strange head movements at the end of the stroke as you may be targeting somethjng else with your eyes as you are finishing the stroke and catching a little cut that way... Keeping my eyes absolutely fixed on the blade while it was on my skin helped when I was starting out.

Will do mate. This is a real Zen practice isn't it? Complete with the little sensei with the sharp bamboo rod to whip your back if your mind strays.

Originally Posted by wayne394

Welcome to the forum! It's obvious that you are clearly addicted already. Which straights are you getting next? Good luck with your progress.

Boy am I addicted. Well I'm glad you asked Wayne as I'm thinking a kamisori and also a Maestro Liv...... oh who am I kidding I need to keep my head down and learn this blade first. Though that kamisori does sound good, hmmmm....

Originally Posted by eddy79

Hi and welcome. Sounds like you are off to a good start.

Thanks Ed. Great to meet a fellow Aussie, albeit a West Coaster

Originally Posted by eddy79

Make sure you are moving the blade before touch down. Never just touch down then start moving.

Mate the more I read post-shave the more I'm convinced this is a habit I need to address. Doesn't seem intuitive but seems a blade at rest is more dangerous than a moving edge. Hmmmm.... it is odd as this has never been an issue with a DE.

Originally Posted by eddy79

I use a wet flannel on the edge of the basin to strop the lather off. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask.

Thanks mate. x2


Great replies. Another reason to continue the Zen training. What a place!!!!

Forgot to mention check out the Down Under forum and introduce yourself. There are more blokes on the east coast so you might find a few local to you