Hi everyone : ) glad to be here. Just started straight razor shaving about two weeks ago and I am addicted! I love that shaving is not rushed and hated anymore and it is my time. Can not wait to get more razors and try new and different products!
Printable View
Hi everyone : ) glad to be here. Just started straight razor shaving about two weeks ago and I am addicted! I love that shaving is not rushed and hated anymore and it is my time. Can not wait to get more razors and try new and different products!
Hi and welcome. A good way to start is not rushing into buying heaps of stuff and constantly mixing it up all the time as it takes longer to learn. Keep it simple for a while and your shaves will improve quicker. Not that I know or anything. :w
Any questions feel free to ask we're always willing to help out or offer suggestions.
Thanks for the advice eddy79 it is much appreciated. Any suggestions on a shave soap I should try? I have the unscented on that came with my kit from SRD and I am constantly looking at other scents just can not decide there are so many! Thanks again and take care.
Hi, ejmolitor37. Welcome to Straight Razor Place!
I feel that 'eddy' offered some very good advice!
This age old art has a huge learning curve. Stick to what you have and learn how to use it. Then you can explore.
Lynn and Don wouldn't have sold a piece of crap shaving soap, it will just take time to find the proper water to soap ratio and how to apply it.
Enjoy the ride! :tu It's a long strange trip but well worth the journey :y
AWSOME to have you aboard, and welcome to SRP. We're a good group a men and women, so please lurk,ask questions and by all means post pictures.:gl:
Welcome to SRP!
If you haven't done so already, make sure you check out the beginner's section in the library.
I know that it's difficult, but try to hold off on buying more razors and soaps for at least a month. Then start thinking about changing up soaps.
Excellent advice from several of the SRP members. I liken the journey to the Tortoise and Hare race. Slow and steady is always the winner because you've had the time to completely investigate and learn as you progress.
Do remember, if you don't find an answer in the Library or the various threads ask questions. Just be prepared for many answers that are like facets on a diamond, they all have a part of the answer in them.
Oh cudarunner I agree that they have not sold me a bad soap by anymeans and I appreciate all the advice in just a short amount of time being on this forum : ) was just wanting some suggestions in something scented is all : ) I am more than pleased with what I have purchased from Lynn and Don and I will most certainly get more products with these gents in the future. Awesome having so much advice at my finger tips :D
I stand by what I said. Use the soap you have and don't worry about 'scents' as you have far more pressing things at hand such as learning how to use that soap to get a lather that works for you. And that's not to mention learning the angles so that you get a CCC Shave "Clean , Close and Comfortable Shave. Then there is learning how to Properly Strop and on and on. It's a long strange trip but once semi mastered is a Very Rewarding Art!
As has been already said; Don't start spending money on this and that. Stick with what you have, learn to use it WELL then once you have, explore and experiment to your hearts content.
Once you have the basics down PM me and I'll recommend a couple of soaps that I've found work well for me.
Enjoy learning this age old art as it's well worth the time! :tu :y
I think cuda has said it all for me. I have brought sample packs of soaps before and even soaps in the same brand behave differently. Every time you change something it will take x number of shaves just to be back at the level you were before you start making progress again. Soaps can take a bit of learning and just because you get it once doesn't mean it wont be sub par the next time. It is like shaving and will take time to achieve consistent results. If you have to I would only change once just to satisfy the need for a scent and then stick with that till your shaves are up to scratch. Is is a bit monotonous but you will advance quicker than constantly trying to learn something new all the time.
Welcome , can't really say much other than look up members in your area and see about some one on one mentoring and if they will help you keep your razor sharp, the advise on slow down and learn the equipment you have will be priceless. You must learn to SHAVE simple word but it takes time , you think you like it now wait till you figure it out! STROP, this is the most important aspect of this hobby, a properly honed razor, stropped properly will give those smooth shaves that your looking for, if stropped wrong then no good time. Lather, it just takes practice but the world doesn't come to an end if your lather isn't perfect, so have a good time learn with the tools you have for now ,, then go wild! Tc
Hi ejmolitor37 & welcome aboard. There is a wealth of information on here & starting in the Library in the Beginners Guide like criswilson10 already pointed out is the best place to be, then go from there. There are a couple of articles, one is in the Library for sure & the other might be on the forum so I'll leave you the links to them, they are pretty good to read while new, otherwise I would let you find it on your own:
First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html
As previously pointed out, you need to learn to strop most importantly when owning a straight razor which you can find in the Library but I'll leave that to you. What is good, is to practice with a butter knife so you don't cut your new strop up accidentally. Everyone has done it at one time or another, especially when starting out. I think my first one was cut but not bad. If you do cut one just a little bit, you can glue it down with super glue (CA) or I like to use rubber cement because it is pliable & you can buy it at any crafts store, Wal-Mart or hardware store. You can also sand it down with sandpaper if you don't glue it down. You will also eventually want to get yourself a second straight razor for a spare. That way when you send one out to be honed, you aren't stuck out w/o one. Also be careful, don't drop your straight razor or make sure you don't bump the faucet with it because the edge may be fragile & chip or crack. Always dry it off as soon as your finished using it & strop it for your next shave. Some strop before & after each shave but stropped between each shave is the key. You will learn other tricks like getting some lube for the pivot pin but you don't have to run out & buy anything for it. There are discussions on here about different lubes & there are several that are good & you will find the threads on that. The main thing is to strop it, shave, dry it off very well & then store it until the next use. I usually leave mine out, opened for a few hours to let air dry. As for soap, I'm not going to even go there but like Eddy said, just go slow, use what you have for now. SRD sells quality products that you can never go wrong with. There are very many different soaps & aftershave out there & more so just do some research on here & you will be alright. Oh & if you get a chance, look up Lynn Abrams on YouTube & from there you can see all his video's on using a straight razor along with shaving, stropping, honing & more. And as Razorfeld pointed out, ask questions if you need to. I will stop here. It is long already.
Good luck my friend.
Welcome to the forum ejmolitor37. Some great advice already been given. What SR are you using? We love photos here!
Well wayne394 I am trying to figure out how to get a picture on here but right now it is not going so well. But I purchased a DOVO 5/8 with faux pearl handle, gold inlay on the blade and spine. I love the look of it, looks classic to me. If I can figure out how to get the pic from my email to here I will post it.
Attachment 215037 Holy smokes I might have done it. It only took me forever to even find the pic I had saved. wayne394 here is what I am shaving with, when I got this set from SRD I opted for the 3" strop seemed smart for a newb. Thanks for the assistance cudarunner, I was raised in the era of this tech and I hate it. Your help is appreciated.
Good to hear that you figured out how to post pictures!
I"m glad that I could be of some help!
Sanfte Rasur, mein Klingenbruder!
We just had a razor meet in Iowa! :)
Here is the link...........http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...a-meet-up.html
Oh man I wish I would have known that I would have loved to check that out!! I will have to hit the next one for sure Thank you randance062449