Thread: Hello SRP, and Oh, PLEASE wish me luck!

Hello SRP'ers! GREAT resource, thank you SO much to all of you who have generously shared your experience here.

I'm from Michigan, 56, and have NEVER shaved with a straight. In fact, I switched to Electrics about 30 years ago. Always in a hurry, at last moment notice, and I could shave in the car on my way with them. It's what worked. Now, I'm semi-retired, and have a lot of time on my hands, and this just seems SO luxurious. I've TRULY enjoyed the few hot lather straight blade shaves I've gotten after lux haircuts.

I have read SO much here, and watched SO many videos (Thanks @Lynn Abrams!) that my EYES bled. Once I felt comfortable that I new what to expect, what I wanted, and what seemed like reasonably good stuff, I made my purchases.

For whatever reason, stropping seems the most intimidating to me. So while I waited to choose, and waited for shipment, I broke out some pen knives, sharped em up on an old Hard Arkansas Surgical Black and Translucent I used as an apprentice wood model maker. Then I stropped the DAYLIGHT outta them on denim and then an old belt. Cowabunga, I've never HAD such sharp knives! No hair left on the back of my hands, from testing. Been practicing the turn without wrist flip to get the muscle memory. No point in developing bad habits I'll want to break later.

I do some stuff slow, I do some fast, but I do nothing half fast. If I'm in for a dime, I'm in for a dollar. Well, the last things I absolutely need arrived today. As much as I'm chomping at the BIT to start, I'm going to wait until after my morning shower to give it a go.

So tomorrow is the day. BIG thanks to a mentor, @WVLoony who intercepted me on a forum for a different hobby. Saw me talking about getting into this, and messaged a LOT of very good advice to me. With his help, and yours, I've chosen the following equipment. I know, I'm in pretty deep for someone who has never tried it. But between WVLoony's advice, and all of yours, I feel good about my chances. Here's the inventory:

Dovo Pearlex 5/8 full hollow from SRD, shave ready
Dovo Renaissance 6/8 1/4 hollow from Ebay. Factory new. Probably as close as I want to try to get to a wedge.
USB Microscope 300x capable. I want to study the hone from SRD, take pics, and do it myself on the Renaissance.
2 English Bridle strops with Hard Pressed wool back strops (I travel, need spares)
Set of Ninawa 3/8/12k Specialty stones and holder (thanks for this tip, WVLoony!)
1 Dovo Futur silvertip badger brush (travel)
1 Dovo Vision silvertip badger brush
1 Muhle Sophist silvertip brush
A couple sweeet lathering cups (Merkur frosted Futur and C.O. Bigelow's silver rimmed porcelain)
A Dovo Z stand and a nickel plated display stand, both hold blade, and brush and the nickel holds a cup too.
Penhaligon's Endymion and C.O. Bigelow's shaving cream. Props to Loony on the C.O., SUPER sale at B&BW! Stocked!
Various styptic pencil, alum block, balm..
Am I forgetting anything?! I hope not.

Got a haircut yesterday, so I can see where my 'burns end. I'm going to take my brushes in the shower with me tomorrow, shampoo and condition them first. Sink of hot water while I shower to warm my bowl, and for lack of a better descriptor, give it a rip.

I've read other noobs advice, about just starting with the easy part of the face. Hellz to that, in for a dollar. Going to do my WHOLE darn face. Good advice, that I just didn't take and all.

I still have a zillion questions, some I will get the answers to myself tomorrow. But this one, THIS one, is driving me nuts. I need pretty strong cheaters at 56. Kinda skeered about shaving without em? Buzzed the tower with my blade for practice tonight, and the vision thing... LeSigh.. Thinking I'll get under my sideburns first and the tops of my cheeks on both sides, then put the glasses on?

So, uh, HOWDY! Anything I've not thought through? Any last minute Wisdoms? Can ya at least wish me good luck? Who the hell wasn't a lil nervous their first time?

Hello Moueix, welcome to the club. Best advice I can give is take your time don't rush you will thank yourself later. Also don't be afraid to finish with another razor you are comfy with. I tried like hell to go 2 to 3 passes every time when my straight arrived and the razor burn was horrid! Also take your time learning to make lather. At first my lather would dry up before even getting to that part of my face, in turn I learned to only lather what was going to be shaved now I don't usually have that issue. I am in no way a pro but I get the best shaves I have ever had up to this point and only see them getting better. I can not chime in on your specs issue because I can still see well enough without mine to shave but I imagine someone will have help for you. I have the same razor you have purchased and I think you will love it. These fellas are more than happy to help and answer questions so ask away. Oh and best of luck!

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

Hello Moueix, welcome to the club. Best advice I can give is take your time don't rush you will thank yourself later. Also don't be afraid to finish with another razor you are comfy with. I tried like hell to go 2 to 3 passes every time when my straight arrived and the razor burn was horrid! Also take your time learning to make lather. At first my lather would dry up before even getting to that part of my face, in turn I learned to only lather what was going to be shaved now I don't usually have that issue. I am in no way a pro but I get the best shaves I have ever had up to this point and only see them getting better. I can not chime in on your specs issue because I can still see well enough without mine to shave but I imagine someone will have help for you. I have the same razor you have purchased and I think you will love it. These fellas are more than happy to help and answer questions so ask away. Oh and best of luck!

Thank you for the Pearls, E.J.! I really hope to get the whole face with the straight. But, I'll keep my options.

After reading so much, I have a thought about the lather drying. I KNOW it's going to take me a long time to get "fast". I want to lather my whole face, to keep the hair from drying and help soften it more after shower. I'm wondering...

If I lather my whole face, then add a couple 3 drops of glycerin (I have GALLONS, from another hobby) to the remaining lather, and re-lather my neck and chin, knowing it's going to knock some fluff outta the remaining lather, would that help it from drying out on my face? Or just add a few drops of water to the bowl, re-fluff, and hit those areas when I'm ready to do them?

I don't really lament the cheaters usually. Just part of getting older. But it DOES make me wish I had started THIS hobby before they were so necessary. Good vision is a wonderful thing, be glad it's still yours!

Hi Moueix & welcome aboard. You are in the right place & also watching Lynn's video's is a treat! As for spectacles, I wear prescription eyeglasses & I need them in order to read fine print or even my computer but I have shaved both with & w/o them on & I'm overdue for an eye exam so I think I'm going to get new lenses in my glasses & some contact lenses. I had some contact lenses a few years ago & they were fine except I think they got my left eye slightly off as far as fitment. I could see fine but when I rode my Harley, I always got dirt in my left eye even though I had them so I would like to try them again. I can use both a hollow ground & a heavy near wedge but my beard is thick so my preferences lean more to the near wedge since they cut through hair like hot butter & more hollow blade will get the job done but tends to sing away & seems to take a little more effort to shave yet it will work out in the end. If you need more stropping practice you can use a butterknife so you don't cut a good strop & dull a sharp blade. Once you feel comfortable stropping you'll be okay. If you run into any roadblocks just ask questions & you will get answers. Great to have you here. Just be patient & take your time.
Good luck my friend.

Originally Posted by engine46

Hi Moueix & welcome aboard. You are in the right place & also watching Lynn's video's is a treat! As for spectacles, I wear prescription eyeglasses & I need them in order to read fine print or even my computer but I have shaved both with & w/o them on & I'm overdue for an eye exam so I think I'm going to get new lenses in my glasses & some contact lenses. I had some contact lenses a few years ago & they were fine except I think they got my left eye slightly off as far as fitment. I could see fine but when I rode my Harley, I always got dirt in my left eye even though I had them so I would like to try them again. I can use both a hollow ground & a heavy near wedge but my beard is thick so my preferences lean more to the near wedge since they cut through hair like hot butter & more hollow blade will get the job done but tends to sing away & seems to take a little more effort to shave yet it will work out in the end. If you need more stropping practice you can use a butterknife so you don't cut a good strop & dull a sharp blade. Once you feel comfortable stropping you'll be okay. If you run into any roadblocks just ask questions & you will get answers. Great to have you here. Just be patient & take your time.
Good luck my friend.

Thanks for the warm welcome, Engine! Going to TRY to shave without em, but.. hrm...

I think I'm OK with the strop now. Just fear of rolling my edge on a bad stroke. Took Lynn's advice on imagining the turn as you get near the end, and worked good so far. Rolling on the spine (in the air) vs the edge is DEFINITELY a great tip to prevent mayhem.

Sweet, Ya ride! I have a V-rod for about town, and a RGU for the long ribbons. Started long ago on a '77 AMC 'glide shovel. I'm sure there is a thread around here about other hobbies the members enjoy, haven't gotten that far yet. I am an avid wine collector (hence the name, Christian Moueix is the owner of Petrus, Dominus, and some other notable labels and I'm a fan) and I snowboard, shoot, vape.. cripes, gotta million of em.

One of the reasons I decided to get into straights.. I believe the more things we learn, especially as we get older, the sharper the mind stays. Going to take Lynns advice to shave the Left with the Left. I NEVER use my left hand, and it will definitely stimulate some neurons..

Hello and welcome to SRP!


Take everything slowly. When you get your strops..... Learn what they feel like. I used my index finger to learn what the strop feels like. The motions of going back and forth. See what it feels like when you tighten the strop verses when it is slack. With newer blades you'll keep the strop tight. The blades are thinner than a wedge type blade. The thinner blades will glide on the leather too.....so smooth. Listen to it. I would practice on newspaper a few times before going to the actual strop. See if you cut it or nick the newspaper. Always.... always pay attention when stropping a sharp razor. The times when I have cut or sliced into my strop was when I wasn't paying attention. Most times the little cuts or nicks can be repaired....

As far as shaving.....take it slowly. Step by step...... Don't over do it at first. No need to get extra cuts or razor burn when you don't have to. Not a race or a contest. In a matter of no time you'll be doing a complete 3 pass shave like you have been doing it all your life.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Willisf

Hello and welcome to SRP!


Take everything slowly. When you get your strops..... Learn what they feel like. I used my index finger to learn what the strop feels like. The motions of going back and forth. See what it feels like when you tighten the strop verses when it is slack. With newer blades you'll keep the strop tight. The blades are thinner than a wedge type blade. The thinner blades will glide on the leather too.....so smooth. Listen to it. I would practice on newspaper a few times before going to the actual strop. See if you cut it or nick the newspaper. Always.... always pay attention when stropping a sharp razor. The times when I have cut or sliced into my strop was when I wasn't paying attention. Most times the little cuts or nicks can be repaired....

As far as shaving.....take it slowly. Step by step...... Don't over do it at first. No need to get extra cuts or razor burn when you don't have to. Not a race or a contest. In a matter of no time you'll be doing a complete 3 pass shave like you have been doing it all your life.

Good luck!

Thank you for the welcome and words of advice, Willis! Yep, have had the strops for a bit now. The first I received, had a hard "pimple" on it. Took a pic, sent it to SRD to see if I should worry about it. Dan said he didn't think it would be a problem, but when I ordered the 2nd, he threw in a replacement leather just in case. So I have a practice strop now that I've been running the flats of smaller kitchen knives on, just to get more practice and "feel". Much thanks to Dan! I'd hate to slice up a $100 strop being a noob.

My first choice was the 1/4 hollow. Seems more "sturdy". Plus, I intended to hone it myself. GLAD I ordered the 2nd from SRD, pre-honed and shave ready. MANG, that full hollow looks DELICATE! and SHARP!! A little intimidating looking! But I look at Lynn's face in the video, and he DEFINITELY has more contours to his face than I do.

I'm just going to go really easy, and work in very small areas to start. If I get a poor shave, I'm sure it will get better quickly. I DON'T want to Sweeney Todd myself!

BEAUTIFUL hone and finish, too, SRD! Cutting edge looks like a MIRROR! Gives me something to strive for.

Originally Posted by Moueix

Thank you for the welcome and words of advice, Willis! Yep, have had the strops for a bit now. The first I received, had a hard "pimple" on it. Took a pic, sent it to SRD to see if I should worry about it. Dan said he didn't think it would be a problem, but when I ordered the 2nd, he threw in a replacement leather just in case. So I have a practice strop now that I've been running the flats of smaller kitchen knives on, just to get more practice and "feel". Much thanks to Dan! I'd hate to slice up a $100 strop being a noob.

My first choice was the 1/4 hollow. Seems more "sturdy". Plus, I intended to hone it myself. GLAD I ordered the 2nd from SRD, pre-honed and shave ready. MANG, that full hollow looks DELICATE! and SHARP!! A little intimidating looking! But I look at Lynn's face in the video, and he DEFINITELY has more contours to his face than I do.

I'm just going to go really easy, and work in very small areas to start. If I get a poor shave, I'm sure it will get better quickly. I DON'T want to Sweeney Todd myself!

BEAUTIFUL hone and finish, too, SRD! Cutting edge looks like a MIRROR! Gives me something to strive for.

That sounds great Moueix. Good thing to have two strops & that you are confident with also. That is good. Sounds like everything is going to be okay here. I've been having issues with my computer so I just spoke to Apple & they set up a test user account on it so I can't see my emails unless I go to my phone. I hope I get this thing straightened out & good luck to you my friend.

I have to wear glasses or contacts, since the 2nd grade. Also, I practically have to shave my eyeballs and my uni-brow, so I've had to learn quite abit about maneuvering around specs. I'd recommend for the first shave or few, doing only With-The-Grain(WTG) strokes and maybe Cross the Grain(XTG) strokes in the upper-cheek. When you do ATG strokes, with glasses on, there is a chance you could slip. It's pretty easy to ding the blade, it will happened everytime they even come close to the edge of your glasses. And it always happens when you're half way through a shave. It will give you more room if you push them allllllll the way up the bridge your nose.

I wear glasses too. Used to wear black plastic "Buddy Holley" style lens frames and the frames blotted out my view. Now days I wear thin wire "Teddy Roosevelt" glasses and have no trouble shaving.