First SR

[CavCon]

Hey guys!
I've just got my first straight razor in the mail and can't wait to try it out! I have been using a DE razor for a few months so that's kinda what led me to investing in a SR. I got the razor off vintage razors llc and it said it would come honed and ready to shave my Illinois strop comes in the mail tomorrow so I thought that maybe I should wait to try the first shave till that arrives. The one question I have for now is when I got the razor I tried to cut a lose hair and it didn't work I know that the place I ordered is pretty respectable so do you think it's ok or maybe just needs some passes on the strop. Anyway I'm very excited and have been reading lots of the posts on here but I'm still very interested on any input you guys have!

[Willisf]

Hello and welcome to SRP!

Nice razor!
If the company that sold you the razor said it is shave ready...... Take it for a test drive and see if it shaves. No need to strop the first time. And besides, if you don't know how to strop, you might ruin a "shave ready" edge. Hopefully they have it nicely honed up and ready to shave.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ead-first.html

[Chevhead]

DO NOT STROP it first.
Try it out and see how it shaves.

[eddy79]

Hi and welcome. Did you remove the oil first? That would stop it working as well as some hair it won't work on. The only thing that matters is the shave so give it a shave test. Just the checks to start with. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

[Walterbowens]

Hello, and welcome!! +1 on all the above advice.

[Prahston]

Welcome to SRP!! Nice looking razor!! Like many have said... Definitely do not strop priornto shaving as that is supposed to be your benchmark that you compare to later. Just wipe her clean and give it a shot but just doing sideburns/cheeks first then likely finish with your DE. Work up from there as you practice and feel more comfortable.

Enjoy the shaves...

Shawn
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[wayne394]

Welcome to the forum CavCon. Nice looking razor. Good luck.

[CavCon]

Thanks for all the advice! I tried just my sideburns and checks and I think it went decently well for the first ever time! In the beginning there was some tugging but I think that's more due to trying to find the right angle and stretching my skin. So now that my maidan voyage is finished I dried everything with tissue paper before putting it away. So next time I do my second attempt should I still not strop or maybe I should do a few round trips lightly? Thanks again! I really appreshiate all the responses, and can't wait for more shaves with this SR!

[Ernie1980]

Glad to hear it went well! That is a nice looking razor you have there
I would go ahead and strop it before shaving again. If you are worried about rolling your edge try setting the strop on a table to remove the slack variable. Go slowly and be very deliberate about the flip at the end of the strop. I would watch some videos, there are lots of good ones on YouTube.

[Willisf]

If and when you get your strop, practice with index finger first. Run it up and down the strop to learn how it feels. Watch when you pull on the strop with some tension, see how the strop reacts. Then hold it loosely somewhat, and again see how it feels. You don't want to hold your strop too tight or too loose. Another thing you can do is make a newspaper strop and practice on that a few times.. Look to see if you cut the newspaper again. Newspaper is cheaper than replacing your strop in case you cut or nick it a lot. The flip and muscle memory will all come time and with practice.
Erinie's advice is good too.