Thread: New Cut Throat Shaver

Hey y'all, my name is Bronson, active duty military, I like long walks on the beach and...wait, wrong webpage. Lol. I'm an adrenaline addict, drag racing, skydiving, motocross, basically if it costs a lot of money or has good potential to kill me then I'm in. So, naturally, I gravitated toward wet shaving, why not spend my life savings on razors to almost slice my jugular every morning. My technology "decline" started about 2 years ago when I went from my electric back to a cartridge razor, then ditched the can-o-chemicals in favor of a badger brush and soap, then got myself a safety razor and entered the very steep learning curve of single blade shaving. I was comfortable with it for a while but always knew that my end goal was the closest shave possible, a true straight razor shave. So I took the next step and got a shavette and proceeded to hack my face apart. I finally learned how to see through my fingers (and got a shave mirror) and got myself fairly proficient, nicks started getting fewer and father in between, razor burn dropped significantly, and missed patches on awkward angles of my chin and jaw became a thing of the past. But I wasn't straight razor shaving . I would look online regularly but just could never find a suitable setup. I already had a few brushes and soaps, and it seemed that every kit came with a razor, strop, brush, soap, bowl, blah, blah, blah, I don't need all that, I only need a razor and strop. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on my first razor because I knew that I would likely damage it at some point with a rookie mistake, likewise with the strop, I knew I would cut it at some point. So I just stuck with my shavette for a while since I couldn't justify the cost to move to a real razor, not to mention the fact that so few are "shave ready" I didn't want to buy the razor and then have to spend more money to send it out to get honed, that sinking feeling "I own a straight razor but can't use it" while waiting for it to come back. Enter Christmas morning 2017, my wife managed to find the razor/strop combo that I had longed for. It's a Dovo 5/8" that truly came shave ready, paperwork literally said " all you need to do is wipe off the oil and give it an initial strop" PLUS it came with a certificate for a free sharpening. Also included was a latigo strop, razor oil, and a pouch. Is any of it top notch? No, but it's exactly what I needed to transition and learn the stropping game. There is definitely something satisfying about the sound a hollow ground blade makes while shaving. I was glad to become part of the wet shaving community a while back and now I'm ecstatic to be in the small percent of the population using a straight razor.

Long post, sorry, not sorry.

Welcome to SRP and thank you for your service!!!!!!

You've come to the right place to learn about SR shaving. A lot of great Gents to help you out and check out the LIBRARY a ton of info. You can get lost in there.

Remember, just shave the lather and you'll be starting off right.
Enjoy and have fun!!!!

Welcome aboard, Bronson. As they say, behind every good man, is a strong woman. Glad she pushed you over the edge.
Lots of folks from California, here.

Enjoy the journey.

Thank you for your service! I too have a love for things promoting the production of adrenaline!

Sounds like you have progressed nicely into the SR world. Enjoy, take your time, and ask lots of questions.

Rich

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Remember, just shave the lather and you'll be starting off right.

When I first started with a DE, I would make the mistake of "oops, missed a spot, lemme just touch that up" and the result was razor burn and nick central. Now it doesn't matter if I missed only 1 hair, I re-lather and try it again. A blade on unlubricated skin is just asking for trouble.

Welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome aboard.

Originally Posted by Brewsky88

When I first started with a DE, I would make the mistake of "oops, missed a spot, lemme just touch that up" and the result was razor burn and nick central. Now it doesn't matter if I missed only 1 hair, I re-lather and try it again. A blade on unlubricated skin is just asking for trouble.

That's true, but what D was saying (shave the lather) is.
pressusure on the face, a light touch is all that is needed for a straight. Too much pressure...hell, I got a cheese grater you can borrow, for the same effect. Its about hair reduction, not removal. That why so many passes are needed for a straight.

Welcome to SRP. Your in the right place to learn this exciting way of shaving. Although you have been using a shavette. From what i understand, your going to find the straight more forgiving than a shavette. Ive never tried one myself but thats what i hear.

Post up picks of you razor and strop. Where did you/she buy the razor? Here's to hoping it really is shave ready.

Welcome to the forum. If you want to spend lots of money on a hobby there are plenty of guys here willing to help you. I'm a bit of a tight wad when it comes to straight razirs so I usually end up trying a DIY approach.