Ready to begin...

I must be living in the brave new world: I’ve joined an internet forum on shaving…
Ok, well, I’ll be 42 in a couple weeks – live in nashville, tn – made my living playing the drums for 25 years – have just recently switched careers to science education.

I’ve always had a difficult time with shaving – trouble getting a good close shave – razor burn – etc… I tried a braun puslonic for about a year – it was okay, but not any better than I was doing with disposable 3-blade jobbies…

I knew a fellow drummer years back who had been shaving with a straight razor for years… lost touch with him, but the idea has always intriqued me… I am 2nd generation Greek (mom’s side) and my Pappou Gimakas (great grandpa) used to use a straight razor… that fact combined with old photos featuring his fierce gaze have always stuck in my mind…. Straight razor = take no shit from nobody.

I’ve been told several times by barbers: “you don’t want to mess with a straight razor – stick to a mach 3” …being told this absolutely guarantees that I’m going to try it…

So there it is…..

I’ve read the beginners articles – one question I still have is: while I’m becoming accustomed to the straight razor, should I purchase a safety razor to shave the rest of my face? I’ve read that a saftey razor, while not the same as a straight razor, is much better than a mach 3…

Thanks…

Johnny

Welcome to SRP Johnnie68!

I have no experience with DE's personally, but I have read countless people here say that they do give closer shaves and less irritation. But they, too, have a learning curve. Not as steep as straights, since the configuration of a DE is one that most of us are more used to, but it's still a new way of shaving.

It's recommended you not start out trying to shave your whole face in one go, so if you want to learn to shave with a DE and abandon cartridge razors altogether (and who here could blame you), sure, pick one up. It's really up to you.

At any rate, have fun and welcome to one of the friendliest forums I've ever personally seen, one newbie to another. :)

Johnny, welcome to the group!

If you are currently using a disposable you can continue to use it to clean up while you are learning to use a straight. However DE's do give a better shave than a disposable and can come in handy for a quick shave if you don't feel you have time for a full straight razor shave and they are handy for travel. As always though, it's your choice.

Sounds like you are on the right track reading through the beginner sections. If you have any questions please let us know and I am sure one of the members here will get back to you quickly.

Good luck on your journey, It's a whole new world out there :)

thanx, ladies!!

so, it sounds like what i could do is to begin by switching to a DE - using the cartridge to assist that.... then eventually do the same thing with a straight - since i'll probably want to have a DE handy for travel, etc....

Yup, that's definitely one way to go about it! Starting with a DE will help you learn a few things:

1. How to prep properly. And really, this is handy stuff to know no matter what you use to shave with, but with DE's and straights in particular it's part of the process and gives you a much better shave.

2. Pressure. You can't treat an exposed edge that way you treat a cartridge razor. We tend to press with those because they just don't shave well if you don't, but with a DE or a straight you will cut yourself if you try to do that.

So, with that stuff already down, it'll take out some of the learning curve with straights. You can just focus on angle and stropping, pretty much.

I'm actually thinking of picking up a DE. A lot of members here recommended I do so from the outset, but after having shaved a few times with a straight now I see the purpose in it much more. That and I am hell-bent on getting rid of this stupid Gillette razor!

I'll jump ship and recommend not starting with two different methods of new shaving at the same time...you're likely to have a hard time picking up just one. You're looking at a 3-6 month learning curve using a straight if you decide to use it every day....learning the DE and straight at the same time is asking for trouble. I suggest using whatever method you're most comfortable to do your clean-up.

orrr....you can start like I did, after I got my first shave finished, I got a trash bag and threw everything else away. This forced me to learn my straight or show up to work looking like trash. After a week of shaving, I was getting M3 results and now I'm getting better results than anything on the market.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johnny68

thanx, ladies!!

so, it sounds like what i could do is to begin by switching to a DE - using the cartridge to assist that.... then eventually do the same thing with a straight - since i'll probably want to have a DE handy for travel, etc....

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I think you will find by switching to a DE you can pretty much trash the cartridge razors within a couple of days. Big thing with the DE's is don't use pressure, let the weight of the razor do the work. If it doesn't seem like it's cutting adjust the angles. Do not go sideways though it will slice you.

As Mistress Nomad said starting off with a DE will help you get into the habit of good beard prep. It's the most important part of wet shaving. You should be able to find a vintage one pretty cheap at antique shops, flea markets and junk shops. We have found quite a few for $5 or less. A good soak in hot soapy water and then use scrubbing bubbles and a toothbrush to clean it up. Soak it in alcohol for 10 min, slap in a blade and you are good to go.

Hey Johnny,

I approach things from a slightly different perspective. If you think you'll be shaving with a straight razor, I'd start with one. You can always fall back on a DE at some point, but it's not the same as a straight razor. Yes, it is better than a Mach 3, but so is a Trac II, Bic Sensitive, and Bic Metal IMHO. How many baby steps do you want to take?

Check out the Wiki and dive in. Know that you will have a learning curve, your patience may be tested, and that the end result (for those who persevere) are a worth every minute.

Don't focus on the destination, enjoy the journey. Welcome to SRP, Sir...

Good Luck! :gl:

Even though it's said you shouldn't do a full shave when you start out, it can be done, just make sure that you have plenty of time and no distractions. Make sure you lather up well, stretch the skin, use a light touch and you should be good to go. After a few shaves it'll start to get easier.

Either way, you'll do fine. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johnny68

thanx, ladies!!

so, it sounds like what i could do is to begin by switching to a DE - using the cartridge to assist that.... then eventually do the same thing with a straight - since i'll probably want to have a DE handy for travel, etc....

---

Johnny68,

+1 on that thought...In fact, I think that you'll find that you really don't want to use your multi-blade razor to shave, once you begin using a DE.

I switched to a DE before moving on the str8 razor shaving last December. While there is a learning curve for the DE, just like with a str8, it is not as lengthy. There is a whole series of videos on YouTube by Mantic59 which discusses and demonstrates the different types of DE razors and their use as well as how to create rich, creamy lather with a shave brush in either a shave bowl or mug.

Moreover, as has been stated, a DE is the next best thing to a str8 razor shave. Its closer, with less irritation to your face, and cheaper in the long-run.

Of course, all of us here at SRP hope that you will give serious consideration to taking the next step one day and using a str8 razor.

Take care...

Welcome to SRP. DEs are a potential acquistion disorder too. :) Here is SRP founder Lynn Abrams on your first straight razor shaves. By taking it slow and gradually working with the straight I found this to be a good way to introduce myself to it with minimal frustration. I finished up with a DE for my first two or three weeks before going to straights exclusively.

I like DEs but I have to say that I have nicked myself worse with a DE than with any other shaving tool. While they are better than cartridge razors if you go with a DE as an alternative take care and go easy. :gl:

I just dove in and did it, I did my whole face and neck right from the start. I dont have to worry about being clean shaven for my job so whatever whiskers I missed got left till the next shave. You will pay for making excessive strokes until you get closer to the correct pressure, but I feel it was just good feedback, pay attention and the razor will let you know if your doing it right or wrong, sometimes it will scream at you. Having a DE makes sense though if you fly often, which I dont do any more(im not a threat to society and I hate getting treated as if I am), so I dont have a need. If I travel I take my straights. I think you will find a str8 to be less daunting than it sounds like before you start. Just treat the razor like the sharpest tool on earth, respect it but dont fear it, a tenative stoke will cause more trouble. Relax, take your time and enjoy(the enjoyment part takes a bit of time to get to so why put it off longer than need be,imo).

man! thanks for all the great answers, brothas and sistas...

i like the idea of just throwing everything away and being forced to use a straight... i guess that's the pirate in me... but, i also am thinking of travel, which still happens for me at least 2 weekends a month... so having a DE for that might come in handy...

(don't egg me on, or i'll be forced to give my cold steel voyager a try, just to say that i did it!)

part of my thing is that i would consider myself a minimalist... while i respect the interest many have with collecting, etc - i'd love to just have a simple set up that works... so i'd like to reduce as many steps as possible... the idea of just having this beautifully simple blade and nothing else, really appeals to me.
also - being a drummer, i am fairly ambidextrous and coordinated, so the idea of teaching myself to shave with either hand does not intimidate...

also, i currently do not have a set 9-5-er... i'm in class once a week, then observing in schools once a week, and the rest of the time i am either at the library or a coffee shop prepping for my praxis exams... so this may be a great time to just dive in with a straight...

man, don't you love those posts where somebody hems and haws back and forth, out loud, with no concrete point! :)

at the risk of turning this into a novella... is the general consensus that shaving oil is not necessary when using a straight?

best,

johnny

Some members like shaving oils, but I've never had a use for them personally. FWIW, when I travel (and unable to take a straight which is rare), I just take a Bic Sensitive or Bic Metal... IMHO, unless you just want a DE, there's not a real advantage to getting one solely for travel...

Sounds like you are about to pull the trigger. Enjoy the ride!

Hello, Johnny:

Your grandfather was wise.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place, where all the information you need on traditional shaving is tucked in the many corners of this website. Look around. If you don't find the answer, post it and you'll have the answer in no time.

Aside from scores of other important reasons why I choose a straight razor, and occasional double edge for backup, is because there is something logical in having one sharp blade skate across my Hollywood face rather than three or four blades mow everything in sight.

The barber who prefers a multi-blade cartridge razor probably has never even heard of Pinaud Clubman, the golden nectar of the old time barber universe. I would find another barber.

Which brings me to this point: I suggest heading immediately for the straight razor. If you feel you need a stopover, however, start with a quality double edge razor. I always recommend the Edwin Jagger 89L for its overall quality.

That, of course, is only a transitional tool on the way to the straight razor. Think of it as the bridge between musical themes in a composition. Either way, you will be amazed how fast the multi-blade cartridge razor will become history.

You're an artist, and you know the workings and delights of art. Straight razor shaving is an art.

What razor should you buy, what brush, soap or cream — the ladies and gentlemen of SRP are more than willing to help you with suggestions.

Thanks for reading. We are delighted to have you with us.

Regards,

Obie

Again… thanks for all the great responses and suggestions…

My inclination is to go ahead and get a straight, with a pack of bic sensitives on the side for finishing, travel, or time crunches… this will motivate me to get over the hump of diving in and getting started…

As I mentioned before, I am somewhat of a minimalist, so having numerous shaving implements would annoy me… what I’d really love is to be so adept and comfortable that I NEVER shave without a straight razor…

So that is where I am heading… probably looking towards the Dovo Best Quality Set from SRD… unless I can find a place here in Nashville that is reputable and well-stocked (feel free to chime in if you’re from the area)…

One last question – and I’ll stop dragging this thread out…
I have a hard time with some of the krazy prices I’ve seen on brushes… at least they seem ridiculous to me… now, don’t get me wrong, I used to own a custom made Japanese oak snare drum made from wood aged 10 years, and hollowed from a single piece of log (list price $2k)… So I get the whole “artisan” thing… I’ve seen the Maybachs and Bentlys of brushes – are there any that are more like a Honda? Y’know, good, solid quality without some hand-carved, dinosaur bone, jewel-encrusted handle...?

Perhaps someday, as this straight shaving thing becomes a solid part of my deal, I may invest in something fancy… but for now, I’m just trying to get started…

Thanks, ladies and gents! :idea:

Johnny,

That's a great question about the brushes. There are very good brushes at lower price-points. I gave my brother an Omega Professional boar brush that cost $11 that he has been using for a while. Yesterday, he came by my house and I let him use my $250+ Rooney Finest 1/2. He sheepishly told me that he actually preferred the feel and performance of his brush to mine. That's not an opinion shared by a huge group of guys, but it illustrates that after you break in a quality boar brush, it will be an excellent tool for your lathering needs. You can spend as much as you want on a brush, and I have. For me it's worth the priced difference, but I'd have a hard time arguing that the same is true for everyone.

Hope this helps

I had the same problem when I started out, I found I didnt mind paying good money for the razor, or the strop or even creams and have since found out I dont mind paying for stones. The brush on the other hand, troubled me. I chose to go with the Wee Scott I found at SRD. It was the cheapest but still high quality badger brush I could find, if you go that route dont do like I did and waste money on the brush holder you will find the brush doesnt quite fit, there is a reason for the name. I have since realized I will be buying a bigger one someday, but it has served me well up to this point and will continue to do so for some time.