Thread: Hello from the newest newbie

So this is a pretty neat little slice of the internet that you guys have carved out. After reading a few articles on the trials and tribulations of straight razor shaving, this seemed like a fantastic place to get advice. A little about my shaving pedigree...

Being active duty military I have to shave every day. I've bounced back and forth between an electric razor and a mach 3... both were pretty lame. Stumbled upon safety razor shaving and loved it! Probably more for the experience (Merkur Futur), and secondarily because the shave was that much better. Sure enough being interested in DE's led to being interested in straights. Right now I've got a Dovo Special and a strop enroute, along with Lynn's video.

So maybe this question has been asked a bazillion times, but for the new guys sake- time wise how much additional time does your routine take? I spend a good 15 minutes prepping, lathering, and shaving three passes. How much additional time does it take to add in stropping and slowing down enough to make sure you don't accidentally lop off your head? Thanks for being a great resource!

I'm a newbie at it myself (5 months approx) and it takes me about 35 or 40 mins. with all the fixins

Welcome to SRP. Since you've already got the prep and lathering learned you're a step ahead of the game. Everyone is different in terms of how long it takes but the DE experience helps. When I first started the actual shave took so long (with a straight) that the lather would dry on one side while I did the other.

Fast forward a couple of years and I can do two passes in the same amount of time it would take with a DE. Learning to comfortably maneuver the blade at the correct angle while stretching the skin takes a bit of practice and once you get used to it the shaves keep improving as you go.

In case you haven't seen it check out the beginner's guide and Lynn's recommendations for the first straight razor shave here in the SRP Wiki. Read my sig line below to avoid nicks and cuts. Thanks for your service.

I also spent about 40 top to bottom when I started. Now I turn in a shave in about 15, but it should be said that every minute of the shave, whether long or short is a world away from what shaving used to be like.

X

To say I'm looking forward to this would be an understatement. Tomorrow morning I'm getting up at 4:45 AM for an early flight... on days like that (when a 40 minute shave is simply out of the question), do you recommend going with a bic single blade disposable, mach 3, or a cheap electric razor? I learned a while ago that it's always nice to have a $10 wally world electric in your glove box JUST in case. Better a poor shave than late to the flight line

Originally Posted by zuckermania

So this is a pretty neat little slice of the internet that you guys have carved out. After reading a few articles on the trials and tribulations of straight razor shaving, this seemed like a fantastic place to get advice. A little about my shaving pedigree...

Being active duty military I have to shave every day. I've bounced back and forth between an electric razor and a mach 3... both were pretty lame. Stumbled upon safety razor shaving and loved it! Probably more for the experience (Merkur Futur), and secondarily because the shave was that much better. Sure enough being interested in DE's led to being interested in straights. Right now I've got a Dovo Special and a strop enroute, along with Lynn's video.

So maybe this question has been asked a bazillion times, but for the new guys sake- time wise how much additional time does your routine take? I spend a good 15 minutes prepping, lathering, and shaving three passes. How much additional time does it take to add in stropping and slowing down enough to make sure you don't accidentally lop off your head? Thanks for being a great resource!

zuckermania,

Welcome to SRP...

In answer to your question...As a relative newbie myself, I've found that it take me approx. 2x as long (30-35 mins.) to shave with a str8 right now as I did earlier with a DE. That is down from 3x as long when I first began. As the previous posts suggest, as you gain in experience the amount of time you have to devote to str8 razor shaving decreases.

Your choice of razor and strop is an excellent one too. The Dovo "Special" is fine entry level razor.

BTW...IMHO I think you did yourself a really BIG favor by purchasing a copy of Lynn's dvd. I did, and watched the shaving segment about a half dozen times before placing my sr8 razor's blade against my face. Follow his advice in the dvd--especially the part about beginning by shaving only one side of your face with your str8 razor and building up slowly until you can shave your entire face. Doing so will save a lot of wear and tear on your face. I know that it did for me.

Take care and happy shaving...

Originally Posted by zuckermania

To say I'm looking forward to this would be an understatement. Tomorrow morning I'm getting up at 4:45 AM for an early flight... on days like that (when a 40 minute shave is simply out of the question), do you recommend going with a bic single blade disposable, mach 3, or a cheap electric razor? I learned a while ago that it's always nice to have a $10 wally world electric in your glove box JUST in case. Better a poor shave than late to the flight line

FIRST and formost THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
Second, welcome to the website.
About the early shaving maybe do only one pass.

Originally Posted by zuckermania

... do you recommend going with a bic single blade disposable, ...

NEVER!

Originally Posted by zuckermania

... mach 3, ...

ew

Originally Posted by zuckermania

... or a cheap electric razor?

Ouch, no.

Shave the night before.
You'll go to bed clean and relaxed and the shave should be close enough to last you all the next day.

Welcome to SRP Z ... Good advice from X.
Your straight shaves will last much longer than other options & the more you practice the faster you'll get

As you'll find in reading Lynn's suggestions for the first shave, use the straight sparingly in the beginning and in conjunction with your DE or whatever you choose. Dip your foot in the water rather than diving in. I did that for the first two or three weeks gradually increasing the amount I did with the straight. As X said, shaving the night before is a viable alternative if possible.