Thread: Just Got My First Straight

Hey guys,

I'm all excited because my first straight just came in the mail today, and I'm psyched to cut my face to hell with it tonight . Anyway, it's a Theirs-Issard full hollow 5/8, which I think will be good for my rather wimpy facial hair and the fact that I'm new to it. I bought it in a set from classicshaving.com, and it came with a mug and soap, a badger brush, a two sided leather paddle strop, an alum block, and some strop paste. I believe it's shave-ready, although it didn't specifically say so when I ordered it. (It ships with Theirs-Issard sharpening instructions which suggest not even stropping before your first several shaves to avoid messing up the edge they already put on it.)

In any case, I've read several of the newbie-oriented posts here, as well as a few how-tos across the net, and I think I'm ready to have my first crack. Any last advice before I take the plunge?

Cheers!
-Scott

Welcome! Relax, use do not use pressure, and enjoy the shave!

Yeah I don't think I'll be going for the closest shave possible on my first time out. Haha it's almost a little scary, the thought of touching that thing to my face. I already accidentally nicked my hand with it when I was unpacking everything - I didn't believe 'em when they said "shave-ready" .

Welcome to SRP, I'm sure you'll find it entertaining and informative

I remember my first SR shave with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
The best advice I can give you is to find a quiet place away from distractions (people, animals and phones)
Give yourself plenty of time, don't rush it, and don't try and do a full shave, do as much as you feel comfortable with then finish with you usual shaving method.
I'm sure others will give their thoughts.
Good Luck

Hello, mscard:

Congratulations on your acquisition. The joy of receiving your first straight razor will remain with you for a long time. What's more, you are starting out with a good razor. Now take your time to hone your skill with the razor. Also concentrate on proper stropping and making lather. That preparation is important. Any questions, please ask away.

Regards,
Obie

I think I've got the basics of stropping figured out at least in theory, although I'm not sure exactly about paste. Some paste came with the set that I bought, (Straight Razor Sets), but I'm not sure exactly how much paste to apply. I can't remember how fine the abrasive is in the paste, but I imagine it's half a micron to a micron, maybe. I'll check when I get back home. Anyway, I'm not sure what volume of paste to apply or how exactly to apply it to the strop, and also I'm not sure what side of the strop to apply it to. Both sides are leather, although one is darker and has a different feel. The instructions that came with the razor suggest that it doesn't matter as long as I stick to the same side, and I suspect the reason for the different colors is merely so I can differentiate which side is pasted. Anyway, if I run into trouble stropping, I'll post about it, but if there's any little tips I should know aside from just the general guidelines, I'm all ears.

Thanks!
-Scott

Welcome.

Tell us what you have been shaving with.
The transition from an electric is not the same
as the transition from other blade shavers.

Spend some time practicing your lather technique.
It always takes more time than a beginner expects.
A three min egg timer can keep you from rushing the
lathering step...

Hey Nifty,

I can't remember the last time I shaved with an electric. I've been using some sort of gillette five blade cartridge monstrosity (I think it's called "fusion") and aveno canned shaving cream, so I won't have to adjust to the whole idea of wet shaving, thank god.

If it didnt say shave ready, pre sharpened, etc
its a good chanse that you will need the blade honed

It doesn't say presharpened or shave-ready, but the instruction pamphlet on sharpening that was packaged with the razor described stropping but also explained that the razor already has a good edge on it and shouldn't be stropped before the first shave so as not to remove the edge already present. That sounds shave ready to me. It's still probably not as good as if I had Lynn hone it, but it sounds like it'll work for my first shave.