Thread: First try at straight razor shaving

Hi

Today I finally got my blade - delivered by mail from the USA. I bought some shaving cream from the store and gave it a go. I'm having a little trouble getting long strokes, but I think that'll improve. One of the problems I'm having is visibility, sometimes my hand is in the way and I have to go by feel only. Didn't shave much off, but didn't nick myself either. I just went for a simple WTG pass on the sideburn area. The parts that I shaved already feel smoother than the other areas that I shaved with my electric razor.

After shaving I used a phonebook to strop, since I don't have a strop yet. I'm guessing phonebook can't be used as a long term solution. What do you think of canned shaving creams. Are they any good or should I invest on a brush and shaving soap?

Galen

Originally Posted by Galen129

Hi

Today I finally got my blade - delivered by mail from the USA. I bought some shaving cream from the store and gave it a go. I'm having a little trouble getting long strokes, but I think that'll improve. One of the problems I'm having is visibility, sometimes my hand is in the way and I have to go by feel only. Didn't shave much off, but didn't nick myself either. I just went for a simple WTG pass on the sideburn area. The parts that I shaved already feel smoother than the other areas that I shaved with my electric razor.

After shaving I used a phonebook to strop, since I don't have a strop yet. I'm guessing phonebook can't be used as a long term solution. What do you think of canned shaving creams. Are they any good or should I invest on a brush and shaving soap?

Galen

Good job on your first go around! I used the same recommended method of just the sideburn on my first shave as well. It gave me the confidence to move on from there.

As far as the soap goes, I think every here would tell you NOT to use the canned stuff. There are many cheap alternatives including Van Der Hagen shave soap which can be found at your local pharmacy chain store. That is what I used on my first shave and it worked well enough. In fact, I still have it.

I started with shaving cream. It worked I thought, until I tried some cheap shave soap from Walmart. (Since, I've moved on to Mitchells Wool Fat, primarily.) That $7.50 cheap, cheap shave soap was better than expensive shaving cream.