My First Shave with a Straight Razor

Hi folks,

I've been lurking on here for a little while now and thought it was about time I joined.

I just performed my first shave today with a straight razor. I used a Dovo Bismarck razor, a Wilkinson Sword brush, and Proraso soap. It took me about 45 minutes but it went well. No cuts or nicks and a reasonably clean shave overall.

I don't have a strop yet, but I plan to get one before my next shave. Is a Col. Conk strop suitable?

Anyway, I hope to be a regular member on here and learn from the more experienced straight razor shavers in the future.

Good going. You are on your way if you had no nicks. Just take it slow for the first month and you will do fine. It took me 45 minutes my first shave also.


Take Care,
Richard

Grats on the first shave. Until you get your strop use your leather belt it will get you by until it arrives.

Welcome to SRP. In the beginning it took me so long that the lather would dry on one side before I finished the other. Had to relather. After some practice I picked up speed without sacrificing quality. Here is SRP founder Lynn Abrams advice for the first straight razor shaves. Read my sig line below to avoid nicks and cuts. :gl:

Thanks for the welcome guys. I'm sure you guys know what I mean when I say I can't wait for my next shave haha.

Trillium, yeah the leather belt suggestion is priceless. I have one which I used to use to hone hunting knives and stuff, but i think it might be too bumpy to get a nice edge on the razor. I will give it a try though.

Jimmy, thanks for both of those pieces of advise. I think I know now what the barber in your sig was talking about about the pull sensation and easing up on it.