Thread: Never looking back...

Hey all,

It's great to be part of such an amazing group of shavers. This is my first post, but I feel like through reading, the wiki, and Lynn's DVD I've already taken a lot from your collective knowledge. I bought my first straight razor (Dovo Best Quality 5/8) just within the past week and have shaved with it 5 times now. In those 5 times, thanks to all the written instruction, I've only nicked myself a few times, and have had some of the most satisfying shaves I can imagine. It's no longer a chore, but a ritual. I'm only just beginning, but with this razor, some Truefitt & Hill, and Proraso, it's been a real joy so far.

The only place I can imagine going from here, is up. So help me on. I've got the basics down, now I'd welcome your general advice, and any recommendations/tricks you've found to make this more enjoyable, including your favorite soaps/creams/scents, aftershave products, etc.

Thanks again,
Zac

Hi there, and welcome to SRP!
Sounds like you are off to a running start, doing good already. Knowledge is the way to go, so make sure to check the video subsection here, and read up in the wiki and the forum. Oh, and post your questions when they present themselves. Like you said, the way forward is up.
Good luck.

Thank you sir. Any words of wisdom, things that aren't covered as the basics in these forums/recommendations that took you years to figure out? I'm trying to put in as much work as possible to shorten the learning curve and get to an even deeper enjoyment that I know exists.

Soaps and Cremes: Cade
Pressure: Use none or less
Angle: Increase only when decreasing pressure
Nicks: Styptic pencil is your friend. Sleep with it under your pillow
Sinks: a little red in the sink brightens up the bathroom
Progress: comes slowly, but does come
Clothing: don't shave nude for obvious reasons

Hi Zac and welcome to SRP.
I have been shaving for 6 months with a straight and dont think that any words of wisdom can shorten the learning curve. Practice Practice and even more practice is the only way. The big pointers though are : Pressure (as in none.) Angle (30 degrees for WTG pass and a little less for XTG and ATG) and go slowly.
Read the posts, read the Wiki and ask any questions but it takes time to put it all together. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Originally Posted by Edgeof40

Hi Zac and welcome to SRP.
I have been shaving for 6 months with a straight and dont think that any words of wisdom can shorten the learning curve. Practice Practice and even more practice is the only way. The big pointers though are : Pressure (as in none.) Angle (30 degrees for WTG pass and a little less for XTG and ATG) and go slowly.
Read the posts, read the Wiki and ask any questions but it takes time to put it all together. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Yes sir, wiser words were never said. I certainly know that my technique won't improve without experience, i'm really looking for the intangibles that come with time. The trick of a hot towel, or the importance of such and such, or some method/cream/soap/use of a household item that makes things convenient.

I am just certain that there are hidden tricks that you all have that I won't even think of until 2012 (when the world is gone!). For instance, I have smoked pipes/cigars for awhile and I know little tricks to clear up a stem, or stop uneven burning, but these are things that came with time and meeting people... Not really on a wiki because it's not so much of a "skill" as a "trick"

+1 on the previous advice.

And don't forget to stretch the skin on your face wherever you are shaving at the time. Doing so helps create a taut surface, which is optimal for straight razor shaving. You'll get an even closer shave if you do so.

Please be assured that there are no hidden tricks and the SRP community share their experiences/discoveries freely. I guess the "tricks" are covered in the wiki and the tips on how to best implement those techniques are discussed via these posts. I notice that I omitted skin stretching from my previous post and stretching the skin is of paramount importance when shaving with a straight. I cant really describe how to stretch in any more detail than the wiki but six months into my journey I still find different stretches and stretching techniques. Add to that different strokes and different angles of the blade and steadily the whole shaving experience takes shape. But a stretch or stroke that is right for me might not work for anybody else so we all need to experiment to find the best routine for ourselves.

I know through "text" the spirit of my excitement and what I'm inquiring about isn't coming through. I'm not saying anyone is holding back on tips, more like I'm asking:

What is your favorite part (tool, tip/trick, cream/soap, etc.) that you've discovered for yourself over time. Nothing anyone could teach you, just something you've stumbled upon that is true for yourself, after you've spent time Straight Shaving.

I'm not sure there are any answers to that question, really. I mean, sure there are tricks. Like for instance, I know how I should attack the stubborn stubble on my neck, which helps for me, with the hair growth that I have. Chances are, it would not be very helpful to other people. A specific soap or shave cream may be my favorite, but then I got my tap water and my specific shave brush, so again, perhaps not so helpful to others. It is true there are no secrets, and the wiki will provide you with all the necessary info to get a smooth and pleasant start in this hobby. The little tricks are mostly personal favorites and you know what they say, different strokes for different folks. If you run into specific problems, don't hesitate to ask

Edit: I can see I did not really say anything about my specific discoveries, so I'll share one: I have discovered that if I go for a thorough BBS shave, I do not have enough beard growth to merit a shave 24 hours later. I need 30 hours or so. For this reason, I usually do not aim for that ultra close shave, I do enjoy my daily routine.