Thread: Hello

Hi,
First off I would like to thank you for offering such a great site as a resource to us newbies.

I have been using a brush and soap with a disposable for quite some time and have always been intrigued by straight razor shaving. I have always leaned toward the finer things in life; wine, craft brews, long motorcycle rides, etc... So I figure straight razor shaving would be a fantastic addition to my lifestyle. I have purchased a new Dovo 5/8" razor that should arrive in the next few days. I have read many of the tutorials and would like to know if anyone has any tips they would like to add before I begin this new endeavor.

Thanks again for giving someone so new to this as me an open forum to learn and grow.

Welcome to SRP!
Sounds like you have done your homework before starting out.
With dedication like that you will enjoy this sport swiftly

If I were to give you an additional tip it would be to check out the many videos out there, You'll find a few good ones in the video section on here.
Or better yet, try to attend a meet-up in your area.
That would dramatically shorten the learning curve. It did for me

Good luck, and if there is anything at all we can assist you with, don't hesitate to ask

Welcome,
I would say make sure you have a shave ready razor. Depending on where you purchase your razor it many not come shave ready. The other thing you will need is a strop. You can also find great videos on how to properly strop your razor. Check out all the Wiki links as well, they cover everything you will need to know. Then ask questions if you have them.
Best of luck with your first shave.

Thanks for the tips.

I will watch some videos before I get started.

The Dovo razor is coming shave ready (professionally honed) and I have purchased a Dovo strop so I am good there.

Thanks again for the support. I am sure I will have plenty of questions after I get started.

Hello Mechadrum,

Like you, I started with brush and soap before moving over to the straight as well. I followed the common instruction to shave the easy planes first, sideburns and cheeks, with the straight and finish up with my disposable. It took about three months for me to transition completely.

After a few months, order another shave-ready blade, a used one is fine, for the reminder of how sharp a fresh new blade should be. It's a big surprise, like when you get a new eyeglass prescription and realize how well it's possible to see. Plus it's good to have a second blade for when you send yours out for honing... or for practicing with hones, if you decide to go that route.

Start slow, don't expect a great shave right away. Practice stropping with a butter knife, so you lay in some muscle memory before putting your real blade at risk. For your first shave, don't strop first; the honer will have taken care of that. That will also help us if you have questions about how your first shaves feel... it's common for beginners to damage the edge with improper stropping, so it's hard to determine if your new shaver impressions are based in technique or a degraded edge.

All that said, do strop your blade about 20 times before you put it away. This ensures there's no junk on the edge that could corrode it before your next use.

Stick a pin in the googlemap (it's in the Community drop-down menu) and see if there are any other members nearby who can help you out.

Best wishes

Hello!

my tips: stretch your skin, stretch your skin, stretch your skin, dont be afraid to re-apply lather or remake it, and stretch your skin. Also your gonna want to do this some place quiet so you dont Van Gogh your self.

Have fun and welcome to your new addiction!

I'm one of the people who hates rust:

. . . Put a drop of oil (mineral oil, "penetrating oil", baby oil, SAE 30) on the blade, after your post-shave strop,
. . . and spread it around (especially on the edge) with a tissue.

You _might_ be one of the lucky people who have rust-free razors and don't use oil. Or, you might not.

charles

Hello,

You have a number of SRP guys around you. Here is a link to the last Razor Meet we had last spring.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...?daysprune=365

Feel free to send any of them a PM and see if they can give you some hands on advice.

SRP members Specky, http://straightrazorpalace.com/members/speckey.html and Obie, http://straightrazorpalace.com/members/obie.html are in your area, Milwaukee. There are probably many more.

Here is a link to a partial list.....
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...rt=posts&pp=30

Hope this helps,