With fear and tembling.....

Hello,

I've been shaving with a DE for a couple of months (with varying degrees of success) and just found out that my great uncle in law has decided to give me his old straight! I'm quite excited!

I don't know anything yet about the size or shape or make or anything, or whether I'll be getting a strop or hone or anything, but from what I understand, he only stopped using it himself recently.

So, my first question is about getting a hand-me-down razor. I'll try to get him to also show me how to strop and hone before handing over the tool of potential tribal scars/death, however, if I need to get the razor honed where do I go? Also, I'm prepared to give the stropping thing a go, but sound like I'm more than likely to ruin my nice heir-loom while learning so It'd be better to try to learn properly in the first place. Likewise with the shave itself. Is there somewhere I can go where someone who can do this stuff can show me, guide me and ease me onto this new path?

I've read the beginner guide and the PDF download, excited to get started, but also worried about doing it all wrong and wrecking my new kit, or myself!

Welcome to The Forum. I learnd a lot here just from asking questions and reading what answers the guys gave to others who also asked questions. My suggestion to you is two fold, FIRST concentrate only on learning how to use this heirloom tool. Just learn how to prepare your face and shave with it, assuming that it is shave ready. SECOND, practice stropping with a butter knife. Learn how to properly hold and rotate the razor as you strop it. I know this may sound silly, but learning how to strop does take time and practice.

This is a lot of fun, there are many much more knowledgable than I, continue to ask questions and welcome to the brotherhood.:beer1:

Welcome to SRP! :)

Do yourself a favor and let us know where you are located, (city, state). Then we can see who might live near you and can act as a resource

Craze - Different folks learn different ways. Getting together w/ someone experienced would usually give you a big boost in learning. Heartily encourage you to do as Randy suggests.

If you're anywhere near Portland, OR. PM me. C'mon over. Watch, listen to stropping (critical), try my gear, see what feels good on the face and is easy to use. You're gonna love this. I have 3 DEs. I bought them for backup. I've used them once to try, once when I had no time for a proper shave. That's in the last 21 mo and I have to shave daily. If I have to use a DE now, I'm rather grumpy. 'Can't wait to hear of your first shaves. I can almost guarantee they'll be better than mine were.

Haha! Yes it would have been helpful to say where I live. I'm in Essex England. Not very helpful as most people around seem to be US.

It was nice to have you in the chat today, come back anytime!