Hi, New to straight shaving
Hi all,
I'm brand new to straight shaving, having just got a razor/strop/brush kit this past week from Straight Razor Designs. Today was my 5th shave with the straight.
I've been a wet shaver all my life -- or at least since I needed to shave. That's what my dad taught me, so I've always done it that way. Back then (late 1960's) I started with a Schick Injector. It had one of these tangs that you stuck into the back of the razor and, well, you know the drill. Then I graduated to a double edge in the early 70's, one of the missile-silo openers, and used that for a long, long time.
I remember once watching some Western movie with my dad and asking him whether he ever shaved with a straight razor. He said something to the effect that I may as well go into the kitchen and sharpen up a butter knife (which, of course, I never did). I was always intrigued by the straight shaving drill.
Then once I was going through a department store and saw a straight razor and brush for sale. They were really trying to sell me on it, and I was tempted to buy it, but I didn't because I knew that I had absolutely no idea of how to shave with one of those things. It was a bit too scary.
So a few weeks ago I came across the Shave Den site, and went from there to Lynn's site at SRD. I still wasn't sure I'd do this, but I bought the video to see whether this was something I could do. After that, I decided to order the kit from SRD, and here I am at straight shave number 5.
I only got two nicks and one pimple (maybe it's a wart, but I didn't count it as a nick) today. I'm getting more used to the thing, but it certainly demands a great deal of respect. I'm still getting used to the fact that I have to stretch the skin all over the place, which is something I never bothered with while using a DE.
I did two passes with the straight today, the first time I've done that. The chin and moustache areas are the toughest for me, and I feel a bit of irritation on my neck and a little on the cheek. I've been stropping the razor, but I managed to nick the strop, no doubt due to my inexperience. It's only a small nick, but still...I just got the thing. Jeez.
The other tough thing has been whipping up the lather. I got a tub of the shaving soap, as well as a Col. Conk mug (very nice), and I've lathered the thing up but it seems really dry. I added more water, but then it wasn't thick enough, so I gave up on that for the moment and went back to the Gilette gel from a can that I've been using. It worked, and it is pretty thick. The slight problem is that I bought that stuff a few months ago at Costco so I've got three more cans to finish off.
A word about my history with shaving soap. I never used it nor shaving cream. Instead, I did the same thing my dad did, which was use a bunch of soap chips in the bottom of an oversize coffee mug and a brush. (Soap was never wasted in our house!) That probably dried my skin out a bit, but I don't think I really noticed it too much.
So the lather thing is definitely something I have to learn from scratch. As well as the stropping technique, which is brand new to me. I'm wondering whether I'm doing it right because today's shave did feel a bit rougher than the first go round.
About me: I live in the Chicago area, I'm 53, professional, don't wear a beard or moustache, and like the feel of a good, clean shave in the morning. I saw there was a get together last fall at the Palmer House in Chicago...if I'd known about it I would have been there. Next time...
I look forward to learning on this forum.
Thirdman47 (same guy as on Shave Den)
