Thread: Either this will be a very "Zen-like" experience, or I'll slit my throat . . . . ?

Good Mornin' All!!

I come to you all and your wealth of knowledge and wisdom in hopes of learning the art of shaving with a straight razor. Lately, and by lately I mean within the past few years, as I get a little older, I have begun to appreciate some of the older, simpler ways. I was first introduced to "alternative" shaving methods through an article in "Bicycling" magazine. Being a cyclist myself I was intrigued by an article discussing leg shaving, the reasons for it, and different methods. One of the razors discussed was a Rolls, which I eagerly found on eBay and purchased. It was in very good condition, but even after some honing on the provided stone, it didn't seem to do a very good job, and it irritated the heck out of my skin. I then purchased a "New Old Stock" blade for my Rolls, still in the original package, paper, and cosmolene, or whatever that substance was on the blade. Now I was ready to really enjoy . . . well, not quite. After a couple attempts at shaving, my face, not my legs, all I ever seemed to do was really irritate my face. I presumed this was due to a razor blade that for whatever reason, age, etc., still wasn't truly sharp, so I sent it to a razor sharpening service I found on the web, anxiously awaited its return, and couldn't wait to try it upon its arrival, only to find the same result again, only with a better shave. So my question is this, is there even a "proper" way to shave with a Rolls? I have since purchased a boar bristle brush, (I like the stiff feel on my face), a bowl and some "Whiskey" shave soap from Portland General Store, and I really enjoy that part of the experience, but if I can't figure out the Rolls, that makes me very weary about trying a straight razor. Oh, and by the way, I have purchased three razors, before I found your site, from eBay, one a Wade & Butcher for $14.50, a W.H. Morley for $25.00, and just bought a J.R. Torrey for $4.25, but the Torrey wasn't in great shape, but I figured I could use it to learn/practice honing. I'm very excited about learning the whole process, but the experience with the Rolls still scares me, so this is my inaugural post, and I look forward to whatever help is out there . . . Thank You All!!

I am no expert on double edged, or single edged razors by any stretch of the imagination. So I won't even try and give you advice in that area. As to straight razors though... Looking at the price that you paid for those three, I would expect them NOT to be in "shave-ready" condition. And my suggestion would be to send all three of them to a honer (you can find them listed in the classifieds, though you might want to stick with Lynn for right now), and let them pick one or two of them to hone for you. This is really the only way to guarantee that you are starting off with a good straight razor.

I figured I got a deal on all three of them as I tend to do a little research before I buy something, or if I'm just interested in it, so I also expected I would have to send them to someone for proper honing. I feel they were all good purchases though as the scales are all in good shape, the edges of the blades and the blades as a whole, to the naked a eye, are straight and without blemishes, and the spines, (if that is the correct term?) don't seem to be very worn from honing, at least on the Morley and the Wade & Butcher, I haven't recieved the Torrey, which doesn't seem to be in great shape, but again, I bought it to practice honing. I sent my Rolls Razor blade to "A Sharper Razor" for honing. Does anyone know about them, good, bad etc.? I believe the W & B and the Morley will go to Lynn, as the more a look at this site the more I like it!! I do tend to be fairly independent however and I'm sure I will aquire the tools and skills to maintain them myself, assuming I learn how to shave with one without tearing up my face!!!

Welcome to SRP You've come to the right place. The rolls can be a tricky little beast but in my experience a darn fine shaver...I love mine. I may have got lucky with mine but I've only ever sharpened it with the provided hone and the strop in the case...I'm assuming you do strop it before use? I've heard that you can hone them on the stones in a similar fashion to a straight for a more refined edge.
As already stated above, make sure you have a shave ready edge on your straight to start out on that road. It'll make a huge differance for you in the learning curve. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the quick replies! I do strop it before use, it just seems to really irritate my skin? I didn't know if it's just a matter of getting use to it, or if there's a "trick", i.e. preferred method, to shaving with it? I've read through the "beginner" files here at SRP for the straight, very helpful, perhaps I need to approach my Rolls in the same manner?

Maybe you will have a zen like experience as you transcend this world as blood gushes out of your neck.

Slartibartfast,

Hhhhmmmm, well, I have contemplated your thought, while in a zen like state, and have come to the humble conclusion that should my fate be as you have forseen, I will attempt to harness all that lies within me, and while I do transcend from this world to whatever lies beyond, watch in amazement, first hand, as my life's blood does spew forth from my soul, attaining a state of zen as never have I known, nor shall I again, while dialing 911 to try and save my dumb ass!!!!

There are a few things that come to mind right away with skin irritation...

1. Blade.
Is it really sharp. Blades can be sharp, and still not sharp enough to get a good shave.

2. Angle
Make sure that you are using the right angle to your skin. If it is to steep of an angle, the blade will scrape across the hair, pulling it out a little bit before cutting it.

Those two are the very first things I would look into. If you are sure you have a shave ready blade, and the angle is right there is one more then that comes to mind.

3. Pre-shave prep
I always take a shower before shaving, using both shampoo and conditioner in my beard to clean and soften it up a bit. Then I gently rub in Noxzema before I place a hot towel over my face for 3-4 minutes while I make my lather and strop my blades.

Having had the blade sharpened by (supposedly), a reputable company, I have to assume the blade is "Shave-Ready". I will have to try using it again, paying close attention to the angle. I have always shaved before I shower, I enjoy washing my face after the shave, feeling the smoothness, love a nice close shave, thus the interest in the Rolls Razor and now straight razors. Perhaps I really need to consider showering and then shave . . . Maybe the heat/water from the shower WILL make a difference, however I've never really thought of my beard as tough . . .

First off...Welcome to SRP

After reading your post the first thought that comes to mind is your strop. Is it the original strop? If so then it is most likely dried out and doing damage to the blade when used. You need to get it replaced or use another strop. That also means that the blade needs to be rehoned. Be sure your stropping correctly. A friend of mine, SRP = Dresden, uses a Rolls and likes it a lot. He also uses a straight razor and a "open comb" DE so he has some perspective. He likes them all.

Hope this helps,