Thread: Hello,Greeting,and help

Greetings
I am just starting out with straight razor shaving and could use some help.....
I bought a Parker straight razor with replaceable Shark blades and attempted to shave with it today,
lets just say it was ugly! thank goodness I had a styptic pen!
the razor edges seemed to cut in to my face quite a bit
now I am sure some of this was my skills and dexterity
but has anyone else had this problem? should I spring for a real straight razor?
Thanks for the help Gabe

Starting out with straight razors is never easy. Real straights may be more forgiving, but the first few shaves require patience and development of some technique no matter what you use. Did you read the library regarding how to start with your first shave?

yes I have been reading as much as I can!

Gabe,
As stated by Ace, spend some time with the beginners guide to straight razor shaving-it is helpful and very important.
You will need to understand pre-shave prep so to get your face and beard ready for a straight razor cut. Further, there are blade angles that need to followed to minimize many of the troubles you are experiencing. Straight razor shaving is wonderful, but we all needed to understand some of the basics to start. Then as we gain experience, it becomes that much more enjoyable.
Good luck, be patient and remember the blade needs to handled with care.

+1

This is your friend:First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks for the help guys
I will make sure to use the beginners guide.
ohh and the cuts that occurred were not from the edge of the blade but the corners of the replaceable blade,
This is why I am wondering if I should buy a real straight razor.

Ah yes! The question. Should I buy a real straight razor.
Gabe, if you decide to enter this world you need some level of commitment, but you also need to ask yourself the question, "why are attracted to the entire deal"? You see, I love the romance, the old world link associated with straight razor shaving. I wanted to get involved with the soaps and creams and the old after shaves which for me, could only be used with a straight razor. I loved going to the barber shop to a shave - usually the smoothest shave I would ever get. So I wanted to replicate the whole deal in my own house.
Its a learning process; it will take you longer to shave with a straight razor than a Mach One, so you need to re-arrange your life to some degree. There is some cost associated with it, as you are finding out. So that is why I say there is some level of commitment needed. I for one love the entire deal and look forward to shaving.
So again, keep reading, then make the decision. What ever you decide, I hope it works out.
Enjoy the ride.
Andy

I've never used a 'straight razor' with replaceable blades. I always think that I'd find the blades harsher than some of my straights. The edge on my Wade and Butcher is so smooth, it's certain to be excellent for a beginner. The Burrell Top Flight, which was my first, being a full hollow 5/8 spike, was less forgiving. I'd recommend to anyone to start with a nice vintage straight razor, already honed by someone who knows how, buy a strop, and commit to buying at least one more straight and a hone within maybe three months of starting and you're set for life. You won't need to worry about buying blades and you can control how smooth the edge is. I'd recommend one razor be nice old smooth steel, like a nice W&B, maybe a 5/8. The other could be whatever takes your fancy; old or new. I'd make sure both were freshly honed and truly shave ready. The hone I'd buy would be a Norton 4/8 or a Shapton 16k, or both (they're the only hones I have and only one's I've used, so I don't really know what I'm talking about, but they work so well for me I don't see the need to spend any more money).

That's how I'd start my journey, actually that's exactly how I did, and I wouldn't do anything much different now...But there's billions of opinions... :-)

I hope you have fun with it all; it certainly can quickly become and obsession...