Thread: Ready to shave like a man!

Hello everybody,

I'm sick of using the mach 3 razors I've been using for the last 10 years, and figured now, just before my 33rd B-day, is a good time to make the change.

So far I'm doing a bunch of research, I'd prefer to learn by other peoples mistakes before I put a 3-4" blade up to my face. But I'm hoping to purchase something in the next week or two, and begin shaving like a man a few days after.

Welcome aboard!

Always good to do some research beforehand.... save yourself some money up front... it'll leave you in a bit anyway

Sounds like a good plan
Welcome to this place, we are happy to help you out any way we can!

Originally Posted by TinWhistler

So far I'm doing a bunch of research, I'd prefer to learn by other peoples mistakes before I put a 3-4" blade up to my face. But I'm hoping to purchase something in the next week or two, and begin shaving like a man a few days after.

Welcome to SRP.

If you want to learn from the mistakes of others scan through several pages of the Beginner's Section, that should give you a good indication of common problems. (Please don't take offense to that fellow members ).

Just remember, if you're going to shave like a man be prepared to bleed like a man too
(I'm joking of course, but do expect at least a little blood while learning)

Thanks guys.

And I’m fully prepared and ready to bleed, I’ve got a pretty steady hand, but I’m still expecting a learning curve. I even picked up a styptic pencil today when I went to Walmart to get a VDH shave set.

I know the brush, and soap won’t be top of the line, but from what I’ve read they should be decent, and will eventually make a good, and inexpensive travel set.

Now I just need to hunt down the strop and Razor.

I really like the look of older razors, and have seen some fairly good deals online via ebay. However the recommendations I’ve seen of starting with something professionally honed first seems to make sense. I’m thinking of going with one of the Dovo razors from SRD, however I’m going to do some more searching before I fully commit to going that route.

In the future I do plan on picking up some older antique razors, and seeing what I can do with them. I took art metals for 4 years in HS, and have been sharpening knives since I was 14. While I’m sure the exact practice is a bit different, I’m sure it’ll at least give me a decent starting point. But that’s something to worry about a few months down the line.

You know, technically, "shaving like a man", unless you are a bearded lady, has a working definition in my book of shaving your face, and maybe your chest on rare occasions, since pretty much women cannot and do not shave those areas. I suppose you could extend it to other places too, but those are hardly everyday manly shaving areas and besides, women can shave those areas too and in fact probably do so more often than men, so by definition they would constitute criteria upon which you could base a working definition of "shaving like a woman" I suppose. But I digress...

I'd suggest, on top of the excellent advice already given, that you check out the "How to not cut yourself" sticky somewhere around here - there's some good advice in that thread. The best advice I can give you is to not rush, and to think about what you are doing before you actually do it. Then, like a good man always does, go ahead and do it how your were going to anyway! Now *that* is shaving like a man!

James.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Welcome to SRP.

If you want to learn from the mistakes of others scan through several pages of the Beginner's Section, that should give you a good indication of common problems. (Please don't take offense to that fellow members ).

Just remember, if you're going to shave like a man be prepared to bleed like a man too
(I'm joking of course, but do expect at least a little blood while learning)

well a little bit!
As with my snowboarding and mountain biking, if you're not bleeding, you're not riding hard enough.

Originally Posted by TinWhistler

Thanks guys.

And I’m fully prepared and ready to bleed, I’ve got a pretty steady hand, but I’m still expecting a learning curve. I even picked up a styptic pencil today when I went to Walmart to get a VDH shave set.

I know the brush, and soap won’t be top of the line, but from what I’ve read they should be decent, and will eventually make a good, and inexpensive travel set.

Now I just need to hunt down the strop and Razor.

I really like the look of older razors, and have seen some fairly good deals online via ebay. However the recommendations I’ve seen of starting with something professionally honed first seems to make sense. I’m thinking of going with one of the Dovo razors from SRD, however I’m going to do some more searching before I fully commit to going that route.

In the future I do plan on picking up some older antique razors, and seeing what I can do with them. I took art metals for 4 years in HS, and have been sharpening knives since I was 14. While I’m sure the exact practice is a bit different, I’m sure it’ll at least give me a decent starting point. But that’s something to worry about a few months down the line.

Hello,
I am also new here. When I started out shaving with a straight razor, I bought a Parker straight edge barber razor. It's a razor that uses "half" of a DE blade. It's not exactly a straight razor but, it will give you a sense of how a straight razor shaves. I got mine from Amazon for around $26.00 and it included some blades with it. I know that you're doing research on straight razors but, before you spend around $100.00 or so for one, try using the Parker or Dovo shavette. That way if you don't like shaving with a straight razor you won't be out of a lot of money. Plus you don't have to get a strop or hones with these razors. You still need a good soap and brush though. I like to shave with a straight razor and ended finding one on Ebay. Good Luck!!!

Welcome to SRP. Be sure to read some of the helpful links for beginners on the home page, the benfits are twofold, they'll save you some frustration and save your face some razor burn, As you know there is a learning curve, so don't throw out your mach 3 just yet. You'll need to use it in the beginning as clean up until you become proficient to shave your entire face with just a straight. It took a few months for me, it may take you less or maybe longer. Don't get discouraged if you have a setback, we've all been in your shoes at the beginning. Whether or not you stick to shaving with a straight razor, you might want to invest in a SE or DE razor. They come in handy for traveling and those times when you need to shave in a hurry. Plus the blades are super cheap compared to cartridges and you'll get a better shave for less money. Good luck and keep us posted.

Already read them, a few of them twice. And I'm guessing I'll read them again before I get started

I do plan on getting a DE, and I know I'll have to shave with the mach 3 again... I have a full beard now, and won't try the straight razor on that much beard. Plus, if I read correctly, I need to practice with the easy parts first before going all in.

I've seen the replaceable blade straight razors, and while I can see why some folks like them, or want to start with them, the money isn't a huge issue for me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm inherently cheap, but I'm ok with spending a bit to get a quality product.