New to straight razors, not sure yet.

Looking seriously into making the change. I am pretty picky on my shave, I go over it with disposables over and over, getting every single bit of hair I can till its smoothe. Tried electric, thats a bit of a joke, hate using disposables. I usually get one good shave from a disposable then next time its used for my first pass then chucked out and I use a new one for the final passes. I hope straight razors are the answer and am dedicated to learning. I am happy with what I end up with from disposables but I only get one shave per and it takes a lot of work. Would love to learn an art like this to see if it really is the closest shave. I have my doubts it can do what a twin blade disposable can do but I am gonna find out.
time will tell, take care all and thanks for allowing me to be part of this great forum.
Beet.

Welcome to SRP! You will find that a straight razor shave will outdo what
you've found with disposables, but it will take time, practice and commitment. It won't come easily, but it will come. Patience is a virtue, and it will serve you well in SR shaving.

Welcome to SRP Beetlejuice!

Yes, a straight razor can and will give you that baby butt smooth shave, but not from the first shave.

Shaving with a straight is a skill it takes time to master and you have to be prepared to not get the best shaves in the beginning, and if you try to push it and aim for that BBS, most likely, the only thing you will achieve is a sore face.
You need to be patient and take it slow, one step at the time, but you will get there.....I guess most of us had shaved for 2-3 months before we got the first BBS, and even a bit longer before constantly being able to achieve one.

Bottom line is: If you search for a fully BBS shave, you must prepare yourself for a steep and somewhat long learning curve, if you're not willing to do that a DE razor is probably a better choice.

I'm in no way trying to scare you off, just giving you the facts and a possible alternative.

Good luck and have fun!

Ace has stated all of these relevant things you need to be concerned with. For the heck of it See if you can find A barber who can shave you with a straight razor. That way you can discover If this journey is worth your effort. Good luck!!!

Thanks friends.
I am dedicated to this and will give it every chance. I will likely have to stick with my dominant arm for the entire shave though, my left is wonky from nerve damage. I hope that doesnt make it too much more difficult. Looking forward to it.

Using your dominant hand only is no problem, you just have to figure out what grips angles that work for you.

I'm in sort of the same boat, because of an accident some years back I have some trouble with the fine motoring skills with my non dominant arm. I have tried to use it occasionally, trying to slowly learn, and about a month ago I reached the point where I now can use my non dominant hand for parts of my shave without problem, it took me almost two years :)

First full two pass shave today. Still taking it slow and cleaned up with my soon to be forgotten disposable. Having trouble under the nose for sure as I am really picky on what I call a close shave and up or down the nose is tough, but this is working. Getting a de murker for the cleanup jobs from now on since it will be while before I dont have to do that and I never want to see another disposable as long as I live.
Really liking this, thanks for the help friends.

You sound like the "poster boy" for why you should use a straight but yeah - it takes some time. The Murker is a good way to touch up, but that too has a learning curve - though much less than a straight. Make sure to try different blades with your DE - some will like your face more than others.

I think it took me about 3 months to start getting great shaves with a straight - but I loved the process which helped me along as I have the same affliction you do with wanting the closest shave out there.

At about 7 or 8 months I was flustered one day and sought out my DE which I knew gave me great shaves - I was shocked to find that I couldn't get as close with it as my straight anymore. At about a year, I started getting everyday awesome shaves, and sometimes can even do it in two passes now - woot! But I still have days where I'll rub my hand over my face and wonder how I missed a spot or three. : )

But I enjoy the process of shaving now more than anything, and it seems as though I keep on learning more and more! Which I like very much.

The complimentry aspects will keep you busy as well and truly - they can become almost as much fun as shaving. All the soaps/creams/strops/hones... I think that's why so many of us call it a hobby now.

If you are as committed as you say - shaving with a straight will hopefully become a life long endeavor and passion. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you learn to enjoy it as much as I have learned to enjoy this hobby of mine : )

If you're that 'picky' with your shaves, I reckon start out with a straight AND a DE. Do a final pass to get each and every hair fully ATG with the DE. For me, this is the only way I can get fully, fully smooth. Otherwise there's almost always just some hairs left on my neck; where it grows W to E just under the jawline just on the corner bit. Then you could be happy you're getting a prefect shave, and gradually, as you get better at the straight, back off the DE...

Carl:
The only reason YOU'RE not getting perfect shaves EACH AND EVERY TIME is because YOU'RE whistling Waltzing Mathilda off-key whilst you shave. :boohoo: J/K buddy!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Carl:
The only reason YOU'RE not getting perfect shaves EACH AND EVERY TIME is because YOU'RE whistling Waltzing Mathilda off-key whilst you shave. :boohoo: J/K buddy!

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I KNEW something simple like that! Thanks!

Quote:

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Otherwise there's almost always just some hairs left on my neck; where it grows W to E just under the jawline just on the corner bit.

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exactly my worst spot and grows the exact same way. My biggest problem now is I cant keep from shaving every day when I really need to wait two or maybe three as my face adjusts. The best I did so far was yesterday and it was the first time I waited two days between shaves since going to a straight. I tried tonight after one day and shouldnt have due to irritation AND I really didnt need to shave a one day mild stubble. But any razor woulda hurt, I was a once a week or twice a week shaver(but it had to be perfect, one use and disposable was garbage) up until about ten days ago when I started with a straight so going at it every day isnt my best choice. But I cant wait!! I feel a disorder starting.
thanks everyone,
beet.

The razor takes some skin off; I remember you can feel it after that first shave and after a few more; but then you don't feel it anymore. I didn't do what may be recommended (shaving every few days with a straight at the start) and shaved every day and at times twice. I was like you possibly may be; obsessed. I didn't suffer from that at all. You do need to listen to your body though.
Ten days. You're still heavily under the influence. You haven't actually dried out yet. I bet you've been practising lathering. You have, haven't you?

Hey, Beet, saw your sig line and thought it was cool, thought it might be Ben Harper or someone similar so I Googled it, came up with Malvina Reynolds on YouTube. That's cool... :-)

Obsessed right now for sure. Havent really practiced lathering my face up too much, that I will admit to, haha. It seems theres a pattern to newbie behavior thats quite predictable.
Malvina Reynolds isnt so well known but wrote some terrific songs, all from the heart. It is a ben harper like line for sure. "somebody elses definition, isnt gonna measure my souls condition". God rest her soul.
Thanks,
beet.

HOT DAMN!! after only two weeks of full pass straight shaving and a week of practice on some beginner spots included in the guide on this site, I had my first touch up free shave yesterday. I had some rough spots but I wanted to leave it and try not to feel it and I never touched it so it didnt bother me. Just now I finished my very first no touch up and close to bbs shave. It was tough on my face especially around my chin and under my jawline towards the ear but this shave was as good or better than anything I have ever had. I cant really express how amazed I am at this. I still need to wait longer between shaves because I do have some irritation but this is really really one of the best shaves I have ever had.
Thanks so much, I am sold. I cant stress enough to any beginners to NOT try to shave everything the first few times. The guide is there and should be followed like I did even though I wanted to go faster and further I cut myself(not bad but blood) when I did. It really is not something that can be rushed and the week of practice and patience(what little I have) paid off for me.
Thanks so much to everyone who responded to me and of course the admins, mods and veterans of the site for the amazing information contained in these pages.
I could not have done it without you guys.
peace,
Beet.

Isn't it great? For me it was one of the most invigorating things I ever did, close to abseiling into caves at night in the army!
As much as patience concentration is also the key.

Be healthy, be good, be happy...

Carl