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07-28-2012, 08:51 PM #1Junior Member
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Hello everyone :)
Hi everyone, just joined up and wanted to introduce myself. I'm a young adult currently pursuing my masters degree in biomedical engineering. I recently got interested in straight razor shaving for the nostalgia and as a way to relax and enjoy myself on the mornings I shave. I bought a starter kit from straight razor designs with the dovo best quality razor and a badger brush. I've been watching some videos including Lynn Abrams DVD and others and gave my first shave a try today; only one cut! I had a lot of trouble getting a good lather going though, so I had to resort to a canned product. I didn't end up with a very close or good shave, but I managed to do the whole face, which I'm pretty happy about. It's certainly a lot more enjoyable than the little plastic disposable razors I'm used to.
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07-28-2012, 09:06 PM #2Jack of all, master of none
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Yes! Shaving yourself with a straight, even if it isn't the closest you ever had, gives a great feeling of satisfaction.i
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07-28-2012, 09:22 PM #3< Banned User >
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Hi, dj, and welcome to SRP! Don't worry, your shaves will get better with time and practice. What soap/creme are you using? Pics of your gear/cuts are always welcome!
See you in the trenches, buddy!
mapleleafalumnus
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07-28-2012, 09:39 PM #4Junior Member
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I'm using the unscented soap (creme? It's in a little tub, it's like a paste I guess.. not a brick or anything like that) that came with the kit I bought from SRD. I think it's from Imperial Shaving. My cut is all sealed up with the styptic pencil now but I'll be sure to get a nice bloody pic for next time I mess up! It was when I was trying to use my left hand, which I'm not used to using for anything..
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07-28-2012, 11:21 PM #5
Hi DJ, and warmest welcome.
The guys are telling you right about the shaves improving. I'm called pinklather in memory of my first shaves - much worse than you describe.
Getting lather right takes a bit of practice. Probably the more difficult part is learning to strop well.
On lather, Mantic is hard to beat. How To Build And Apply Traditional Shaving Lather - YouTube
On stropping, Glen's thread from 3/11 is hard to beat. Go through this one several times and be sure to catch Al's vids on the all important 'flip' at the end of the stroke. Thats where all the strop carnage happens. (I was exceptional in the carnage dept.).
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ch-2011-a.html
Keep posting your results, ask questions. The guys here are incredibly kind and helpful - or I'd have never survived. Enjoy. The best shaves of your life will be in your very near future.mapleleafalumnus and djlewis like this.
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djlewis (07-29-2012)
07-29-2012, 07:15 AM
#6
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Pinklather's critique is dead-on accurate! Stropping is probably the most difficult skill for rookies to master, but it requires the most investment of both time and effort.
That being said, there is no substitute for a good lather. Are you certain that you have sufficient skill to whip up a good lather? There are several vids here re: lather making. I strongly urge you to review them before your next shaving attempt!
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07-29-2012, 08:20 AM
#7
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Yeah, well, don't use the canned stuff, it really is no good for a straight razor shave. For a straight shave you need cushion, you don't need a lot of cushion for a plastic thingy shave. Get some cream in a tube that's 'idiot' proof; like O Melhor, or Truefitt and Hill, or C O Bigalow or Top Secret or Speick.
Maples is 100% right about stropping, at times I find stropping harder than honing...
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07-29-2012, 11:47 AM
#8
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A bad shave with a straight is better than a great shave with a disposable. Welcome and keep at it. You will not be disappointed.
07-29-2012, 01:28 PM
#9
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Welcome to the Forum, as everyone else has said... it may not the the closest right from the gates, but it will get better as you do it.
07-29-2012, 08:30 PM
#10
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Thanks for the replies, I'll be sure to check out the threads suggested in detail before the next shave. I watched the stropping videos, wow he goes fast. I was going through the motions (albeit much slower) but it was really hard to tell if I was doing it right and if I was really doing anything to the razor at all. I could hear the edge sliding along the leather but I really have no way to tell if it's going well regarding shaving quality since I haven't got any experience for comparison. I'm sure that will improve with time though.
