Thread: Hello from California

I wanted to get into straight razor shaving because it seems really enjoyable and great feeling having a full kit with the brush, soap, etc. Straight razor shaving has always interested me from watching mobster movies, youtube, and it's just one of those badass hobbies a man can do. There is one issue though that may not allow me to shave with a straight razor. I have Essential Tremor (ET), a neurological disorder, that makes my hands shake mildly. It's not to the degree that most people would think that it is though.

For small, steady tasks you would be able to notice my hand trembling unless I was calm and didn't have a lot of caffeine or sugar. I've watched and read enough information about straight razor shaving, but wanted to know if it's possible a straight razor could cut through a major artery in my neck. I'm not worried about cutting myself when I'm beginning to learn, but I don't want to risk my neck if it requires an extremely steady hand. Would the only way of seriously injuring myself is if I was being stupid and just moving horizontally along my neck back and forth resulting in the blade cutting into my skin?

Welcome to SRP, mmatlock.

I'm afraid I can't help with any info on your disorder with regard to shaving with a cut-throat, however, maybe a DE might be a better start until you get the idea of lathering etc.

Glad to have you on board and good luck.

Welcome to SRP.

Welcome here.
I think that YOU are in the best position to evaluate the risk, because you know your amount and speed of trembling.
From my point of view, but again I've not seen your movements, if you are very careful you should approach the blade to your skin with the classis angle of 30 and if your trembling is not changing the angle you should not have a big risk.
The most risky moment is probably the approach phase, when you touch the skin with your razor, before starting the sweep. Could it be more stable if you use both hands in the approach?
Again you and your doctor can better evaluate the risk than we all, unless you can find here somebody with your same trouble.
Wish you can and tell us of your first shaving adventure.

Hi mmatlock,

Thats a very good question! I just watched a couple of youtube videos of people with this condition, and some people look worse off than others.

Any movement not perpendicular to the blade will end up cutting you, you wouldnt have to move it back and forth. I guess the question you yourself will need to answer is whether or not they are powerful tremors, and would you slice yourself with any amount of force. If you can control it for short periods of time and keep a light touch you might be able to give it a go with short strokes?

I'd definitely recommend what Havachat said above and practice with a DE first though to get your lathering up to par before you start. Also, if you were likely to cut yourself much from tremoring, the DE will let you know without killing you

How badly you could injure yourself would depend on the severity of your tremors, and how far you involuntarily moved the razor! if you make cutting motions, it will cut.

How do you go shaving normally? do you use a cartridge or an electric thingy?

This is definitely a case where YMMV!!

I'd definitely recommend what Havachat said above and practice with a DE first though to get your lathering up to par before you start. Also, if you were likely to cut yourself much from tremoring, the DE will let you know without killing you

My thoughts, exactly. A straight-razor blade is the sharpest thing you will ever encounter. A "test" of hand-steadiness with a DE would be a really, really good idea.

If you have something called "purpose tremor" -- where you make larger motions as you try harder to be precise -- do not try to use a straight razor.

. Charles

Originally Posted by Havachat45

Welcome to SRP, mmatlock.

I'm afraid I can't help with any info on your disorder with regard to shaving with a cut-throat, however, maybe a DE might be a better start until you get the idea of lathering etc.

Glad to have you on board and good luck.

Are the DEs common for people to start with before a straight razor? I know I'm going to cut myself learning how to use a straight edge. What would be a couple of scenarios where someone could cut their neck real bad? Thanks for the welcome.

Originally Posted by Sterm

Welcome here.
I think that YOU are in the best position to evaluate the risk, because you know your amount and speed of trembling.
From my point of view, but again I've not seen your movements, if you are very careful you should approach the blade to your skin with the classis angle of 30 and if your trembling is not changing the angle you should not have a big risk.
The most risky moment is probably the approach phase, when you touch the skin with your razor, before starting the sweep. Could it be more stable if you use both hands in the approach?
Again you and your doctor can better evaluate the risk than we all, unless you can find here somebody with your same trouble.
Wish you can and tell us of your first shaving adventure.

My tremor in my hands is minor; it wouldn't affect the position of the angle, but I also wouldn't be able to keep the razor absolutely steady. For example, if i were about to make contact with my skin my fingers or hands will be slightly trembly, but can also be steady/normal half the time. I don't have seizures, large involuntary movements, twitching, or spasms, so there shouldn't be an issue of the blade slipping and potentially being dangerous.

I know just from mentioning it on here I would assume you might think my tremor would be like my hands being uncontrollable, involuntarily moving across anywhere I touch, or any other serious form of tremor. If I had it like that, I definitely would be sticking to disposables, haha. That's a good idea to consult my doctor before actually trying it. Thanks for the information; you're a helpful member.

Originally Posted by thabksarus78

Hi mmatlock,

Thats a very good question! I just watched a couple of youtube videos of people with this condition, and some people look worse off than others.

Any movement not perpendicular to the blade will end up cutting you, you wouldnt have to move it back and forth. I guess the question you yourself will need to answer is whether or not they are powerful tremors, and would you slice yourself with any amount of force. If you can control it for short periods of time and keep a light touch you might be able to give it a go with short strokes?

I'd definitely recommend what Havachat said above and practice with a DE first though to get your lathering up to par before you start. Also, if you were likely to cut yourself much from tremoring, the DE will let you know without killing you

How badly you could injure yourself would depend on the severity of your tremors, and how far you involuntarily moved the razor! if you make cutting motions, it will cut.

How do you go shaving normally? do you use a cartridge or an electric thingy?

This is definitely a case where YMMV!!

Hi, thanks for getting some background information on my condition. It's not a powerful tremor, but enough to make my fingers and hands tremble slightly if I'm trying to hold something very still. You wouldn't be able to see my tremor in real life unless I was doing a intricate, delicate, or any other task that took a steady hand. I would be able to do short strokes steady enough. I've used normal five blade disposable and gillete razors along with my hair buzzer from to the without ever cutting myself. Thanks for the reply!

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

My thoughts, exactly. A straight-razor blade is the sharpest thing you will ever encounter. A "test" of hand-steadiness with a DE would be a really, really good idea.

If you have something called "purpose tremor" -- where you make larger motions as you try harder to be precise -- do not try to use a straight razor.

. Charles

No, I don't make larger motions if I try harder. What about shaving a balloon or something else until I grasped the concept. I really don't want to start with entry level razors.