Thread: Greetings from South Carolina

Hello all of my fellow straight razor users. My name is Mark, I am from the piedmont region of South Carolina, and I just recently got a straight razor off of amazon. I want to learn as much as I can about the art as I seem to have sensitive skin and thick facial hair. I switched to the straight razor for comfort-ability as well as frugality. I have a lot to learn. I have used my razor a few times now but it is not exactly "shave ready" and I want to know if there is anyone who can show me, teach me how to properly hone my razor. I am afraid of ruining it so soon.

Hello, from just down the road in Toccoa, Georgia. I just got my first straight razor myself, so I can't be of much help with honing yet.

Welcome to SRP! Lots of info. on here, and people here are more than willing to help. If you haven't all ready, check out the library, I think you will find the information you seek and you can always post question's. I would recommend having your razor sent out to be honed first by a honemeister, it's most likely not "shave ready" (check out the classifieds on here). The other option is, their maybe someone on SRP who is close to your area and can help with the honing part (ck. out the "community" at the top or someone just might post that their in your area and can help). It's usually not recommended to learn shaving with a straight and honing at the same time, take one step at a time. Not sure what razor you purchased but you will need a strop, shaving brush and a good shave soap or cream. Good Luck!

Thanks for the replies! Java, you wouldn't happen to be a Braves fan would you?

Thanks Trimmy for the info and advice. I have a strop and a badger brush as well as some shave soap. I can't remember what the soap is called, there is a dude with a handlebar mustache on it. Is cream better than soap or is it just preference? I also have some kinda lotion that you're supposed to put on the strop but I'm not sure when or how often to use it. I just checked out the classifieds and shot an email at someone on there. I did not know about the community thing so I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

Welcome in from North East TN.

Originally Posted by mrob987

Thanks for the replies! Java, you wouldn't happen to be a Braves fan would you?

Thanks Trimmy for the info and advice. I have a strop and a badger brush as well as some shave soap. I can't remember what the soap is called, there is a dude with a handlebar mustache on it. Is cream better than soap or is it just preference? I also have some kinda lotion that you're supposed to put on the strop but I'm not sure when or how often to use it. I just checked out the classifieds and shot an email at someone on there. I did not know about the community thing so I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

I use both soaps and creams. Soaps when I want to take my time and enjoy the shave, creams usually when I'm in a hurry (lathers easier). As far as the strop I've used neatsfoot oil, and OR lather and just rub it in to condition the strop. If you do use it I would use very little at first to see how far it goes, you can always add but you can't remove it easily. I think I've used neatsfoot oil and lather once in three years. You can also use the palm of your hand (oils) on your strop just rub it down.

Welcome to SRP.

Russell