Thread: Just completed my first Shave with a Straight!

Originally Posted by jasalvas

Well, I just finished my first shave with a JA Henckles 118 I found on ebay that was... "shave ready". I felt like it could have had more of an edge on it but I completed my cheeks, neck and started on the chin when the edge felt too dull, so I finished with my safety razor.

I was pretty happy with the first shave! I am right handed but felt more comfortable with my left... which was a surprise to me. Anyway, I have been using pre-shave oil for the last month or two with my safety razor. Todays shave was without the oil. Face feels pretty good and I am excited for the next shave!

Oh, one more thing. Are there any members located in the Bay Area? I would like to have a better understanding of when my razor is really "shave ready". When I started my shave this evening I knew the blade could have been sharper. Having someone close by who could show me in person would be great.

Thanks everyone!

Be proud. You learned many things with this first shave it sounds like. You learned that shave ready means nothing. You learned that sometimes using your other hand works better. You learned when your razor needs some touch up work on the edge. Stay in the game and ask many questions. You will love it shortly. Congrats!!

Thanks for all of the replies Gents.

Its funny to think, this all started while I was surfing the web one day, researching Whites Boots on a forum. I came across this thread called, "What do you use to shave?". Intrigued, I took a look and found out about Safety and Straight Razors. I researched and picked up a DE within a week. About 4 or 5 weeks later I picked up my first straight.

You know, I am proud to be using/learning with a straight. Today, I had a nice, noticeable nick on my chin from shaving with my tired arms last night. An older man made a comment to me late this morning, something along the lines of, I should have learned how to shave by now (I'm 32). I mentioned it was from shaving with a Straight. His attitude changed after my response.

I have really been enjoying my recently learned methods of removing facial hair. I have a couple of different brushes, soaps, and after shaves. A small cabinet will even be purchased in the near future to house this new collection. I remember walking past a barber shop in the Mission District of San Francisco with a friend not long ago, he was telling me when he had received his first straight razor shave while in Vegas and how great it was. I remember thinking to myself... One day I'll have one done, maybe as a Christmas or birthday gift. I give myself a month or two, Ill have it down. Damn... Im really enjoying this new aspect of grooming.

I watched Lynn's video the other day before the second shave. He definitely had some good advise, I noticed stretching my skin in a much more productive way after watching. I even watched it again before I started writing this response.

I usually have to wait 3 days between shaves, in-grown hairs and shaving bumps prevent more frequent shaves. Although after my first shave with the straight I noticed the amount of in-grown hairs dropped. And they even feel non existent now.

Anyway, I do appreciate the comments, advise and encouragement with learning this art. I look forward to getting to the point where shaving with a straight razor becomes second nature, but at the same time, I am enjoying the research and extra thought to what use to be a mundane part of my day.

Now... only two more days.

+1 Shaving, while once just part of the daily grind, is now something that I take great pleasure in. Beyond being therapeutic and just all-around cool that we have a reason (kind of) to have multiple beautiful sharp objects, it links us to a long, beautiful history.

All I can say is wait 'til you start making stuff