Thread: Can I get a razor with training wheels?

A lot of good advice here, enough options to choose from. If you decide to mute the point on glass, I suggest you do so after stropping. Stropping can get a lot of the sharpness back that is lost on glass, probably because not metal is removed, the edge is basically folded away.

Good luck!

I can't ad much here. I bounced all over in blade choice when I began using a straight. New round point try it , new square use it, blunted square, sharp square, my choices went every where. I stopped cutting myself when I slowed down and started paying attention to things like pressure, angle and motion. After a few weeks in I would still cut myself from time to time but it was because I was in a hurry or thinking about something other than the task at hand. What ever you decide slowing down and paying attention will help all that much more.

Chant ...Light, slow and easy as you prep. :<0)

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I have no hesitation at all slightly rounding off spike points. My face is way more important to me than any sense of the razor's historical purity! That point might need a little more rounding. Do it. Or buy a razor with a rounded point. Life is to short, and straight-shaving is too much fun, to go around with scars and blood all over you.

No matter how good your technique, one day you'll slip and that sharp square point will get you, and get you good. I round 'em off a bit. Not worth the grief and extra anxiety. Plus, it's really, really hard to make people think straight shaving is so great when you constantly look like a reject from a European University dueling fraternity.

I do think a beginner should start with a rounded point razor. I see no real value of retaining the near-lethal spike point or sharp square point on a razor. I suspect I'm in the minority here, but that's my view. It's shaving. It's not a religion. It's your face, the razor is carbon steel.

Absolutely sound advice.

Sure -- you can keep shaving with square points -- gouge up your face, make sheepish explanations to your friends, learn to hate straight razors, give up the practice, go back to modern shaving tools, all the more straights for us....

or --you can try something you're very likely to feel more confident with, your strokes will improve and you'll be a better shaver for it. I've been using straights for 14 years and I still prefer round points, I don't have to fear that moment's loss of concentration and have that point swing around and gouge the crap out of me.

Maybe I missed it -- what are you using and who honed it?

The razor in question is a Wadsworth XLNT 5/8 that I got from Whippeddog. It was the blemished sight unseen deal for $28. I have recently picked up a Tennis 11/16 roundpoint. I have shaved with it twice so far. I'll keep using it and keep the whippeddog razor in reserve. Slowing down and concentrating have also cut down the bleeding a bit. Thanks to all that have responded!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I have no hesitation at all slightly rounding off spike points.

Lawsonstone - Dang, its good to see you here. You're missed. 'Will never forget your line about lousy technique ensures your razor will cut anything but beard. 'Hope all is very well w/ you & yours.

Update- I dulled the point of my razor, as most of you had posted- BIG difference!

I did 3 full passes with it and I didnt gouge myself this time! I did cut myself once (too much pressure) but at least now I know why I'm doing it. My face and chin (yes chin!) are very smooth, my neck still has some work. One thing I did notice is when I was doing the atg pass on my upper lip area, the razor started grabbing a bit. I'm not sure if it was due to angle, too light a touch, or the hairs there being a little tougher than the rest of my face. If anyone would want to chime in, that would be great!

When I do a second pass e-w on my upper lip it is a bit grabbby too, if I use a low angle, relather and do short strokes it works best. It is an area with a high chance of collateral damage, so that may be playing a part too, the "if I slip its gonna be really bad" factor.
Oh and stretch well too, though I am really stretching the skin in the wrong direction, but it can't be helped.

One other thing worth noting....with a cartridge or other "modern" shaving implement, if you pay attention, you'll find that the ONLY way to get a close shave is to apply pressure, AND it is almost impossible to cut yourself unless you have a mole/zit/other bump or are drunk. On the other hand, with a shave ready straight, once you get your technique down, almost NO pressure is required....the blade takes the beard off IF you prepare correctly and shave "following your face", meaning not fighting changes in direction, and avoiding such minor impediments like noses, ears, chins and fingers used for stretching your beard out.

Good razor and good prep greatly adds to technique!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

One other thing worth noting....with a cartridge or other "modern" shaving implement, if you pay attention, you'll find that the ONLY way to get a close shave is to apply pressure, AND it is almost impossible to cut yourself unless you have a mole/zit/other bump or are drunk. On the other hand, with a shave ready straight, once you get your technique down, almost NO pressure is required....the blade takes the beard off IF you prepare correctly and shave "following your face", meaning not fighting changes in direction, and avoiding such minor impediments like noses, ears, chins and fingers used for stretching your beard out.

Good razor and good prep greatly adds to technique!

Great points! "Following my face" is how I'm starting to get my chin a lot smoother! I only put part of the razor on that area and followed the contours. I still dont always stretch my skin and like you pointed out pressure is the only way "modern" implements seem to understand. I'm mostly cutting myself on my non dominant side.

So... five or six cut plus one reopened - that would be six or seven, then. Your intro post said you had an impatient nature. Might maybe oughta slow down and think out the strokes a little bit besides working on technique. Impatient and razors go together like me and the first ex-Mrs. Moo. Relax, gwasshopper. (I didn't but that doesn't mean you can't.)