Thread: My first straight razor shave

Hey everyone. I've been toying with the idea and researching off and on about getting a straight razor for the better part of 4 years now. Well, I finally took the plunge and got me a basic setup of a razor, strop, cream, mug, and badger brush. I ordered from Straight Razor Designs on a Thursday and got it today, Monday, which really surprised me with the speed of delivery.

So I watch all of the DVD that I ordered and practiced the motions with Lynn with the blade closed, using the scale as a pretend blade. I thought I was really getting the hang of it and ready to try out the real thing. The shaving cream smelled so good and as I applied it, I could already imagine myself doing this every morning for the rest of my life.

Then came the razor. I was very very careful with it at first, obsessed at trying to hold it at the right angle and go very slow. It didn't seem excessively sharp to me, in fact, it felt really dull. I had just shaved 2 days prior so the hairs weren't particularly long. I went back and stropped the blade again (I had done it before very carefully) And when I returned I was able to finish the job, but it wasn't nearly as clean or even close as the 5 blade cartridge I was so ready to forsake forever. I shave my head, so I didn't have any to donate for the hair to test the sharpness, so I borrowed one from my dog. The blade would only cut if I held both ends. I tried with a piece of floss as well, and it required a bit of pressure and sawing motion to cut though as well.

I'm starting to wonder if the blade was sharpened before shipment, or perhaps I over stropped it? Maybe I am just unpracticed. Towards the end of the shave (I relathered and reshaved about 4 times) I was really getting the hand motions down. I decided to try a bit of the side of my head just to test my more confident grip, and thats when I really felt like the blade was not as sharp as my 5 blade.

Does this experience sound normal for a newbie? Maybe I am just so inexperienced I'm completely missing the mark. Or does it sound like my blade wasn't pre sharpened? I finished the job but the experience was just not as smooth as I was imagining. Also, I didn't know about oiling the strop until I received my shipment and watched the DVD. Could that have played a factor?

First of all - welcome and congrats on starting out using a straight!

Having been bought from SRD, the blade will have been honed and shave-ready prior to shipping. There are a whole host of reasons why at first it didn't work as you may have expected.

Yes, you may have rolled the edge while stropping. It is not advised to strop a shave-ready razor before use for just that reason. But it is just as likely to have been the simple fact that it was your first time trying it out. As you will see there are many variables that go into getting a great shave: shave-ready razor, proper beard prep, pressure, angle of the blade, stretching of the skin... these all contribute to the elusive perfect shave.

So be patient with yourself, and keep at it. It will get better!

Whereabouts are you located? There may be someone local who can give you some help getting going.

Welcome to SRP.
Good advice there, Cangooner.

Thanks for the quick reply and the warm welcome.

I'm located in Southeastern New Mexico, little town called Artesia next to the infamous Roswell. Yeah, I'm still very happy and excited with the shave. Even as I type this I can still smell that awesome cream and can't wait to lose myself in the world of aftershaves. But I'll keep at it for sure. I'm almost certain it's due to inexperience but I wanted to ask advice here before I bugged Lynn at his business.

Edit: On a Side note, Like I said, I shaved 2 days prior and it was my last cartridge so I was trying to make it stretch in the hopes of not having to buy them again. So that last one was really dull and this morning really started to irritate me as the hairs grew back. So I had a bit of razor burn going into it. The straight razor shave seemed to help that a lot, as the redness has visibly reduced and the irritation I feel is significantly reduced. I can't wait until the morning to try again

I'd guess that if you're new to SR shaving that by stropping the razor prior to shaving the first time you may have damaged/rolled the edge. It takes a while to get to grips with stropping in the right way. Also don't use floss tape to check this will also damage the edge.
It's also not likely that you'll achieve a smooth shave from the start, it takes some practice to get proficient but eventually you'll be getting far better and closer shaves than with a multi blade with little or no discomfort or razor burn.
The only way to solve your problem is to send the razor back to SRD for the free hone. Once you get it back DON'T strop before the first shave, this will give you the benchmark. If you find that it's still not leaving you with a satisfactory shave after WTG, XTG, and possibly ATG, although I'd leave the ATG for a while, then the problem is your technique. This will improve with time and patience so don't give up you'll find it's worth persevering.

Ahh yes, I just came back to ask what I should do about a rolled blade. I think I'm going to order another one while I send the first one back. I tend to overdo things when I first get into something >.>

Also needed to pick up some aftershave so it gives me an excuse to get free shipping! Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll try to be more careful.

So in the past few weeks, I've still been giving the straight blade it's chance.

I got a new razor from Lynn and was able to use it as a benchmark for finding out if my first blade was sharp enough. It turns out I didn't roll the edge. I properly stropped both blades and alternate their use every other day.

My technique is getting better. I think as I get more comfortable with the idea that I'm not going to fillet myself, I am getting that 30 degree angle more often. Also, I just found out this morning how important stretching the skin is. Even for us young guys with smooth skin.

I still haven't achieved that baby butt smooth shave, but I'm getting closer every morning. So some advice for any other newbies out there, it you aren't getting the shave you were expecting, especially with a blade from Lynn, its probably your technique. So keep at it!

Also, not one case of that severe razor burn I used to get from the 5-blades. My neck used to be so beat up after a shave, I had to wait until I was all bushy again before the swelling went down and I could shave again. I would have never imagined I could shave every morning.

I hesitated buying a straight razor for years, and now I wish I hadn't. I can't wait until I develop the skills to start tackling my head, as I still need to buy the 5 blades for that. An interesting note though, simply using proper shaving cream with the badger brush has made my 5-blade head shaves closer than they've ever been, and I also do the job much faster than before.

Good on ya' Mortikar! Thanks for hanging in there, your progress is great to hear. Many others
who come after you will be encouraged!