Thread: No training wheels- First Straight only shave

Did a straight razor only shave this morning, three passes plus touch up with my pre-1890 W&B. No nicks, cuts, or regrets. I watched a bunch of videos on here and realized that shorter strokes with the razor might help. Did a shave with half to three quarter of an inch shaving strokes, and I ended up with a DFS. Still have a couple trouble spots, but I will work on getting those sorted out in my next few shaves. I have a hunch I will not be reaching for my DE much anymore.

Nice! Since I transitioned from DE I haven't looked back either. I even got a stainless razor for travel!

Good looking soap, too!

Congrats on your first straight-only shave!

Originally Posted by Drygulch

Did a straight razor only shave this morning, three passes plus touch up with my pre-1890 W&B. No nicks, cuts, or regrets. I watched a bunch of videos on here and realized that shorter strokes with the razor might help. Did a shave with half to three quarter of an inch shaving strokes, and I ended up with a DFS. Still have a couple trouble spots, but I will work on getting those sorted out in my next few shaves. I have a hunch I will not be reaching for my DE much anymore.

Good for you! It will get better fast

Nice! Congrats. I'm still gearing up for my first straight shave. Bought a couple of shave ready razors, paddle strop, etc... I already had the rest of the stuff since I have been using a DE for a while. Watching a bunch of videos as well.
Keep working on it, wish you success in the journey.

Congrats on your first sr shave and great job. I did my first shave a couple weeks ago and had a few weepers, but a DFS. I also used an old W-B. I then found that it had a crack in the blade near the stabilizer so I won't be using it any more. Fortunately, I had received a back up straight, a AOS T-I carbon steel with SS scales. I did my second shave with it and it turned out better. Still not as close as DE or SE and takes me a bit longer. However, I am keeping at it and I am sure both speed and performance will improve. I have been wet shaving since January and my speed and performance with safety razors has improved dramatically. Again, great job.

Originally Posted by haleach

Congrats on your first sr shave and great job. I did my first shave a couple weeks ago and had a few weepers, but a DFS. I also used an old W-B. I then found that it had a crack in the blade near the stabilizer so I won't be using it any more. Fortunately, I had received a back up straight, a AOS T-I carbon steel with SS scales. I did my second shave with it and it turned out better. Still not as close as DE or SE and takes me a bit longer. However, I am keeping at it and I am sure both speed and performance will improve. I have been wet shaving since January and my speed and performance with safety razors has improved dramatically. Again, great job.

Thanks. I have been wet shaving about two years now, and using a Shavette or DE for for about a two and a half months. This is the first time I haven't used a DE for clean up at all, and still got a good shave. I hope the learning curve is along the same lines as DE was for me, so the speed picks up some, although I like the time spent doing this.

Awesome! And to think you just recently made the switch. I wish you the same success from here on out.

Drygulch. I have a little different learning curve. Back around Christmas I found an old Rolls Razor from 1951 that was my Dad's although I am not sure that he ever used it. So, I wanted to learn how to use it. I then dug up the old Gillette SA from 1970 that he gave me as my first razor. So from there it has been learning how to use the rolls razor and how to get it and keep it sharp, learning with the Gillette and the other DE razors that I have bought since (Merkur 34G, RazorRock Bamboozled Rake, Gillette New) and picking up some SE razors (Gem MM OC and Push button and a Schick G injector). And now starting with the Straights. So far I am enjoying all of it. It is funny, a lot of people talk about what a monster the Gem MM OC is in that you need to be very careful with it to keep from nicking yourself, but I think that it has been the razor that taught me not to use pressure when shaving. Without it, I think that I still might be struggling to keep from getting weepers. Anyway, I will be trying the straight razor again tonight and I hope you are right that things will progress quickly. Best of luck to you.

Originally Posted by Drygulch

Thanks. I have been wet shaving about two years now, and using a Shavette or DE for for about a two and a half months. This is the first time I haven't used a DE for clean up at all, and still got a good shave. I hope the learning curve is along the same lines as DE was for me, so the speed picks up some, although I like the time spent doing this.

Then you're already there. Shavette shaving is different, but no easoer than shaving with a straight.