Thread: First time using a straight razor

The average is 100 shaves, till you really get the hang of it.

I hate to say that as I'm afraid it could scare folks away but...

Outback is right.

I've always thought that at 100 shaves with a straight you "start" to understand what your doing. Then at 200 shaves, you realize that at 100 you really didn't know much.

That (100 shaves) sounds like a lot but at a shave every third day that is still Less than a year.

I have to shave every day before work (company policy). Once I get my razor Honed professionally I can try to shave every day before work and give myself extra time. I just dont know if that would be bad for my skin or not

Originally Posted by Adamstahly1986

I have to shave every day before work (company policy). Once I get my razor Honed professionally I can try to shave every day before work and give myself extra time. I just dont know if that would be bad for my skin or not

You just got to know your face. It will tell you!

Originally Posted by Adamstahly1986

I have to shave every day before work (company policy). Once I get my razor Honed professionally I can try to shave every day before work and give myself extra time. I just dont know if that would be bad for my skin or not

When I first started to feel confident with a straight I really enjoyed shaving with one, so much so that I would look for excuses to shave, twice in a day sometimes.

My face was never hurt or sore from daily shaves, your only supposed to use the weight of the razor and just shave the lather. Practice on a lathered balloon - if it pops you're pressing to hard.

I shave every other day now.

Originally Posted by Adamstahly1986

I have to shave every day before work (company policy). Once I get my razor Honed professionally I can try to shave every day before work and give myself extra time. I just dont know if that would be bad for my skin or not

I started shaving with a straight razor late in life and found that once, I got everything down pat, shaving with a straight razor daily was no worse on my skin than using a safety razor. Yes, be sure and give yourself extra time because you never want to rush a straight razor shave for obvious reasons. You will, as you improve your technique, require less time and still not be rushed.

Bob

I have never had as close a shave with a DE razor as I have with a straight. On the other hand, I have some crazy grain patterns on my neck hairs and often have to resort to a DE to cut them as close as possible. I straight shave with my dominant hand only. If I were ambidextrous, I think I could avoid using the DE to get at those stubborn beard hairs on my neck.

As everyone has said, take it slow. Shaving with a straight razor should be a welcome break from the day or a pleasing start to the day, rather than a rush job to get ready for work. If it isn’t enjoyable, you’re doing it wrong. As you get better at it and learn your face more completely, the time required to actually shave will reduce. Be patient.

Side note - I have never cut myself with a straight razor as badly as I have with a DE. Knowing you have a very sharp naked piece of metal next to your skin automatically makes you more cautious and deliberate. It’s only when you lose focus or don’t pay attention that the pink lather emerges.

Originally Posted by DZEC

I have never had as close a shave with a DE razor as I have with a straight. On the other hand, I have some crazy grain patterns on my neck hairs and often have to resort to a DE to cut them as close as possible. I straight shave with my dominant hand only. If I were ambidextrous, I think I could avoid using the DE to get at those stubborn beard hairs on my neck.

Off topic but I do shave with both hands, it's how i learned so i don't even think about it.
I only use one hand with a de for some reason.

I discovered that the best way i can get a really bbs neck, or close to it with a de is to hold it so the handle is horizontal across my throat and shave across.

I decided to try the same technique with a straight fully expecting pink trouble.

I was very cautious but it worked, I do it much quicker although not with wild abandon exactly.

I never thought i would turn the straight blade vertical and shave across my neck but thats how my hairs grow and it works well for me. I do find it less scary with a round point and wouldn't think of it with a spanish.

I wouldn't recommend those sort of gymnastics to a new shaver, it took me till recently to figure it out.

I used to shave my neck diagonally but this works much better for me and I figured it out with a de.

I will just add that to use a straight vertically on my neck I have to tillt my head back till it almost comes off and i do it by feel because I can't see the mirror.

It didn't take me more than 100 shaves to feel really comfortable with a straight but i had a lot of advice from a lot from the guys here and made a couple of movies so i could be critiqued and that was so helpful.

I'll go way out on a limb here and say I can get comparable shaves with either a DE or straight razor. It's just a matter of having the right technique for either. I do prefer the experience of using a straight razor more though.

Bob