MORTIFIED AT THE THOUGHT!! but hate shaving with disposables!!

Hi all you knife loving group,

I'm just using my husband's login to find out a bit more about this new passion for shaving of his!
I must say I HATE getting itchy legs from using dipsoables! It gets so bad I sometimes wake up at night furiously scratching my legs and wishing there was another option to the shaving I'm hating now.
But the very thought of putting a naked balde to my legs just mortifies me. I use disposables with guards on the blades to stop any skin being butchered. I have terrible memories of when I first started shaving- I used shavers without guards and cut my knees and ankles (the tricky areas) up really bad!
So what do you think,
do I have to be talented to be able to use a straight razor to shave?
is there a highly likely chance that I'll butcher myself?
I'm very scarred, that probably makes it more likely... hmm

Tell me
how to shave legs, and other regions,
tell me how likely I am to injure myslef and I 'll weigh up the odds and maybe give it a try.....
who knows
if you convince me I'll video record my first leg shave and post it here for you all to watch :)

So let me have it, gimme all the goss on lady straight razor shaving

excitedly scared

Buckler's Wife
Sarah

Firstly: straight razors aren't for everybody, obviously if you use one clumsily or carelessly you can nick yourself quite easily. Having said that; it's unusual to do yourself any serious injury unless you do something pretty silly. If I were you, I would give serious consideration to using a good quality safety razor (for example, one made by Merkur) rather than a straight, the learning curve is a lot gentler, you will get good results quicker, more easily and without all the added complications of honing and stropping which come with a straight razor. If you're scared of putting a naked blade to your skin, then that increases the likelihood of nicking yourself and that can lead to a cycle of negative reinforcement. When you're learning you will inevitably give yourself some minor nicks - it's just part of the learning process.

Having said that nothing will give you a closer more irritation free shave than a properly used straight and there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to get great results given time and practice. There are several ladies who frequent this forum and use straights to shave their legs with great success - or at least so I'm told (unfortunately I've not had the opportunity to test the results for myself as yet). I shouldn't worry to much about what you might call "awkward bits" like ankles and knees - a face with all the tricky corners and angles is a great deal more difficult to shave than a relatively straight and smooth leg.

In conclusion: think carefully whether you want to go the straight route or if other alternatives might suit you better, BUT if you do decide a straight is the right way there's no reason you can't make a success of it - other ladies have done it before.

I would suggest aPM to the following people mamabear, lilith parker or viola. Most of us guys dont shave our legs and I believe it would be better if you dealt with someone with experience in these areas. For the most part I whole heartedly agree with the previous poster with the exception that I dont see any reason why you shouldnt start shaving with a straight rather than a safety razor. JMHO. Girls with straight razors,cool!:cool:

Welcome to both you and your husband! I recently gave my wife a 50's style Gillette Double Edge to start out with. She's used it twice so far and has liked the results. I don't know if she'll go on to use a straight or not, but we'll see what happens.

The advice on contacting the other gals on the site is probably your best way to go for now - good luck!!!

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I would suggest aPM to the following people mamabear, lilith parker or viola. Most of us guys dont shave our legs and I believe it would be better if you dealt with someone with experience in these areas. For the most part I whole heartedly agree with the previous poster with the exception that I dont see any reason why you shouldnt start shaving with a straight rather than a safety razor. JMHO. Girls with straight razors,cool!:cool:

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+1 I think that the ladies in the group will be able to give you the best advise. If you are considering it, you may want to use the same approach that many guys use when starting out (including myself): start with the easy parts and save the tricky part until later. Guys typically start with the cheeks first to develop some technique in blade angle and pressure. You could do the long flat areas of your legs and wait to do the trickier parts until you developed more confidence and technique.

Welcome, Sarah!

Okay, let's see... you're nervous, yeah? That's okay. You are, after all, thinking about using what is likely the sharpest blade you'll ever encounter to remove hair from your body. I'm still nervous every time I pick up my razor (though, granted, I've only been doing this for a few weeks). It will be okay.

If it makes you feel safer, ignore the knees and ankles for your first shave. Do them with a disposable razor until you're comfortable with your blade.

You will cut yourself. It's okay, you'll survive. :) It takes a little while to figure out the right angle, but once you find it and get used to it, the chance of injury will go way down. I cut myself something like four times on my first shave, twice on my second, once on my third... practice makes perfect, and all that.

You can do it! And speaking of which, I'm off to do it. Wheee!

One thing that I think is good to keep in mind is that straight razor cuts are cleaner. They seem to heal quicker and not hurt as much. That's supposed to make you feel better by the way!

:bow Thanks all for your time, advice and encouragement :) much appreciated!!

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Originally Posted by netsurfr

+1you may want to use the same approach that many guys use when starting out (including myself): start with the easy parts and save the tricky part until later. Guys typically start with the cheeks first to develop some technique in blade angle and pressure. You could do the long flat areas of your legs and wait to do the trickier parts until you developed more confidence and technique.

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thanks for that advice, coz thats what I'm after, good practical advice to help me not make too many blunders. I am considering a DE shave practise before trying the straight.....
Is that what you other ladies have done?
Any other tips or any technique videos u've found helpful?

Sarah

All good advice, I don't shave my legs, but I have used a straight to shave the legs of others. It can be done, and in an experienced hand can easily provide a smoother longer lasting shave than a disposable.

The advice I'm going to reenforce here is the same I tell men who are starting out...
Start slow, take your time and do the easiest parts the first shave.
Don't try to shave your entire leg (or face for the guys) pick an easy spot. Sit where you are comfortable, and shave the top part of your thighs. finish with your disposable. next shave, expand that area by a few inches, and maybe try on the side, or on your lower leg somewhere. Build up your skill and confidence slowly, and ignore your knees and ankles until you feel ready. There is no shame in finishing up with a disposable. It took me 6 months before I was ready to put my Mach 3 away for good, and another 2 or 3 months before I decided to chuck it.

The other thing I will encourage is to buy a nice badger brush, and good quality soap, or shave cream. check out Mama Bear's and TGQ

As soon as I shaved my wifes legs with a straight razor once, she hass never stopped insisting that I repeat that favor. She says that it's a closer shave, without the usual post-shave discomfort and that it lasts longer. So what else can I do, but to obey her demands? :)
It takes about 30 minutes total, and I find it much easier than shaving my face. One pass is sufficient. I lather up only parts, so that the lather doesn't dry out too quickly. She just loves the brush-massage with nice hot lather. She's always lying down on a towel, while I shave her legs. The front and sides of the shanks I do first, in 3 different latherings per leg, and I shave them from foot to knee. Then I do the front and sides of her upper legs, again 3 latherings per leg, direction from groin to knee. Than I ask her to turn around and do the back of her legs, in the same fashion as I do the front.
Skin stretching is fairly important. Bended knees for doing the front side makes all the difference. So far, I never gave her a single nick. Her least favorite part is the cold water rinse, but I insist. :D We wouldn't like a razor rash, would we?
I think, the back side could be a bit tricky for doing yourself, because I guess it would be hard to see the razor at all times. Maybe best to use your disposable for those regions, till you gained some experience from doing the front.

Have fun,

Bart.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bart

As soon as I shaved my wifes legs with a straight razor once, she's never stopped insisting that I repeat that favor. She says that it's a closer shave, without the usual post-shave discomfort and that it lasts longer. So what else can I do, but to obey her demands? :)
It take about 30 minutes total, and I find it much easier than shaving my face. One pass is sufficient. I lather up only parts, so that the lather doesn't dry out to quickly. She just loves the brush-massage with nice hot lather. She's always lying down on a towel, while I shave her legs. The front and sides of the shanks I do first, in 3 different latherings per leg, and I shave them from foot to knee. Then I do the front and sides of her upper legs, again 3 latherings per leg, direction from groin to knee. Than I ask her to turn around and do the back of her legs, in the same fashion as I do the front.
Skin stretching is fairly important. Bended knees for doing the front side makes all the difference. So far, I never gave her a single nick. Her least favorite part is the cold water rinse, but I insist. :D We wouldn't like a razor rash, would we?
I think, the back side could be a bit tricky for doing yourself, because I guess it would be hard to see the razor at all times. Maybe best to use your disposable for those regions, till you gained some experience from doing the front.

Have fun,

Bart.

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THANKS BART THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL,
& THATS SO VERY SWEET OF YOU TO DO THAT FOR HER!!
i'M GLAD I'VE GOT SIMON COZ HE SAID HE'D STROP & ALL THAT FOR ME,
& YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO DO MY LEGS! MAYBE THAT WILL HELP ME GET OVER THE FEAR!
GREAT IDEA!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

All good advice, I don't shave my legs, but I have used a straight to shave the legs of others. It can be done, and in an experienced hand can easily provide a smoother longer lasting shave than a disposable.

The advice I'm going to reenforce here is the same I tell men who are starting out...
Start slow, take your time and do the easiest parts the first shave.
Don't try to shave your entire leg (or face for the guys) pick an easy spot. Sit where you are comfortable, and shave the top part of your thighs. finish with your disposable. next shave, expand that area by a few inches, and maybe try on the side, or on your lower leg somewhere. Build up your skill and confidence slowly, and ignore your knees and ankles until you feel ready. There is no shame in finishing up with a disposable. It took me 6 months before I was ready to put my Mach 3 away for good, and another 2 or 3 months before I decided to chuck it.

The other thing I will encourage is to buy a nice badger brush, and good quality soap, or shave cream. check out Mama Bear's and TGQ

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THANK YOU TOO MIKE! VERY HELPFUL INFO! :)