IM NEW AND NEARVOUSE

So I am searching the web and come across this article by A
Christopher Moss
the title is
The Art of the Straight Razor Shave
read it if you can


Now to my delema
I am sick of spending 16 dollors on five cartridges every week to keep well shaven, I am currently in the military and have to be clean shaven every day. all through out this web site i hear every one talking about shaving there beards. my question is can i use this straight blade razor every day and get a better shave then with a cartridge. now i will tell you i was shaving with out knowledge of the proper technique this web site has taught me about skin prep and how much pressure. and stretching the skin. i recently shaved every day with a new cartridge for 5 days. i washed my face with soap and then soaked it in scalding water for 5 mins. then tried to get a good later with shaving cream . i could tell a difference after two days shaving with the grain. but then i started cleaning up the hard areas , neck , jaw bone and , GO-T area, against the grain and my god it tore me up i would like to know if any one else had these problems with mach 3 cartridges. i have heard that one blade is were you get the best shave. so i guess im asking can i get a better smoother cleaner shave every day with good technique from a straight blade or keep with the mach 3. if any one can help thankyou very much. stephen.:gwh:MACH 3

Long story short: It isn't as hard as it seems and the shave is absolutely unmatched in both comfort and closeness.

Have no fear, read the wiki.

Huge +1 to the Wiki

Seriously, don't rush it and good things will come. This community is very supportive, and will give you all the keys to successfully using a straight razor. Don't be afraid to ask questions, but also use the search feature because there are likely hundreds of threads (if not thousands) to your most likely noobish questions. You'll learn a lot if you want to.

Welcome to SRP and straight razor shaving :gl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chargernewshaver

So I am searching the web and come across this article by A
Christopher Moss
the title is
The Art of the Straight Razor Shave
read it if you can


Now to my delema
I am sick of spending 16 dollors on five cartridges every week to keep well shaven, I am currently in the military and have to be clean shaven every day. all through out this web site i hear every one talking about shaving there beards. my question is can i use this straight blade razor every day and get a better shave then with a cartridge. now i will tell you i was shaving with out knowledge of the proper technique this web site has taught me about skin prep and how much pressure. and stretching the skin. i recently shaved every day with a new cartridge for 5 days. i washed my face with soap and then soaked it in scalding water for 5 mins. then tried to get a good later with shaving cream . i could tell a difference after two days shaving with the grain. but then i started cleaning up the hard areas , neck , jaw bone and , GO-T area, against the grain and my god it tore me up i would like to know if any one else had these problems with mach 3 cartridges. i have heard that one blade is were you get the best shave. so i guess im asking can i get a better smoother cleaner shave every day with good technique from a straight blade or keep with the mach 3. if any one can help thankyou very much. stephen.:gwh:MACH 3

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IMHO, you should dump the plastic and pick up the steel. It seems to me that you are ready to take the next step. May I suggest reading Wiki specially the one for beginners. The shave you get from a SR is no match compared to a mach 3. The shave from a SR is both smoother, cleaner and closest. IMO.

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago. The initial investment seemed a bit daunting at the time, but now it's 5 years later, and I haven't spent much more than when I got into it.

What I found right away was that my shave lasted a lot longer than it did with my cartridge razor.

It was a little scary at first, but I will say that you will do well to get a razor that is shave ready. In my frugality I opted for antique razors from a flea market for $5/razor. They seemed sharp enough. When I finally got a sharp razor I immediately understood how much better it can be. You will learn faster, and be more confident with a good razor.

The shave is better, more enjoyable, and in the end more cost effective.

Your initial investment does not have to be astronomical. You can get a decent razor off the bay for less than twenty bucks. you may get a few weepers on your first shave, but that quickly goes away. I would also reccomend getting Lynn's shaving DVD, it really helped my confidence level. That video also has great honing techniques that I think all shavers should know. This was how I got started back in September and would not dream of shaving with anything other than a straight now. You can also search youtube for shaving videos. I think some of the best are by Jockeys who is a member here. This is my imput and hpe it helps you out.

Chris

I just started! I have only shaved 4 times so far and it is great. Not as hard as i thought it would be. I think the hardest part is to learn to stropp and to maintain a sharp edge. Try it you wont regret it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by knifenutnky

You can get a decent razor off the bay for less than twenty bucks.

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Friends don't let friends buy from online auction houses. It takes patience, practice, and a good deal of knowledge (and, of course, luck) to get decent razors from eBay, especially at the price you mentioned. Whereas your chances of getting a decent razor at a decent price from the classifieds here is a lot higher (there is still a risk, though).

Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki is still the best place to start in my opinion. There is a shopping list in there as well, and basically everything you need to get started. Read it.

You can also go the ruprazor route and get the stropp and razor for $60. Shave ready.

Man I tried it when I first started shaving with a straight razor. All I can say is "Put the Mach 3 down and Step away from the mostrosity!" I even tried the Fusion and thought that there was no way 1 blade could shave better than 5 blades. A straight razor gives you a better, more comfortable, longer lasting shave than any cartridge could ever attempt to. And it isn't as relaxing as a shave with a straight razor. I think maybe all of us went back once out of curiosity, and ONLY once! You are hooked and there is NO going back! Resistance is Futile!:borg::borg::borg:

My dear Chargernewshaver,

The one thing you will notice soon is that straight razor shaving becomes an obsession. A powerful but worthy obsession.

When you begin to feel that big emotional wave, you will find yourself at the starting line for one of life's greatest joys: a good shave with a dazzling blade.

Please forgive a simple advice from a straight razor pilgrim: Take your time. Go about learning the art and craft of straight razor shaving slowly, methodically and gracefully. The schooling is worth it.

And by the way, there are enough gracious and thoughtful straight razor experts on this forum to field a Roman legion. Ask and ye shall find the answer before the fifth breath.

Good luck and welcome to the world of gentlemen shavers.

Regards,
Obie

Welcome to a very close and comfortable shave. I remeber being in the service in order to get a shave that pleased my superiours I had to shave against the grain which with the mach3 which of course would cause ingrown hairs. Now I get a closer shave without the irritation and I nick myself less than I used to with the mach3, too bad I'm not in the service anymore. Just give yourself some time to get used to the new method of shaving.

If you decide to go with the classifieds option hi_bub_gi is a pleasure to deal with and if he says it's shave ready he means it.

Dear Obie,

Thank you for your wise words. i have been studying all the articles on shaving and how to hold the razor. I am planning on buying one by christmas so i can learn everything i need to know about the great art of shaving . If i ever need any help or guidence ill let you know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Friends don't let friends buy from online auction houses. It takes patience, practice, and a good deal of knowledge (and, of course, luck) to get decent razors from eBay, especially at the price you mentioned. Whereas your chances of getting a decent razor at a decent price from the classifieds here is a lot higher (there is still a risk, though).

Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki is still the best place to start in my opinion. There is a shopping list in there as well, and basically everything you need to get started. Read it.

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I will admit that I got bit on a couple razors off auction sites. One was a double duck with extreme hone wear on one side, so bad the included angle was down around 11 degrees. I was still able to hone and shave with it. That DD is now the one I use to shave my wife's legs. Of the twelve razors I bought to use as shavers, all were solingen or sheffield made, and only three were not in good shape. All the razors have been sharpened and shaved with. It is information I gathered from SRP Forums that made me a more concious and informed buyer, as I now know what characteristics to look for when looking at vintage razors. I am not saying not to buy from the classifieds but that online auctions worked well for me, that is how I started.

What I would like to say is that the moderators, mentors, and other guys that have been doing thus for years should pride yourselves on passing along hoardes of info to us newbs who just want to try a new way of shaving. If it wasn't for the bay I would not be straight shaving now. I would like to say again thanks for a great and informative forum.

well thats what i was waiting for some one that knows the pain and irritation of shaving your face down to the blood vessels just to get a prik-7 off your back. do you still shave every day or is it every couple days. cause when i start straight razor shaving i will have to do it every day. i am still confused on how advanced we are as a nation and all these new razors and creams and people are going back to 1900 methods i am very excited to try it and sucseed at it. i really hope one blade will please me cause 3 or 4 is just rediculous all those ass wholes making a monopolly well thank you all for your input.

My dear Chargernewshaver,

Thanks for acknowledging the humble advice of a pilgrim straight razor shaver. My level of expertise, however, is zero compared to that of the experts on this forum. I am astonished at how much these gentlemen know about the straight razor word. Just pose the question and you'll have your answer almost instantly. I continue to learn from them daily. You will, too. Again, I wish you the best.

Regards,
Obie

use scything motion every shave only with WTG AND XTG you will be fine. gl

hey i got a fusion :p i only cheated at my first straight try tho as it made the burn much much worse now that i can get a decent "sharkskin"im not even considering it anymore
the reason i didnt go full atg last time was that i was a bit sloppy and i didnt want too shave the cuts

i just live with them as i newer got annyone scarring yet and when the blade is sharp it dont really hurt either

Being in the military, I would go about it this way. BTW, I'm a newbie, and I've only been at this two weeks.

Stop throwing your money away on Machs and get your hands on a DE razor. It's way cheaper, and since you are already wet shaving there isn't much of a learning curve. If you don't already have one, get a nice badger brush and some shaving soap.

Now, get yourself a decent razor and strop, it doesn't have to be expensive. A lot of people like the kit from RupRazor, or an inexpensive, shave ready Dovo or something from the classifieds here.

When you get a long weekend dive in and follow the advise in the wiki, go slow and do a section at a time. You can finish off with the DE so you look presentable. Over time you should find yourself using the DE less and less.

I've seen people shave pretty fast with a SR, but in the beginning make sure to give yourself plenty of time to learn.

BTW, thanks for your service.

HEY ZIGGY thanks for that info im new to this too what is a DE. I think your talking about a safety razor with one blade but just to make sure im asking you. . i am also wondering since there is a lot of debate about shave ready razors and i do not know how to strop or hone. could i buy a razor and have it shipped to one of the more experienced shavers and have him gaurantee of sharpness. ive read two stories of people buying shave ready SR. and choping there face up and quiting. i dont want that to be me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chargernewshaver

HEY ZIGGY thanks for that info im new to this too what is a DE. I think your talking about a safety razor with one blade but just to make sure im asking you. . You got it! A DE or "Double Edge" takes the old school two sided razor blade.i am also wondering since there is a lot of debate about shave ready razors and i do not know how to strop or hone. could i buy a razor and have it shipped to one of the more experienced shavers and have him gaurantee of sharpness. ive read two stories of people buying shave ready SR. and choping there face up and quiting. i dont want that to be me.

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There are a bunch of things that can go wrong to end up in a "chopped up face."

The best thing you can do right now is develop a strong routine of pre-shave prep. Practice making lather until you get the whipped cream look that you see in the videos, make sure you get your beard soft (hot towels, set up your shave so you can go to it RIGHT out of the shower etc...)

Having a shave ready blade takes the honing question off of the table, but you can still give yourself razor burn and cuts and nicks.

Take everything in stages and you will be better off. I practiced stropping (slowly and deliberately) with a butter knife to get the feel for flipping the blade and moving across the strop correctly. I also made a ton of lather until I got it right. If you treat every step as critical, stropping, beard-prep, skin stretching, lathering, not using any pressure, etc...It will take longer at first, but you will learn that it is more forgiving and get better results in the long run.

Good Luck!

-Rob

I haven't read all the posts. Since your in the Military, (I was for 8 years) I'll ask you this, Are you in the barracks, off base, or in base housing. Since your active duty, lugging around soaps, brushes, straight razor, strops, and hones could be a drag.(are straight razors allowed on base) check first. You could get by with just a razor and a strop and possibly a barber hone. but, It could be considered a weapon. We had a guy taken out for having multiple knives in his locker. If you have to fit everything in a seabag, it could be a problem and shipping razors around the world to be sharpened could have you waiting and waiting. If you live off base, no problem.....What's your situation?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chargernewshaver

HEY ZIGGY thanks for that info im new to this too what is a DE. I think your talking about a safety razor with one blade but just to make sure im asking you. . i am also wondering since there is a lot of debate about shave ready razors and i do not know how to strop or hone. could i buy a razor and have it shipped to one of the more experienced shavers and have him gaurantee of sharpness. ive read two stories of people buying shave ready SR. and choping there face up and quiting. i dont want that to be me.

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As has already been posted, a DE is a double edge razor. You would just replace the blades in the razor, but you would get most of the advantages of a straight razor shave and the pleasure of a wet shave, without the stropping and worrying about the fragile nature of the edge of a straight.

Getting back to straight razors: A shave ready razor has been honed and often test shaved. Razors that come from the factory are sharp, but not shave ready. Most of the people here would not sell you a razor and claim it was shave ready when it was not. If you want new, I can verify that places like StraightRazorDesigns will sell you a shave ready razor at a decent price, and even give you a certificate for a free honing.

The only reason I bring up the DE is because I've never been in the military, and wonder if a SR lends itself to military life. Based on what I see in the movies and TV, if you are late for roll call, or show up for duty with some cuts on your face, the entire unit would be doing pushups, and might come after you with your own straight razor. LOL

well I am off base and they probally would get on your case if you had a straight blade cause in basic they only allow you to have a safety razors.
but i am married and live off base. but lugging around all the strops and hones is no problem for me i do sharpen my own field knifes which i know is completely different than SR. more precision. and i have talked with my chain of command and they dont mind.

:gwh: MACH 3
:gwh:

You have to keep in mind that you are learning a completely new skill and the learning curve will vary. I started 2.5 yrs ago with just my cheeks and side burns for a couple of weeks before attempting the entire face and then waited a couple more weeks to try atg. Just give it time and you will be rewarded.

Rich

“Always do right. This will gratify some people & astonish the rest” – Mark Twain

Yes you can get a better, closer, smoother shave with a straight razor than a mach3 cartidge razor. It will take a little time, there is a learning curve. Read the wiki for beginers, and basic equipment, that you will need. Pre-shave prep. Making a good lather. Post shave, ect. Make sure you purchase a shave ready straight razor. The start up price might seem substantial at first but the cost will pay for itself over time. You are going to need a strop. Shave cream or soap. No canned goop either. Good luck and welcome to the brothhood.

When I served (2001 - 2005), I didn't have time in the morning before duty to do a proper straight shave. I would spend your weekends practicing and straight shaving, but you might have some issues with getting a close enough shave to pass inspection on workdays for at least your first few shaves.

Beyond that, I can only echo what others far wiser than myself have said previously in these posts.

Good luck and happy shaving.