Thread: First complete shave with a straight!

So I have been phasing in some passes with a Wester Brothers "Anchor Brand" over the last week or so. Yesterday I picked up a Friedmann & Lauterjung "Electric Cutlery Co." 6/8 full hollow at a local flea market. One of three razors that I got, and by far the catch of the day. Disinfected it, looked at it under the loupe, and put it on the strop. Just finished doing some work on an old Illinois Strop that I picked up at an antique store, and have been working on my technique with a no name razor in the evenings. After 75 canvas and 100 leather the blade looked great under the loupe, and popped hairs 1/2" off the arm. VDH soap, nothing spectacular, old Austrian "Barbershop" brand badger/boar brush, a little olive oil on the face before the lather while stropping. A quick re-lather and then I started contorting my face like I have seen on the tutorials here. Two passes WTG, one pass XTG. I am holding off on the ATG for a bit, as I think that I need to get some more time under my belt before trying that. No razor burn, one small nick (or slice) on my right earlobe while going XTG on my cheek. You guys are right about watching where the tip is at all times! Switched hands, and my left actually felt more comfortable than I thought it would. I have a few spots that have a slight bit of scruff, but I did all areas, including chin and lip (and swapped hands!) with no nicks, no burn, and for the most part my face is super smooth. And my neck is so friggin' soft I am afraid that someone will come running up to me and tie a Cub Scout kerchief around it. Finished up with some Witch Hazel, a bit of Corn Huskers, and some Nivea PSB. Smooth, tight and refreshed.

Thanks for the inspiration, gang. I am afraid that I would have made a few misguided attempts, had less than desirable results, and given up had I not found this forum. I hope I can absorb some of the knowledge that you long time straight shavers dispense on here- then maybe I can do the same for someone else that you all did for me.

Austin

Austin,

Congratulations...It appears that all is going well for you.

I think your "go slow" approach is excellent--perhaps because that's my same strategy when it comes to entering the world of str8 razor shaving.

Take care and happy shaving.

Oddly enough, shaving with a straight feels less foreign than when I swapped from cartridge to DE. Maybe it was the addition of the whole pre shave ritual, though. I am just jazzed that I have the dexterity to use my left hand with no problems! I think that mapping my face and understanding the movements will go pretty smoothly, now I just need to focus on keeping a sharp edge. Like I have posted, I have nine razors and no hone... Hopefully I will remedy that soon, though.

Congratz on your SR experience many more to come

When you mention trying a str8 razor with family and co-workers etc., you feel like you need to make a reservation at the local I.C.U. I find it amazing that all of us newbies can pick up a str8 for the first time and shave with it and the most that happens is perhaps a little irritation, maybe not BBS and perhaps a small nick or two that doesn't even hurt. Pure encouragement. Good job.

Originally Posted by Kempster

When you mention trying a str8 razor with family and co-workers etc., you feel like you need to make a reservation at the local I.C.U. I find it amazing that all of us newbies can pick up a str8 for the first time and shave with it and the most that happens is perhaps a little irritation, maybe not BBS and perhaps a small nick or two that doesn't even hurt. Pure encouragement. Good job.

It seems as though it is such a foreign concept to most people: CHOOSING to use an outdated form of ANYTHING seems a bit backward to most people. Even older people don't get it at times, and I would assume that they would be the ones to have some appreciation for it, at least aesthetically. When I told people that I had gotten the '57 Ford F100 that my Uncle bought new and planned to restore it, they generally asked why I didn't just get a new truck. I feel the need to backpedal through most conversations day to day, as I do tend to favor yesterday's technology: Vinyl records, old vehicles, wet shaves, and hand tools.


How did people shave before we had the Mach 3 Super Turbo : Five blades, two strips, and the second one lathers?

How did people make left and right turns before we had power steering?


These are the same people who have asked me "Do they still make Jazz music?"