First shave with a straight

Hey guys,

Just wanted to say I finnaly got my first shave tonight. It went pretty well. I don't think my razor was quite sharp enough because it pulled a bit. Ill have to get me a pasted strop. Other than that it went well. My right side is a little closer than my left but I only used my right hand go figure. Thanks for all yalls help and support. I would have never gotten this far without all of yalls good information. I am going to hone a bit more on it later and maybe next shave will be closer. Thanks a bunch guys.

Keaton :D

Good to hear, man. I've used mine twice so far and now I'm eagerly awaiting my strope from Tony :D .

Keebs you wont be disapointed Tony's craftsmanship is A+ on everything he makes.

Keaton

Keebs,

Got a first name? You'll love your razor. I have a Timor Hamburg Ring about just like it. Welcome to ther forum!

RT

Other new guy, gegtik was over just yesterday to have his razor honed. Outside a few factory flaws which honed out quickly, the razor was in great shape. Turned out his stropping needed some direction. This was a problem for me when I started as well. Be sure to hold that strop TAUGHT! and keep the blade moving gently in a slight x pattern. You're trying for a slight drawing feel along the strop, but not too much.

X

To elaborate, I had been applying a fair amount of pressure when stropping, in addition to not holding the strop firmly enough. Ideally it seems you want that hanging strop to maintain a perfectly flat plane as you pass the blade over it. I had not been, and I was pressing hard enough when stropping that i would end up slightly bowing the stropat the point of contact.

The approach I've replaced it with is to contact the strop first with the spine, and then lower the edge down onto the strop with the merest feather touch. if you draw the blade along the strop while holding this, the feeling of contact with the strop should be be barely perceptible. Once you've got this point of reference in mind, start to apply more pressure (again do this VERY gingerly) until you feel and hear a slight increase in drag -- and this is the amount of pressure i have been trying to maintain when stropping

hopefully what I've understood is what you were trying to show me, X :P

- Craig

After my first shave I considered a little more honing. I am very proud to say I think I have found my curve. I got 2 out of 3 of my razors to pop hairs. I have not started on the 3rd so hopefully it will as well. So I really believe my next shave will be much better than the first. Thanks to all you guys help.

Keaton

Ok after honing a bit last night I woke up and decided to shave again. This morning I got a nice hot shower and tried geo trumpers shave cream. Not as good a lather as expected but was ok. This morning when I got all lathered up. Got my straight out. Went to work with it. No pulling this mourning and am happy to say no cuts. So as expected the second shave went better than the first. Little bit irritated from shaving but the geo trumpers skin food works wonders.


Keaton

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gegtik

hopefully what I've understood is what you were trying to show me, X :P

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Yup, that's about right. How's it going, BTW?

X

Keaton,

Congratulations, it will only get better.
Sure is a different feeling when you
shave with a straight.

Terry

my shave on sunday was unfortunately interrupted by my roommate so I didn't have a chance to try shaving against the grain.. I'll try next time though

I definitely felt a difference in the resultant shave even having only done a careful with-the-grain pass followed a rushed-by-roommate cross grain pass. I attribute my new shave to a sharper blade and a nicer cream ;)

When going agaisnt the grain is it just on the neck? One should first go with the grain on the face, chin and neck. Then go agaisnt the grain with the neck and only cross-grain with the face.

Or do you go against the grain on the face to?

I've stuck to cross on the face and against on the neck only.

thats about what I do too. Sometimes I skip the cross grain on the face. I also do an against the grain pass on the lower lip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by keebs23

When going agaisnt the grain is it just on the neck? One should first go with the grain on the face, chin and neck. Then go agaisnt the grain with the neck and only cross-grain with the face.

Or do you go against the grain on the face to?

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I've done all three passes over my whole face (eyebrows'n'lashes excepted;)) although, and I gave to say it, going against the grain on the upper lip cannot be recommended.

X

Against the grain on the upper lip? yeow! Just the thought of it makes me cringe.

The types of passes you use will depend on your particular growth pattern. Some need to do the cross grain and against the grain and some can get away without it. I usually do three passes on my face with, cross, and cross with water only and two passes on my neck with and against. On my chin I do with, across and against.

Some of my mustache hairs are almost black and there are a few of them that lye flat against my face pointing straight down under my nose so, fuzzy and funny-lookin'.

I also need the extra wet extra slick pre treatment to guarantee a silky finish every time. Beard prep., which for me is mostly skin prep, is my favorite thing.

X