Thread: Valuable lesson learned

I'm only a few weeks into shaving with a straight but have been getting consistently amazing shaves. Up to this point though I've always shaved after my evening shower so I'm not rushed in any way and usually spend a good half hour to 45 minutes doing so. Well today I decided what the hell it'd be nice to start the week off with a good shave however I didn't have the time to take it nice and easy like usual so this was going to have to be a quicky. Wow was this a mistake! I kinda skimped on the thorough pre shave as well as only making about half the passes I usually do on the strop and just lathered up after my shower and got to shaving. Boy was this a mistake! Though I ended up with a smooth shave boy did my face pay the price. This is the first time I've got any irritation after using a straight which was quite noticeable especially on my chin.
Never again will I make this mistake. I'm either going to stick with my nightly ritual or get up an hour earlier if I have to shave in the morning. That or possibly consider trying a DE just for kicks and those times I'm in a hurry. I refuse to ever return to the dark side (cartridge, disposable). I'm curious, how is the learning curve on the DE or do they require any special techniques as is with a straight?

Every face is different, i can skip the pre shave altogether and get the same results as when i do the pre shave. Its just a matter of toughing up the skin.
Maybe i should change my user name to LeatherFace.

Originally Posted by TrilliumLT

Every face is different, i can skip the pre shave altogether and get the same results as when i do the pre shave. Its just a matter of toughing up the skin.
Maybe i should change my user name to LeatherFace.

I'll be the first to admit I have extremely sensitive skin. Prior to making the switch to a straight razor, burn and irritation was an every shave thing, although I was able to reduce it with different balms and such I was never able to completely eliminate it. That's a big reason why I absolutely love using my straights and also curious if a DE is at all similar in that aspect. I'll never stop using a straight but there is always that rare occasion I may need to use a different razor.

Hello!
Like you, I am new to shaving with an SR. I've been doing it for about 3 months and am still very much a beginner. I did however start with a DE and have used the Feather brand blades which are excellent. Using the DE prepared me for SR shaving. I did nick myself when I began with the DE after using and paying for "dark side" cartridge razors. But I learned that a light touch is extremely important as well as preparation, skin stretching etc. With practice I got very smooth close shaves. Now I am going through the learning process with my recently honed 5/8" Dovo and getting good results with some problems with irritation at my throat area where the hairs grow perpendicular to my adams apple. Again, I go slow and keep a light touch and shallow angle in that area. Another problem area is my chin and beneath my lower lip (upper no problem as I have mustache).
Just another piece of information. My water heater is set at temp that does not deliver scalding water. I don't want to push the setting up either. That's good from a safety standpoint but I've had to boil water for my shave even after I take a hot shower. This is great when I lather up and it is still hot enough to heat a towel again when I finish. I haven't bought a fancy shaving scuttle that has a hot water compartment. I doubt that these keep the water hot for any length of time. I think that I really need a microwave for the towel.
Also, I want to eventually go with the felt sided strop used for a 0.5 micron diamond spray coating. I hear that this will help maintain sharpness along with regular stropping.
Congratulations on your progress with the straight. I need your input too.
Thanks,
Red throated Kentuckian

KYPHILIP : Modern scuttles do keep the water hot. A barbers Hone will work great for touching up your razors and you can find them cheap.

KYPHILIP I have a couple scuttles and they actually work great to keep the lather warm between passes but prior to that I just left my bowl in the sink full of hot water. Our heater is set pretty high though. I like to stick my towels in the microwave for a minute then unfold and re fold and give another 30 seconds, works great! My friend who's a barber has a towel warmer and sanitizer, that thing is awesome! I hope to purchase one in the future but for now I'm working on my razor collection and hopefully hones here in the coming week.