Had my first DECENT SR Shave today

So I've been shaving on and off with the SR for a few weeks now (use the DE most of the time) and I prob have about 15 - 20 shaves in the bag now,

To be honest, it was a frustrating experience, I know there is a learning curve and it will take time to become proficient, so I just keep plodding through but it was starting to get a bit demoralizing because I know that after the shave the alum block is gonna sting like mad, I will have a few nicks etc and my neck will feel like it's been peeled....and I still have a lot of stubble left. I've been experimenting with shallower angles, ZERO pressure but just cannot get it right. I usually wind up shaving AGAIN with the DE just to be clean enough for the day

Until this morning,

this morning I was running late to work, so I figured what's an extra 15 minutes late at this point, so I loaded my scuttle with hot hot water, stropped up my Whipped Dog 4/8, whipped up some MWF and hopped in the shower.

This was the first time I feel like I actually made progress, it's not a smooth shave, I still have stubble especially on my neck, but it was presentable to go to work with, and even better was only 1 small weeper that stopped on it's own. The Alum felt only a SLIGHT sting, Splashed some cold water, witch hazel and AOS Lavender ASB and I was good to go. For the first time I feel like a SR may actually be feasable in the long run and even enjoyable!

Looking forward to getting my TI 5/8 back from Lynn so I can shave with it :)

I suspect these shaves will become the norm very quickly.

Each new shaver seems to have their favorite misconceptions. Mine was blade angle. I read the wiki. It said 30deg angle for wtg - so I held this as a constant no matter what the blade encountered. Using a very flexible hollow, it would do fine until I ran into heavy timber just above the jawline. The blade just stopped. The force required to continue would be enough to install a new mouth on my face. Dropping the angle at that point made all the difference.

The other thing that gave me genuine joy was trying my first heavy grind. Like many, I thought I'd found the new universal pancea and posted about heavy grinds being superior tools for heavy stubble. Well, maybe not, but they were the first shave I can say was pure enjoyment. I'd try new angles, stretches and strokes with the easier to use heavy grind, then found I could do the same with the more demanding flexible blade. Now my preferences seem to be the extreme ends of the spectrum - heavy grinds up to near wedge, and the extra hollows.

Your edge from Lynn should be wonderful. If your path involves another blade, maybe try the heavies. It helped me learn the normal full hollows.

Well, I just ordered another blade, we shall see how it goes.

I think part of the problems I am having is that the blade I have (My Whipped dog blade) is a very small blade (4/8 or 3/8 I think) I found the TI easier to handle

Especially if you have large hands, you'll find the larger shanks easier to hold and articulate comfortably.

Put a tiny shank in my hands, and my strops start running for cover.

IMHO , a 4/8 blade is a little too small for noobs . Even after shaving with a straight for almost 5 years , now , I prefer a 6/8 blade , and never do my first pass with anything smaller . In fact , I sold my only 4/8 blade . However , I use a 9/16 blade , for my upper , and lower lip area , because I find the smaller blade to work better , for me in those areas .

Well I just ordered a Dovo 6/8 from SRD so hopefully that will help, I did find my 5/8 TI easier to handle, but the 4/8 is sharper (Until I get the TI back from Lynn that is :) )

Happened again this morning, a very nice shave, 3 passes, WTG, XTG, and ATG, again not BBS (And some more sting on the alum, I realized too late I was using too much pressure) but overall presentable. Was focusing on angles this morning and really starting to get the hang of it.. (NO NICKS TODAY! WOO HOO)!! :)

I need to figure the correct technique to do XTG on my neck, I'm pretty much BBS on the cheeks and chin (Below the Goatee) but my neck is still stubbly

I like reading this post...I recently got into Sr shaving...currently just have a parker Sr1 with changeable shark blades(yes dog ne if you wish, severely limited on time here lol) and I've done 3 shaves.all wtg...a little blood but not bad...still scared to try xtg and atg...any advice to get past anxiety?

Currently just using old spice aftershave...need to order some good stuff.

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I, too, am a newbie. I've been scraping with a Feather Artist Club (replaceable blades). I can offer no advice other than to look into the beginner guide on this site. It helped me a lot. I'm not there yet, but improving.

Not going to dog you for using the Parker, at least you are trying.... I started with a Dovo Shavette (Same idea as your parker and feather) and my personal opinion is that while it is way less time consuming then an actual SR, I find that it is actually harder to use. I cut myself far far more often with the Shavette then I ever did with my SR's


I can respect that we are all pressed for time, welcome to 2011 after all :( but honestly, one of the greatest things about the SR for me is that it forces me to slow down in the AM and take my time which I find makes me less stressed throughout the rest of the day.

But if you really don't have the time in the AM, what I sometimes do is strop the razor the night before which saves me a few minutes...

I also started with a Shavette. What a POS. the Feather is far better - no exanguination!! I'm certainly no expert, but IMHO the better replaceable blade str8s are way different.

Congrats on turning the curve. This art has a decievingly steep learning curve and a lot of people don't make it through it. You really have to give yourself permission to suck for a while and then just plow through it.

A lot of people (including myself) end up with a bizzare sense of self confidence when dealing with people throughout the day, thinking "Do you have any idea what I just did? I took a scary sharp piece of steel to my face and shaved. You don't even come close to bothering me" :)

I need to get lookin for a good real Sr! Recommendations on favorite places?

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straightrazordesigns is having sale offering starter kit for 119 includes the razor and the strop and they are offering liftetime honeing for December IIRC...

If not check out whippeddog and get the 48 dollar sight unseen deal with a razor and strop....

Thanks! I'll get on it!

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Either way you won't be disappointed, the whipped dog razor is how I got into SR's in the first place.. (Barring my bad exp with the shavette) It's cheap (48 bucks including the strop) and it's truly shave ready.

The SRD deal is a brand new razor, but it's been honed by Lynn which is worth a lot IMHO, and it's a nicer strop...but I'd recommend you start with the whipped dog, it's cheap enough that it won't matter when you nick the strop (and you will :) )

Ordering as we speak. Thanks man!

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After a 100 shaves the light bulb will come on.This number is a good indicator of making some progress. The shaves only get better !!!!!!!! Dont forget to faceturbate and try to figure out which way YOUR whiskers grow and attack them !!!

I'm only between 15 and 30......still it's starting to click, hopefully it keeps getting better from here :)

Ps, "faceturbate" not sure I want to know LOL