Don't Give Up!

I first committed to traditional shaving a year and a half ago. Although I'd started the journey with a DE razor (then several), it had always been my intention to eventually end up using a straight. It was something about the tradition along with the art and skill needed to use this refined shaving tool that drew me. After a relatively brief time of DE shaving, I bought my first straights, a rescaled NOS Wapienica from a fellow DE shaver and a vintage Seehund. It didn't go well, I lost patience very quickly and I shelved them, resigning myself to the fact I didn't have the necessary skill to take up this gentlemanly art. Months went by and those straights sat in their rack on my book case. Every so often, I'd look at them, then pick up one of my DE's and enter the bathroom. Eventually, I mastered the DE and got to the point where I could get a smooth irritation free shave with three passes quite quickly but without having to rush. It wasn't enough...The whole point of me taking up the brush and bowl was so I could call myself a straight razor shaver. I liked the thought of using tradition shaving equipment but I loved the idea of using a straight and so I began again, this time taking on board the advice given to me by some of the wonderful gentleman of this forum.

The best piece of advice I was given? Patience, pure and simple. That was a few months ago now.

The results I'm getting? A comfortable two pass straight razor shave and a feeling of achievement.

None of this would've been possible without this kindest of forums and the gentle encouragement from it's members. I don't post much as I don't feel as though I have the authority or knowledge to do so, but I always visit and read.

So...to the SRP veterans who give their knowledge and time so freely...

Thank you.

To any newbies like myself...well...

...Patience. :)

Patience is the key. I always tell the guys that are looking to give it a go to give it 20 shaves. They always seem to start getting results by then.

VanHelsing

Great post to encourage beginners. I too found that if you "mastered" DE shaving then transitioning to straights was easier. It is not necessary to master a DE before trying a straight but it can be very helpful. As ever patience and going slow in the beginning is key.

Bob

Awesome sentiment Van H!

I too started with a DE, not with the intention however to move to a straight though. That just kind of happened lol. Seemed natural after I began.

Patience is key! Not sure how many times I went from my straight to my DE and back again. When I took on honing though, it was all over (never looked at my DE again) BUT, was it not for the forums and all those YouTube videos, I doubt I would have been as steadfast.

Awesome sentiment.

VanHelsing,

Thanks for the writeup, I love these perseverance threads! Keep up the good work, and in the future PLEASE don't feel that you do not have the authority to contribute; that's the beauty of SRP, the exchange of ideas and opinions among gentlemen from around the globe :)

Cheers,

Ryan

I went from a DE to straight about 4 weeks ago. Today I finally had a great 2 pass shave. The key was shaving oil. Picked it up from eshave yesterday and it made all the difference in the world. I did about 25 passes on linen and 100 on leather first with my H. Boker razor and then made sure my col conk shaving cream was not too watery. It all just came together for a great shave.

Patience and perseverance is what it's all about. My other piece of advice is to not worry about picking up a cartridge/DE to finish off during the learning process. Nothing is forbidden and if you just don't feel like attacking the top lip with a straight on any particular day, then finish with something you're more comfortable with. Eventually everything will come together.