Thread: this is my plight

hi all im new here im 24 years old im going to try and master the art of shaving with a straight razor. ive done alot of reading on the subject and i would mainly like to turn my shaving nightmare into a pleasurable experience. i have thick wirey facial hair. i currently use a gillette pro series razor with replaceable cartridges a 6pack of these are about 40 bucks. i typically get about 4 shaves per razor. i dont know if its my skin or my hair that makes it so challenging but i have to shower before i shave, if i dont i look like i came off of a battle field and i cannot shave everyday i have to wait for the stubble to become long wich i do not like but its too painful otherwise. i come to you guys for help. any suggestions, preshave advice, oils, soaps, creams. am i doing something wrong? thank you in advance.

Welcome to SRP. Well you say you've done a lot of reading so I assume you've seen our beginner's guide here ? One way or the other there is a learning curve involved with shaving with straight razors and you will not get as easy a shave with one until you get passed that learning curve. I would suggest you start out with a DE (double edge) such as a Merkur HD or maybe a vintage Gillette super speed, fatboy, or something similar.

Get a sample pack of different blades to find which brand suits you best. They are not all the same and some work better for one individual than they do for another. You'll have a chance to learn preparation, lathering, skin stretching and you'll get easier shaves with the DE to begin with. Better than a cartridge razor for sure. At the same time you can ease into the straight razor shaving. That is my advice FWIW.

I can't really advise on technique for cartridges but a lot of us shower before shaving. It is good shave prep as is a hot towel or 2.
If you plan to buy a straight you will still need to work on your technique but possibly research razors with hard steel & good edge holding ability as well. There are plenty that would fit the bill.

thanks for the advice guys. jimmy i have read the begginers guide. and i may get a de to start with i already have everything i will need to start with a sr. ive read that de is eaiser to start and i have read that it is a totaly diff animal so i went ahead and decided to go straight to the sr. maybe i should start with a de. i have no idea.

thanks sir man there are alot of de razors to choose from lol

Originally Posted by torence20

thanks for the advice guys. jimmy i have read the begginers guide. and i may get a de to start with i already have everything i will need to start with a sr. ive read that de is eaiser to start and i have read that it is a totaly diff animal so i went ahead and decided to go straight to the sr. maybe i should start with a de. i have no idea.

Well I found the transition from DE to straight easier. The thing is you'll probably continue with your cartridge while you learn the straight unless you are a very quick learner.

The DE is a very nice and traditional way to shave too. Even if you pick up the straight quickly and effortlessly , the DE is nice to have as a backup for the mornings when you are running late, or just feel like a different shaving experience. Only IMO but the DE is superior to the cartridge and if you are going to have options to the straight the DE is a better one to have.

well after short deliberation jimmy ive decided im also going to get a de. any pointers on wich to get? i dont want to break the bank as im not sure if its for me or not but i also dont want to have a bad experience due to buying cheap junk

I suggest going for GEM single edge razor. A used 1912 or Damascene can be had for single digit dollars on the bay. Right now I can see a 2-fer, a GEM Star and Junior starting at 7.99 and no bidders w 15 hours to go. I know I'm not the only one who thinks the classic single edge razors are excellent. Blades can still be bought at any Walgreen, cvs or even Wal-Mart.

Otherwise any Gillette TTO for a few bucks used is a great start.

Neither one will break the bank. Good luck and ask questions!

thanks again jimmy i was looking at that very same one actually, someone else had suggested it to another member in a post as well as a sampler pack of blades, cheap way to try diff flavors. ive ordered those. does anyone know of a good cream to use for sensitive skin?

If you have smooth skin, the Merkur HD is a good razor. If you have moles, bumps, etc., I would recommend the Merkur Progress. It is adjustable. Start at the lowest setting and open it up as you learn. Some people set it at one number and leave it there, but I change the blade exposure depending on what part of my face I am shaving. I will also emphasize the need to not use ANY pressure while shaving. Carts are often pressed against the skin to get a closer shave. Never do that with a DE or a straight. If you skin is red after a shave, you have used too much pressure no matter what you think you did. Also, take short strokes, about an inch at a time, until you become experienced. Don't rush. Take your time at first, it will get faster with experience. Use a good lather, no canned stuff, and use the forum for info and support. The tougher your beard the more you will enjoy DE shaving. When you become adept at shaving with a single blade, you will never go back to carts.