First Attempt

[slamjet]

I couldn't wait until the strop arrived to I took a str8 and tried to shave with it, at least the sides of my head. It's absolutely bizarre to use an open blade, but it felt so "manly" and "macho" that I got a huge kick out of it. However, I let the blade slide. No blood, but I learned that lesson pretty quick.

I think the biggest obstacle is going to be to figure out how to hold the blade. It was so clumsy to try to shave without blocking the view with my meaty arms, hands, etc. I'm going to have to hit youtube to get some handling techniques. But at least I showed myself that it can be done without massacring myself.

[Klarion]

No blood? You're off to a good start, then. Yeah, I still haven't gotten around the hand-in-the-way issue doing my cheeks/sideburns WTG, so I don't. I just hit mine up ATG right off the bat, and visualization is incredibly easy.

[fidjit]

I think the biggest obstacle is going to be to figure out how to hold the blade. It was so clumsy to try to shave without blocking the view with my meaty arms, hands, etc.

I know what you mean. I'm only 14 shaves in and hear what you're saying.

I was internetless for the first 12 shaves and as such have found holds that feel comfortable for me ( and I'm sure aren't illustrated or recommended on any razor site ) and I've found I don't actually need to completely see what I'm doing.

Keep at it , it gets easier as you go along. I'm far from BBS just with the straight but a single DE pass after 2 passes with the straight gives me a BBS ( everywhere except under the nose ) .

I've just gotta work out that final bit

I've decided not to watch any videos etc and just plug away by myself and only take small tips off people.

Hopefully that'll work, if I suddenly stop posting you'll know that that's not a good idea

[calcustom]

Sounds like your off to a good start.

[Luc]

I don't know if you would hold it differently over your head but this might help...

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/sr...straight_razor

[dpmtherrien]

Have you tried XTG in the sideburn area?

[JPM]

Congrats! It is a great feeling to shave with a str8.

[Bertilak]

re "hand in the way".

I found this to be a problem doing the sideburn area. There was no other place I had this problem. After some experimentation I found I could get just enough of a peek using the opposite eye. That is, look with left eye when doing right sideburn.

The frustrating thing was that the sideburn area is where you tend to start your shave so you run into trouble immediately!

[leighton]

Interesting. Not too often we hear stories of the first shave being of one's head instead of one's face.