First Straight Shave with Feather Artist Club

**droth455** · 06-02-2012, 12:14 PM

The good news is that my styptic pencil was enough to stop the bleeding and I didn't require a trip to the ER.

I posted a message a couple days ago regarding a seasoned pro's review of the Feather AC that scared me, but curiosity got the best of me and I just had to try it today. I've been DE shaving for 6 months and wanted to give a straight razor a try. I took a long hot shower and then made some beautiful TOBS lavender lather in my new G20 scuttle. everything was going well till I got to my upper lip. I nicked myself right under my nose, then again a couple times on my chin, and got careless and put a nice little slash on my cheek that required several passes with the styptic pencil. I decided to quit while I was ahead and finished with the DE.

Despite the blood loss, I was quite impressed with what the AC did on just one pass. I usually do a 3 pass with the DE with some light touch up. All I had to do was a little ATG with the DE to get a nearly BBS shave.

I'm going to keep at it. I realize I have to learn some muscle memory and what not. Holding a shaving implement differntly than I've held one in the past will take some getting used to. Given my mild acquisition disorder, I anticipate ordering a traditional straight here in a couple weeks.

I think I can really get used to this!

BTW, I posted this link a couple days ago and it's been taken down or otherwise not working. http://thesuperiorshave.com/Feather_Artist_RG.html I hope I didn't have anything to do with it. When I do buy a straight, it will be from this guy. I live a couple hours from Jacksonville and go there quite often.

Happy Shaving!!!

**Face&Head** · 06-02-2012, 01:14 PM

I usually like to see pictures with a new thread; in this case I'm very grateful there aren't any. I too have recently started to shave with a straight and was strongly advised to begin with a traditional SR. I also did not attempt to shave under my nose or my chin until the 4th or 5th shave. It's been my policy to just cut up one part of my face at a time so that's worked out well.

**Kentos** · 06-02-2012, 01:35 PM

Great to see another new straight shaver!

99.99% of the time a cut results from sliding the blade in a slicing motion. Considering how sharp the blade is, if the edge is in contact with skin across the whole length and you mistakenly slide the edge just a 32nd of an inch, it will leave a 2" cut.

When I first started all my cuts came from my arm moving laterally as I placed the razor on my face, or when coming to the end of a pass I would move the razor just enough before removing from my skin to cut.

Making passes with the razor diagonal/slanted in relation to direction of the pass also lops off pimples and wrinkles in the skin, so try to keep the razor perpendicular to your stroke in the beginning. As your skill improves diagonal cuts and slicing motions will actually improve your shave and keep the blade sharper longer. But as always, YMMV ;)

**Manning** · 06-02-2012, 02:00 PM

You faired better than I did with my first straight shave.

I too went straight to the Feather and ended up cutting my face a few times and even my hand twice just being careless. After about the third shave, though, I was fine.

I still get the occasional cut when I stop paying attention, but this has been reduced to only once or so a week. As was said above, its always been when I first put the blade to my face or am taking it away. My advice is to just pay attention to what you're doing and you will be fine.

**Wid** · 06-02-2012, 02:23 PM

Looks like you're on the way to some great shaves.

**Khay** · 06-02-2012, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by droth455

The good news is that my styptic pencil was enough to stop the bleeding and I didn't require a trip to the ER.

Heheh - I've been shaving with a Feather Artist Club SS (non folding) since January 1st this year. I managed to do it the first time without cutting myself. A few days ago I was trying out a classic straight for the first time, and after doing one side of my face, I decided that it just wasn't sharp enough - I could feel it tugging/pulling, so, halfway through the shave, I switched to the Feather. When I was doing the other side of my face, I guess my brain was still on "this thing doesn't cut enough" mode, and I did a 1 inch "slash" on my cheek too, which also required the styptic... For the first time in 6 months of shaving with the Feather. argh...

Lesson learned : if you change from a straight to a feather in the middle of a shave, please make sure to focus on what you're doing and remember to change the technique accordingly...or pay the price, in blood.

Best of luck and keep trying :)

**Khay** · 06-02-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by droth455

BTW, I posted this link a couple days ago and it's been taken down or otherwise not working. http://thesuperiorshave.com/Feather_Artist_RG.html I hope I didn't have anything to do with it. When I do buy a straight, it will be from this guy. I live a couple hours from Jacksonville and go there quite often.

Just remembered - I believe that the link above doesn't work because Jarid stopped selling Feather AC razors - I think he even did a sale to clear them all out some months ago - if you check the main page, there's no longer any link to the Feather brand, unfortunately.

**dpmtherrien** · 06-02-2012, 03:36 PM

The whole thing with straight shaving is to get your technique down pat. This will come with practice, and the shaves will get better as you practice and learn. So keep at it. Go slow and be sure to use a really light touch.

As for getting a regular straight, I don't see why you'd need to. That Feather AC with the Feather blades is way sharper than any regular straight will ever be. All you need to do is get your shave technique set and then enjoy your Feather.

**Wid** · 06-02-2012, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by dpmtherrien

As for getting a regular straight, I don't see why you'd need to. That Feather AC with the Feather blades is way sharper than any regular straight will ever be.

I guess that would depend on who honed the razor. I have a feather with pro blades and my edges on my regular straights are every bit as sharp.

**droth455** · 06-02-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Khay

Just remembered - I believe that the link above doesn't work because Jarid stopped selling Feather AC razors - I think he even did a sale to clear them all out some months ago - if you check the main page, there's no longer any link to the Feather brand, unfortunately.

Regardless I think it was an informative and usefull review. I wish he'd leave it up even if he has stopped selling them. His opinion is highly regarded as a honemeister IMHO.

**Khay** · 06-02-2012, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by droth455

Regardless I think it was an informative and usefull review. I wish he'd leave it up even if he has stopped selling them. His opinion is highly regarded as a honemeister IMHO.

True, and it had some really nice photos of the razors themselves, also useful for someone who might be interested in acquiring one.