First straight razor shave.I think I give up :P

[Cheb]

So second time around now...And wow what a difference. I don't know what happened to me but i was shaving like it was my 100th shave already! Did my whole face (except the goatee) with no nicks or cuts either and it was almost as smooth as my DE. I realized that I needed to be a little more confident, and also to know how to hold the straight. I was focusing too much on doing it like the guy in the video at first. But this time I just went with whatever I was most comfortable with and worked great. Started off with my right cheek and as soon as I noticed things were going well I just continued.

This wasn't a perfect shave though as I think the blade may not be sharp enough. I got it from whipdog. I had to go over the same spot several times, sometime risking too much pressure and a higher angel to get a closer shave. As a result I got quite a few razor burns. I used the strop before the shave (25 passes). Also when I was shaving my cheek it was getting kinda stuck and ughr forgot what the term is for what that was but yeah, just wasn't comfortable with the blade. Other than that it was great. Also just took me 15 minutes. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[seattleshaver]

If the razor is from Whipped Dog the blade should be plenty sharp unless you accidentally dulled it with the stropping.

Just work on the check. If you can get that done smoothly you at least know the blade is sharp enough. Just play around with less pressure, a tight angle and plenty of lubrication (lather).

 

[thatsilverguy]

I realized that I needed to be a little more confident, and also to know how to hold the straight.

This is good. Shaving with almost no pressure yet WITH AUTHORITY is a difficult balance to master. Sounds like you're on your way. Have fun!

 

[California Cajun]

So I recently bought a straight razor. Watched a few videos for some tips first then gave it a go. I have to say every time I put that razor on my cheek I felt like I was going to cut myself. I just had no idea how hard I needed to press. So didn't really press at all, and as a result didn't really shave much. But worst of all was when I had to shave my neck and the left side of my face. I couldn't get comfortable at all. Especially my neck since the hair there grows upwards. So I didn't even attempt it. Not sure if I'm doing anything wrong but I don't know if I have the patience to shave with it again.

Been there, done that. A couple of months into the journey I accidently sliced my thumb down to the tendon switching hands.

But over the years I was really fascinated with the use of straight razors in movies, and I also saw a friend get a straight razor shave at a barber shop. So I had the desire to stick with it and persevere until I mastered the art. It took me six months before I got a real good shave, and two full years before I could honestly say I conquered it.

I really enjoy shaving with a straight and get wonderful results. I found razors I love and have learned how to maintain them.

Probably what drove me to want to learn more than anything was the 40 years of bad shaves I got from electric razors and multiblade razors. The canned goo does not offer any protection in my opinion, and the canned gel gunked up the razor.

So, I figure that if I went through 40 years of futility with electric and multiblade razors, I could try two more with something else. I'm really glad I did!

 

[AjaxLepinski]

Glad to hear that you had better results!
If you still think that your razor is dull, contact B&B member, Doc226 for a great sharpening at a reasonable price.
I bought one of his razors and it became my benchmark to measure my own honing skills.
I'm still waiting for the mods to add a butt kissing smiley face!
Just found this one on the web...

 

[Nxspam]

Thanks everyone. Some great advice here so I'll keep tryig for now and see how things go. I'm using one of those unseen straights from Larry's site. Forgot exactly what it is. Other than the bad shave a also tore my strop with the blade. I'm not a complete stranger to straights since until recently I've had my beard shaved with a straight at the barber. Until I got a DE a few months back. The DE shave has been great and I have yet to cut myself.

I'll try on just one side of my cheek for a while then. I think that's definitely a great idea. Thanks!

That's the spirit! My first couple of shaves were lousy. My blade was straight from the shop and not sharp enough at all. I could still cut an ear off, but hair needs a sharper blade to stop it tugging. Next comes technique. I still finish off with a DE razor because I'm still learning. It takes patience and practice. You've come to the right place. You'll get tons of great advice here from a lot of cool people. Keep at it, and keep asking questions, and let us know how your progress is shaping up.

Dont worry about cutting yourself, you will
I'm still having trouble on my top lip. I finished off with a DE the other day and cut my nose. LOL.

 

[Champion of Capua]

Hang in there and do what you're comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with using your DE on your neck until you're ready. Your confidence will grow.

 

[kmlavoy]

My first shave was horrible, too. Patchy as hell, and it took two hours for my face to quit burning from alum. The next day, FROM THE FIRST STROKE, I could tell I was already better. I haven't shave with anything but a straight since October, and while some days are better than others, I can now do a decent two pass shave in about 10 minutes, with less burn than I used to get from a Fusion.

As far as stropping, the only thing I can say is this: go slow. Stropping is an acquired skill. Go. Slow. I sliced my strop up good, and even dropped my razor once trying to go quicker. I don't do that anymore.

 

[Firewalker]

Cheb,

I get my first straight in a couple weeks and like you, I am nervous. I picked up a disposable straight with some Derby singles to try the angle and how to hold it. Any advice Cheb?

 

[jordanalexearle]

Hey Cheb,

I just started a little while ago as well, maybe 3 months. I am still getting the hang of it as well. I am glad to hear you kept with it. It is a bit odd at first but it does get better. I am no where near good at all yet but I still find the process really enjoyable. I hope to be good enough at it soon to get through it quicker.

How many passes did you do the second time around? What kind? Sorry I am just trying to find a good pass and stroke combo.

Good luck dude!

 

[Cheb]

Cheb,

I get my first straight in a couple weeks and like you, I am nervous. I picked up a disposable straight with some Derby singles to try the angle and how to hold it. Any advice Cheb?

Well I'm on my fourth shave now with a straight. My only problem really seems to be that the razor isn't sharp enough. I even tested it on my arm and just doesn't get much hair out. Maybe that's why I haven't cut myself yet

The main thing I've learned is there isn't just one way of holding the razor...Basically once I found the right angle and pressure, I held the razor the way I was most comfortable with while maintaining that angle and pressure. If I found one way easier than the other then that's what I went with. Most of all though, be scared, but not too scared In other words just be cautious and like others said, go slow. Lots of people here gave some great advice, like starting off with just one part of your face that you find easiest to shave.

I think I may buy another more expensive razor now...I think I'm ready

 

[Cheb]

Hey Cheb,

I just started a little while ago as well, maybe 3 months. I am still getting the hang of it as well. I am glad to hear you kept with it. It is a bit odd at first but it does get better. I am no where near good at all yet but I still find the process really enjoyable. I hope to be good enough at it soon to get through it quicker.

How many passes did you do the second time around? What kind? Sorry I am just trying to find a good pass and stroke combo.

Good luck dude!

Two passes. All WTG...I can't go ATG or XTG, my skin won't take it. I still don't get as close a shave as my DE, but I think with a sharper razor I may.

 

[Tony1951]

EDITED:

This wasn't a perfect shave though as I think the blade may not be sharp enough. I got it from whipdog. I had to go over the same spot several times, sometime risking too much pressure and a higher angel to get a closer shave. As a result I got quite a few razor burns. I used the strop before the shave (25 passes). Also when I was shaving my cheek it was getting kinda stuck and ughr forgot what the term is for what that was but yeah, just wasn't comfortable with the blade. Other than that it was great. Also just took me 15 minutes. Thanks again for the advice.

OKAY - I'm a newbie, and have been shaving every day with straights since the beginning of November, so I have a little experience and have covered the same learning curve to a point a bit further along from where you are. On the failure to cut thing. I suppose you may have blunted the razor by inexpert stropping. Whipped Dog have a good reputation, so I suppose the razor was fine when it arrived. I found it very easy to dull my blades early on by lifting the spine of the razor while stropping. This puts a large sideways pressure on the very fine and VERY fragile edge. When properly sharp, there is hardly any steel in that edge and you can easily break it by removing the very sharp tip by sideways force. Stropping is all about polishing that edge, not turning it sideways, so keep the spine on the leather and trail the blade lightly. There is no down force needed - the blade floats along spine down, with the leather tickling the edge into super sharpness.

You might be able to salvage things by stropping properly. It is a GREAT idea to place the leather on the edge of a table or worktop FLAT and lightly strop on that. This way you don't have a curved strop. If the edge can't be restored (do the hanging hair test to see if it can be) you may have to send it to be honed again. Or - you could send for some lapping film, watch the videos that are on Youtube from Slash McCoy and re hone it yourself. You could probably equip yourself with the correct range of film for the same money as you'd pay for a professional honing, and then you'd have the gear to keep your razor in good order for a long time. Stones are expensive by the time you get the needed range of grits UNLESS you are sure this game is for you.

Now HEALTH WARNING - this next bit is a bit unorthodox, though it was widely used in the days when everybody and his wife was straight shaving.

I have had great results in restoring edges by stropping on folded newspaper on a level surface like a bench. I strop a hundred laps every morning on newsprint and then do about fifty on leather. My blades are really sharp by my beginner reckoning. Maybe the texture of newsprint paper is just great to clean up that burr and then give a final polish on leather. KEY THING ABOUT STROPPING IS KEEP THE SPINE DOWN FLAT AND DON'T USE PRESSURE ON THE BLADE. JUST WHISK IT ALONG AND NEATLY FLIP THE BLADE SO YOU NEVER PRESS THAT EDGE INTO THE STROP SURFACE.

LIKE I SAID - I AM A BEGINNER NOT A SEASONED EXPERT, BUT WHAT I HAVE SAID WORKS FOR ME.

 

[Tony1951]

Two passes. All WTG...I can't go ATG or XTG, my skin won't take it. I still don't get as close a shave as my DE, but I think with a sharper razor I may.

That's what I thought when I had a blunt razor. When it is properly sharp it is a different story. Short purposeful strokes on well lathered skin, pulled taught so it doesn't ruck up. No down pressure is needed. Just angle the blade at about 30 degrees or less and stroke away. If your blade is sharp, the whiskers will just disappear. If my face is sore, or there is any pulling I know my blade is dull. A minute on the strop is usually enough to transform the situation if there is any pulling mid shave.