A couple of straight-newb questions

[JPDyson]

OK, with my new straight on its way to get honed (thank you, professorchaos) I'm starting to think through some of the differences between shaving with my DE and what shaving with a straight will be like. I've come up with a couple of questions.

1. When to strop. I typically put on a kettle before jumping in the shower, so that when I get out of the shower, it's done and has stopped boiling and cooled down a bit. I pour that water into the sink and drop a towel into that water; I soak my brush in some warm tap water, and I brush my teeth. By the time I'm done brushing, my shaving brush is soaked and I proceed to make lather. I put the lather on my face, and cover it with the hot towel for a couple minutes. I can't really strop while I'm holding the towel on my face. Guess I could brush my teeth before I shower, and strop while my brush soaks... any other questions?

2. I've seen people rinse their blades under running water, clean them in the standing sink water, and even wipe them on the back of the hand. What would be considered "good form" and best for the razor?

3. After I'm done shaving and drying off my razor, should it be resting "open" for a while before putting it away? I share my bathroom with my wife (and one day, my son will learn to walk and grab things on counters) so safety here is a concern. I'd appreciate your thoughts and comments here as to how I can "air out" my razor before putting it away, if that's required.

Of course, if there are any other comments or suggestions you want to offer, I'm all ears

 

[JPM]

Ok, I'm still new to straights so take my responses with a grain of salt.

I didn't strop my razor the first time after getting it honed. Thereafter, I strop it after I shave. I do about 30 on linen then 50 on latigo and 50 on horsehide. I like stropping after shaving, starting with the linen since it will pick up any residual moisture.

I rinse mine under running water. If there is a bit that won't come off, I very carefully wipe it with a towel. After I rinse it the last time, I do dry it with a towel.

I have little ones, so I always put mine up on a shelf out of reach when done. I do leave it open for a bit to dry off.

All this stuff is pretty much personal preference and you will eventually find what works best for you.

Good luck!

 

[Chimensch]

I wouldn't strop before the first shave, just to eliminate the possibility that bad technique might damage the edge. After that, you should strop every day before shaving.

I lather, strop and relather. I would strop after you put on the lather and before the hot towel.

If you've seen my video, I wipe the razor on a wet sponge. It saves water and prevents accidentally hitting the faucet.

After shaving, I wipe it off and strop 25-30 times on the leather to dry it out. Then I but it away in a leather case.

 

[Luc]

I agree with the above...

1. Don't stop the first time, Henry will probably tell you about it... Then, between shaves. I would do the same, lather, strop re-lather/prep, shave

2. I usually clean the blade in the sink and push the lather that remains on the blade with my fingers (without touching the edge, of course). I'm very careful with my edge in the sink. The sponge is a good idea, the towel is another.

3. I will dry the blade and the scales when done and leave it open a bit just to be sure. You need to be sure that you dried everything otherwise, it might rust.

In your case, having a small kid around is something to worry about right now, not in a month. I would suggest to find a place where there's some circulation (not a cabinet) and put it in there. I was thinking of having a shelve over my watertank. That's where I keep them but keep a lock on those. The last thing you want is an accident with the straights (or your other half dropping one...)...

 

[JPDyson]

Thank you for the advice, gentlemen. Truly appreciated.

I definitely want to be diligent about safety, even though my son can barely even roll over at this point. Like I said, my wife and I share space, and the safe habits should start now, I think. I'm sure many of us can relate.

The hardest part right now is patience - I'm just eager to get started!

 

[Alacrity59]

I love these questions as I faced them myself.

I reversed my routine . . . I now shave before my shower. There always seemed to be a split of opinion here between the softening of the shower vs. the protection of natural oils on the skin.

The shaving cream followed by hot wash cloth . . . has become whip up lather and put some right off the puck onto my face . . . strop on canvas . . . put hot cloth on face . . . lather a bit more . . . finish stropping on leather . . . add some lather to freshen it and then start shaving.

I've never rinsed between passes as the razor takes all the lather off. Now I run an alum block over my face and clean the sink rinse and ring out the wash cloth and then shower.

I'm out of the washroom in less than 20 minutes. If I were to spend extra time on something it would be on the prep . . . a bit more time with a hot washcloth or towel on my face.