Anyone interested in me filming my first straight razor experience?

[SidebandTwigDucky]

I got a Dovo 5/8 504B "Colonel Conk" from whippeddog for Xmas, I've been using a DE razor for years but have never used a straight razor. My beard is a few inches long and I plan to use the straight razor to reduce and remove all but a van dyke (wife's preference). Is this interesting/informative enough for anyone? If so I'll film it and upload. It might be entertaining with all the blood, who knows

I plan to do this tomorrow morning, so in about 23 hours.

EDIT: I have read a good bit about how to shave with a straight razor, and watched a couple of videos. There shouldn't be much blood.

 

[cyclingsteveb]

That would be great! I just bought a Focus shavette and any help using it would be appreciated. I've only used a DE up til now. Thanks!

 

[SidebandTwigDucky]

That would be great! I just bought a Focus shavette and any help using it would be appreciated. I've only used a DE up til now. Thanks!

This might be a lesson in what NOT to do, who knows...

 

[cyclingsteveb]

This might be a lesson in what NOT to do, who knows...

That lesson would be great too! Likely my first few shaves will be crappy anyway.

 

[Stuart Ganis]

Welcome from West Tennessee...
Good luck with the shave!

Sent from my SM-T387V using Tapatalk

 

[dmshaver]

I say go for it & film it, in the name of science! And if not in the name of science, then in the name of satisfying our strange, morbid curiosities.

Glad to have you here, welcome.

 

[Mikeyzo]

Lol I didn’t even think to film my first one. Maybe I will for my second attempt... you know, for posterity

 

[dmshaver]

Have you done it @SidebandTwigDucky?

 

[stone and strop]

Have you done it @SidebandTwigDucky?

He tried but didn't make it, tragic.

 

[dmshaver]

He tried but didn't make it, tragic.

Very sad. Lets have a moment of silence...

OK, now back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

[Mikeyzo]

He tried but didn't make it, tragic.

...

 

[SidebandTwigDucky]

@stone and strop the doctors said they had never seen something so bad, but I'm home finally and just uploaded the video. Warning, it is long and full of what not to do

 

[Mikeyzo]

its good to know I’m not the only one who has troubles When learning. I’m no expert, hell im not even a novice, but in the beginning and under your neck I think you’re angle was too big and aggressive.

 

[dokpm0]

I came from the other direction and learned to use a straight razor before trying a DE. Oddly, I got the idea from a horror movie - 13 Gantry Row. While renovating his house a guy in the movie found a straight razor in a wall. He went out and found all the supplies he needed, and a barber to teach him how to use it. Being a horror movie, his straight razor experience didn't go well. I mistakenly thought that no one used straight razors anymore, and that it would have been unlikely for him to find all the supplies and a teacher locally. A few online searches proved I was wrong, and a new hobby was found.

I took a break from a DE for a couple of years. I switched to an electric razor, sacrificing good shaves for speed and convenience. I've seen the error of my ways, and have recently started using a DE again. I might send one or both of my straights out to be honed so I can relearn how to shave with them also.

 

[Biltong & Boerewors]

I am surprised you got away with it unscathed. Brave man!

We all have to start somewhere, but didn't anybody tell you to use your left hand? It may feel awkward at first, but not as awkward as trying to reach impossible areas at impossible angles.

Hope it didn't put you off straight razor shaving, when you get the hang of it, it's the best shave you can have, and you get a great sense of achievement. Shaving in it's purest form, and most rewarding.

 

[Saviorself]

Brave man. I’d like to get to that type of razor eventually. Thanks for sharing!

 

[mr_houston]

@SidebandTwigDucky how’s the shaving going? You did well on your 1st try.

One of the guys told you “We all have to start somewhere, but didn't anybody tell you to use your left hand?”

Translation: do what you did on the right side of your face (with right hand) on the left side (with left hand)

 

[Ed Gcom]

Brave. I tried a shavette a few months ago, gouged my cheek, and haven’t gone back.

Observation. When growing up, many years ago, the barber I went to always mowed down any significant beard with the hair clippers before using his straight to give the shave.

It seems that this would make it easier to lather, give a better view of what you’re doing and just make it easier to shave.

Thoughts?

 

[Saviorself]

Observation. When growing up, many years ago, the barber I went to always mowed down any significant beard with the hair clippers before using his straight to give the shave.

when I went to a barber a few years back and got a single blade shave that’s what they did for me. I had probably a good 3/4-1” growth and she hacked it all off with clippers before going to the blade.

 

[Mouette]

We all have to start somewhere, but didn't anybody tell you to use your left hand? It may feel awkward at first, but not as awkward as trying to reach impossible areas at impossible angles.

Congratulations! I just did my first shave yesterday and it looks like I damaged the edge of the blade when stropping, resulting in a razor that wouldn't shave. As for the left hand right hand, I tried both on both sides of the face and none of it made any sense! I realised that when watching someone shave on Youtube, the camera is facing them whilst you are looking at yourself in reverse in the mirror. It all seems like reaching impossible areas at impossible angles. The hard part with this seems to be keeping your razor shave ready - it's a lot of work and you need specialist skills - something I definitely don't have.
cheers
Andrew