First complete, real shave with a straight :o)

[williepete]

Happy New Year )

After several months of progress several times a week, i finally did my first complete straight razor shave this morning. One little cut, not BBS, but not worth cleaning up with a DE either.

I had been using a Merkur and a (broken!) Fatboy DE for a couple of years already. My father (MikeT) got into straights a few years back, and, with no small amount of coaching, has gotten me a long way on this. About 6 months ago, i found an old Boker King Cutter (pic posted in the 'what did you use this morning' thread) in one of the finer pawn establishments in the greater Jackson, MS area. It was in excellent condition and had seen very little use. We honed it up and i have been working with it a few times a week for about 3 months now.

I have to say the experience is every bit as rewarding as i was told it would be when i enlisted. No going back....especially as I have my eye on a big, bad Wade & Butcher 8/8 barber's notch (that i hope is still in the case)



um...face is still burning though... ha

 

[ladykate]

Congrats. Glad to see you approached it with a plan and not hoping to get BBS on the 4th shave. Way to go.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

It is a life changing event...welcome to the club

 

[Nxspam]

Congrats. I'm just starting out and it seems like an impossible task right now. I'll be taking my third shave this evening. Probably only cheeks and neck and finish up with a DE. If it takes me 3 months at 3 to 4 shaves a week I'll be happy.

It's my new years resolution to get it down pat. That and honing difficult blades.

Kudos!

 

[deezyrocks]

Congrats!

 

[Dacol]

Congrats! Keep it up

 

[williepete]

thanks folks.

I'm given to understand that becoming proficient at this takes upwards of a year (? - maybe that's one of those YMMV things?), but i'm surprised by just how much of a feel i've already developed for the blade. still have some work to do on throat area and one small patch just under my chin. I'm also surprised by how much irritation i'm NOT experiencing, even after no less than three passes - this is more forgiving than anything i've ever done shaving. must be doing something wrong? ha ha.

I am looking to get it honed properly - any suggestions?

 

[rmalak]

Congrats on your first shave with straight!! I remember the burn afterwards too. That does get better with improved technique and goes away almost completely. You have your sites set on a very nice razor from the sounds of it. Good luck with your journey and remember we are all here to help along the way.

 

[ladykate]

I'm given to understand that becoming proficient at this takes upwards of a year (? - maybe that's one of those YMMV things?),

YMMV

I am looking to get it honed properly - any suggestions?

There are several on here who hone razors for others. I would go with them before I would send it to an unknown. However, Larry at whippeddog.com has a good honing service - he can get it in shape, too.

 

[williepete]

Aight, will check on that - thanks again

 

[jpcwon]

um...face is still burning though... ha

That will get better, once you learn the correct amount of pressure to use. I was (and still am sometimes) getting razor burn due to inadvertently using too much pressure around my neck area, but it has been improving now that I take special care not to bear down on the razor as I shave.

 

[Reckoner]

I started straight shaving about a year ago, and it's only been recently that I would say I have it down (with a several-month straight hiatus thrown in during an insanely busy year). The three biggest things I've learned:

1. You need a sharp razor to shave (duh! ). I started with a brand new razor, but one of the reasons I put it down was that after a few months of learning how to use it, it started tugging (most likely culprit: poor stropping technique). Tugging = not sharp razor! A few laps on lapping film brought it right back up.​

2. Less pressure, yes, but more importantly, correct blade angles. I did a shave right from a hot shower without lather so I could see how different shave angles affected my face and produced hair on the edge of the blade. No one can say the right angle of your face but you. I find that almost vertical on the cheeks is perfect for me, and almost flat everywhere else. Once I got the angles right and held the blade with less pressure, irritation went away almost completely.

3. After I stopped chasing BBS, my DFS shaves got much, much, much better and I felt less dejected that I couldn't get it "right." If you absolutely need a baby butt face, do a pass or two with your straight and finish up with a DE.​

 

[Jaatinen1982]

I must be out of my mind. My first shave was 31.12.2012 at new year's eve. I had red about step by step learning where you start with your cheeks and finish with de. I didn't want to touch my multiblade Gillette no more. I shave my cheeks and neck except lip and chin because I have beard. I did three passes, it took me 45 minutes but I was hooked real bad.

My way is going to be everything or nothing with straight razor. Though I have a chance not to shave everyday so I can do it only when I want to.