I'm on the edge with wanting to make the jump to straight shaving but I'm curious as to how most of you learned how to do it?
How did you learn to shave witha straight?
- Thread starter Brewha51
- Start date
I got bored with de and also wanted a closer shave with less irritation nicks n cuts..since making the switch almost a year ago I own 4 different straights and hone em as well
man that is a crazy story 4 me. i went at it backwards. i have always liked 2 hone. my father found a straight in his police car in the early 70's that someone ditched their rather than be caught with it i guess. some 30 years later i remembered the straight and decided i would ask the old man if he would part with it. he did!!! it was a wr case & sons 5/8 with the worst frown u ever seen. it took me 3 months of trying 2 hone a straight with absolutely no guidance i tried to shave with a razor that was so poorly honed i scraped some of my beard away. but i finally got it and put it on a decent hone or 2 and got a barely passable edge. sometime afterward i found the SRP and then B&B and got a little education with a few AD's and here we are!!!
Yup.
A LOT of shaky hand the first time I applied the blade to my cheek.
First shave I was a little too conservative and it really didn't take much off. Finished up with the R41.
The next night, I felt better, and was able to complete a DFS without going to the DE for cleanup.
It'll take a good month before you really have it down to the point you are comfortable.
It'll take 6 months or more before it's 2nd nature.
A LOT of shaky hand the first time I applied the blade to my cheek.
First shave I was a little too conservative and it really didn't take much off. Finished up with the R41.
The next night, I felt better, and was able to complete a DFS without going to the DE for cleanup.
It'll take a good month before you really have it down to the point you are comfortable.
It'll take 6 months or more before it's 2nd nature.
To be honest I never watched the first video on it(but I would recommend it). One morning after work I picked up the only honed straight that I had, which was graciously honed by a fellow member, and just went at it. And here we are 5 months later and I have more AD's than I know what to do with. If you have a straight with a good mellow edge on it you won't have any problems. You might end up with a few nicks, but all in all you will be fine, just jump in.
I read a lot here at B&B, watched some videos. When my razor arrived I spent a day or so just getting use to it in my hand. a little bit of air shaving and air stropping.
Also used a butter knife on my strop to get the mind muscle link working. 5 months in and no nicks or cuts on my strop at all.
1st shave was full 3 passes WTG, XTG & ATG. wanted to go with just the right cheek but could not stop myself, but everyone is different go at you pace when starting.
take you time and enjoy the learning curve.
Also used a butter knife on my strop to get the mind muscle link working. 5 months in and no nicks or cuts on my strop at all.
1st shave was full 3 passes WTG, XTG & ATG. wanted to go with just the right cheek but could not stop myself, but everyone is different go at you pace when starting.
take you time and enjoy the learning curve.
I picked up a straight and used it.
OK maybe not. I used a shavette a couple times first, sent a couple blades out for professional honing. After I learned to hone it got easier.
Get a shave ready razor that has been prepared properly. Flea market and ebay specials often take more effort than simple honing.
Yes, I did just take a blade and shave with it. It isn't that hard. Shave an arm first.
Phil
OK maybe not. I used a shavette a couple times first, sent a couple blades out for professional honing. After I learned to hone it got easier.
Get a shave ready razor that has been prepared properly. Flea market and ebay specials often take more effort than simple honing.
Yes, I did just take a blade and shave with it. It isn't that hard. Shave an arm first.
Phil
If you read all the information you can here and watch some videos you'll get a good general idea. I practiced with a shavette without a blade in it to get used to holding it, but at some point you just gotta touch the blade to the skin and hope all goes well. If you go slow and pay attention, your odds of getting hurt go way down.
Just do it
It's not hard to do, it just takes persistent, dogged determination. Kinda like learning to ride a bicycle. You need to be prepared to fall and skin some elbows and knees.
Mostly by following these YouTube Videos and literally studying them hundreds of times. I didn't quit. It took me two years to be able to say I mastered it. From reading the forums it doesn't take some other members that long but I'm a klutz. In my signature is a link to "Is Straight Shaving for You?" which told me what I needed and that I really wanted to do it.
I developed techniques and preferences that spun off these two videos. The first video is in this post and the second is in my next post (forum rules only allow one video per post).
Actually the first demonstrator helped me get my razor properly honed. I had memorized every movement by heart and was still getting horrible shaves, leading him to believe the blade was partly to blame. I also developed a preference for smaller razors. Before I became a good shaver I wanted the big "meat choppers," but with acquired skill I wanted the agility afforded the 5/8 razor.
The second demonstrator more accurately describes how I currently shave with multiple passes (first WTG; second XTG; third ATG). I do some things differently, but his was a great training video. When I first started I literally couldn't reach all the places on my face as shown but over time I did develop agility and dexterity.
What I use to get any soap to lather up properly is this setup:
The white cup is actually intended to hold boiling water in the outer jacket (the opening is sealed with a cork) so that gravies or syrups can stay hot during your meal. You can get this at World Market Explorer for $7.99 (called a Warming Pitcher http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12369829). I have an electric kettle in the bathroom that I use to boil water, then put in both the outer jacket and the inner bowl of the pitcher. I put a little of the boiling water in the soap (kept in a green Marvy rubber shaving mug), dip the brush in the white pitcher, then mix the lather. Nice lather with any brand soap (even the infamous modern Williams). Subsequent passes, dip the brush 1/4 of the way in the white pitcher, make a gentle swirl, and apply to my face.
I've given you a lot to digest. Just make sure you want to do it before going to a great deal of expense. It's worth it for me and I just love it!
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Second video:
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I read some posts here and jumped right in.
the very first time I put a straight to my face, I ended up with a 2 inch line (cut) on my face
the very first time I put a straight to my face, I ended up with a 2 inch line (cut) on my face
Traded a Merkur Futur for a straight which was a trade up in my eye because that Futur turned my face into a bloody mess. The guy honed and stroped the blade for me so i could shave right out the box and jumped right in. I first started doing my face and saving my neck with a DE until i got over the fear factor of have a straight against my neck but after a couple shaves like this i started using the straight for everything. Give it a shot. If you don't like it someone on here will buy the straight from you so no harm no foul. Good luck. Oh and Joel's videos on straight shaving posted above are pure gold! Watch em!
Just from hanging out around here at B&B. I've only been at it for about a week and 4 shaves in to it, but each shave is getting better and better. Got a whippeddog sight unseen razor and started after it.
B&B learned me
Me too. + a few old barber type manuals from the turn of the century.
I just started reading a lot on B&B and SRP and watched youtube videos. Eventually just gave it a shot a few weeks ago and am hooked. Nothing to it but to do it (and do some research).
That's a great story Tom. Mine is pretty boring. I read stuff and watched some YouTube videos... lol.
