How do I start?

[onotoman]

Hi Guys,

I've been safety razor shaving for quite a few years now. I recently came across a vintage straight razor - made in Sheffield, in a lot of safety razors etc that I bought. It's currently being made 'shave ready' for me and is apparently in virtually unused condition and just in need of light homing.

I have a strop and some paste, so once I get it back to I:-

(1) Dive straight in and give it a go
(2) Start with a Shavette type 'straight' then once used to this, go to the 'real' straight?
(3) Wait until a quite morning with no wife and son waiting to use the bathroom, then give it a go
(4) Do easier areas of face with straight then finish with Safety until used to straight

I'm left-handed so I'm used to writing in an awkward fashion - are there any left handed straight users out there with any particular tips?

Apologies if I'm making mountains out of molehills but it's pretty daunting thinking of going from my trusty Slant to a Straight..

Once honed, how often will the razor need re-honing - if stropped properly?

Any advice greatly appreciated

Dave

 

[professorchaos]

Dive right in and give it a go. When you do, give yourself plenty of time. It might be best to wait until the wife and kids are gone. IMHO, skip the shavette. Also, use both hands. Awkward at first, but well worth the effort.

 

[thogstrom]

Dave-
I know exactly how you feel! Thanks for spending the time to type up the question.

Tyler

 

[wdwrx]

Dive right in and give it a go. When you do, give yourself plenty of time. It might be best to wait until the wife and kids are gone. IMHO, skip the shavette. Also, use both hands. Awkward at first, but well worth the effort.

+1
Making the decision is the hard part, after that it's just a matter of doing.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

I say just jump right in. I did and it's not as hard as it looks. Just don't get cocky after a few good shaves. I did and I cut my face something good today.

 

[professorchaos]

I say just jump right in. I did and it's not as hard as it looks. Just don't get cocky after a few good shaves. I did and I cut my face something good today.

It happens...at least it doesn't hurt. And chicks dig scars .

If you can avoid it, don't use the styptic pencil to close the cut. Those cuts I use it on seem to leave scars, while cuts just as bad typically don't.

 

[Luc]

dive right in and give it a go. When you do, give yourself plenty of time. It might be best to wait until the wife and kids are gone. Imho, skip the shavette. Also, use both hands. Awkward at first, but well worth the effort.

+2

 

[Malacoda]

Dive right in and give it a go. When you do, give yourself plenty of time. It might be best to wait until the wife and kids are gone. IMHO, skip the shavette. Also, use both hands. Awkward at first, but well worth the effort.

+3

And in case you want to read up a little on the basics first: StraightRazorPlace.com - First Straight Razor Shave

 

[waxwing23]

Great advice on both hands right off the bat.It feels so weird but you will be so far ahead of the game in a very short time.
Good luck with it.

 

[professorchaos]

+3

And in case you want to read up a little on the basics first: StraightRazorPlace.com - First Straight Razor Shave

There is also THIS article, stickied at the top of this forum. It was my source when starting. Years later and a couple of hundred straights, I can safely say it had everything I needed to know to get started.

 

[onotoman]

Thanks a lot guys!

Quick update:

Whilst waiting for my vintage straight to come back I decided to give the Shavette a go - I snapped a Feather blade in half and went for it this morning. Probably a big mistake as I cut myself to shreds :-(

I hope I get better results with the proper straight and I'll try that two handed technique.

Best Wishes

Dave

 

[Shaman]

Just my tupence, skip the shavette and use the money to buy a vintage shave-ready blade either here or any number of great sites, you won't regret it.

[Edit] Well looks like I was too late with this post, at least you're not out much on the shavette. Maybe you could sell in B/S/T, lots of folks seem to want to try these things. They always scared me (said the man that occasionally shaves with a 7/8 wedge)

 

[SliceOfLife]

I say 3. Last thing you want your first shave with a straight is someone pounding on the door screaming about their need to pee.

 

[onotoman]

Hi Henry,

Thanks for the tips. Until I read the article on StraightRazorPlace, I thought that when you mention 'both hands' that you meant holding the razor with both hands at the same time (like a baseball bat) rather than swapping hands for each side of the face. A bit of a 'blonde moment' from me I think..

Dive right in and give it a go. When you do, give yourself plenty of time. It might be best to wait until the wife and kids are gone. IMHO, skip the shavette. Also, use both hands. Awkward at first, but well worth the effort.

 

[onotoman]

hi Shaman,

Thanks a lot - I will indeed wait until my vintage sheffield-made razor comes back from the professional homing before I start. The Shavette can stay in the drawer.

I was given the Shavette by my barber in Turkey, he weilds it with ease - but I suppose that he's not shaving himself..

Just my tupence, skip the shavette and use the money to buy a vintage shave-ready blade either here or any number of great sites, you won't regret it.

[Edit] Well looks like I was too late with this post, at least you're not out much on the shavette. Maybe you could sell in B/S/T, lots of folks seem to want to try these things. They always scared me (said the man that occasionally shaves with a 7/8 wedge)

 

[professorchaos]

Hi Henry,

Thanks for the tips. Until I read the article on StraightRazorPlace, I thought that when you mention 'both hands' that you meant holding the razor with both hands at the same time (like a baseball bat) rather than swapping hands for each side of the face. A bit of a 'blonde moment' from me I think..

No worries...we all had our blond moments when starting out.

 

[rickboone1]

I agree. Dive right in. But, do the easier areas of your face until you get comfortable with grip, etc. Don't go the Shavette route unless that is what you want to use.