I did it. Straight on the way.

[gmgaj]

I decided to ease into the straight razor experience, and ordered a shave ready #66 gold dollar from buca. It should ship later this week. Also, I am planning on getting a poor man's strop kit from WD, since it seems like that will keep my razor up and running for quite a while if I don't screw things up too bad. I guess I'd better start reading. I am absolutely ignorant on this, so I am a bit hesitant to do more than just give it a good try and see how it goes.

Aside from that, I think I'm going to opt for some lapping film on glass for honing when it comes time for that sort of thing, but I'm not going down that path until I absolutely need to. I really don't know what I'm doing, so I am trying not to buy too much just yet.

 

[Lmarkow]

Recommend you watch some of the vids on YouTube and read the wikis here while you wait for your new gear to arrive. There's lots of good info to relieve some of the absolute ignorance, but diving in is the only way to learn it, and you've taken the first step. There are plenty of folks here to help; just let us know how.

 

[professorchaos]

Congratulations!

The only expectation to have of your first shave is to escape (relatively) unscathed. Learn that, while it is absurdly easy to cut yourself, it isn't nearly as easy as your imagination would have you believe.

 

[Meemai]

Good luck, my first time sucked and now it still is a bit bad. I cut myself 50/50 one day no cuts the other day a lot of cuts. There's also a lot of irritation... But it's worth it! My advice would be to use a good aftershave or some prep.

 

[jpcwon]

Aside from that, I think I'm going to opt for some lapping film on glass for honing when it comes time for that sort of thing, but I'm not going down that path until I absolutely need to. I really don't know what I'm doing, so I am trying not to buy too much just yet.

Yeah, if I were you I would learn how to shave with the straight first before you try and tackle honing. I tried to teach myself how to hone and shave at the same time, and it seemed like it was too much to try and learn at once. It definitely impeded my progress... My advice would be to learn to shave first then learn to hone....

 

[buca3152]

I did it all at once also. Full speed ahead! Everybody is different although it is a lot to learn and it never ends, 1 hour to learn, a lifetime to master say the Japanese.

 

[gmgaj]

Good luck, my first time sucked and now it still is a bit bad. I cut myself 50/50 one day no cuts the other day a lot of cuts. There's also a lot of irritation... But it's worth it!

So is this realistically what I should expect? I feel like I do have wetshaving down fairly well, and am able to achieve BBS on most days with little or no irritation. My prep is good, so that shouldn't be a problem. I will probably be using a straight on weekends when I have extra time to shave, so that may make the learning curve stretch out a bit more.

 

[Luc]

So is this realistically what I should expect? I feel like I do have wetshaving down fairly well, and am able to achieve BBS on most days with little or no irritation. My prep is good, so that shouldn't be a problem. I will probably be using a straight on weekends when I have extra time to shave, so that may make the learning curve stretch out a bit more.

The first shave won't be fantastic and BBS that's for sure.

The fact that you know how to prep your beard and make good lather already, helps heaps. Also, the idea of blade angle is probably strong when you shave so that will help you.

It's a 3" blade so of course things can go wrong. I would suggest having a look at the guide, it should help: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Interactive_Guide_to_Straight_Razor_Shaving

I did a similar thing where I shaved with DEs for a bit of time and switched to straights. It took me around 70 shaves to get where I wanted them to be. If that can give you an idea. You might accomplish that on shave 1 or shave 100. So, YMMV!

 

[gmgaj]

Just for fun, used a shavette this morning for part of my first pass with an astra sp loaded. I'm not entirely sure of how well I did, but there wasn't any blood and it seemed to be cutting hair, so it couldn't have been too bad. I wasn't trying to shave any of my difficult spots, so it probably doesn't mean much.

I had picked up a cheap coolcut 4 knock-off, and it seems to be fairly solid so far. I'm waiting for the GD to really get started.

 

[buca3152]

Shipped today. Keep the lather slick, angle low, one spine width off the face, watch when the contours of the face change as your angle has to change with it. Razor is pre stropped so lather and shave! Enjoy and let us know how you make out.

 

[gmgaj]

Shipped today. Keep the lather slick, angle low, one spine width off the face, watch when the contours of the face change as your angle has to change with it. Razor is pre stropped so lather and shave! Enjoy and let us know how you make out.

 

[gmgaj]

Did the entire first pass today with the shavette. No nicks, no cuts. Maybe I'll do a full 3 passes tomorrow with it just to see how close of a shave I'm getting. Not sure I want to go ATG with it yet, but we'll see how it goes.

 

[gmgaj]

I did 2 full passes with the shavette Saturday. I had a couple of small weepers on my chin, but that's it. Shave quality was bad though. Particularly on the side opposite my dominant hand. I hope I can get that figured out, but it was awkward, and I really didn't feel comfortable. I suspect that part of the problem is that my lather was too thick, but I think I have a lot to learn on technique and keeping a steady hand. My off hand is going to cause me some problems, I think.

 

[buca3152]

My left hand was useless for a couple months when I started. I use it now on some parts of my face but the majority of my shave is done right handed. Not saying you should too, but it works for me. I would say shave every day with it on the face if it goes good continue, if not finish with the de.

 

[gmgaj]

Yeah, I did finish with the DE on Sat, and it turned out great. The good news was that I wasn't irritated from the SE. I can't wait to try the real straight, and see how it works. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

 

[professorchaos]

So is this realistically what I should expect? I feel like I do have wetshaving down fairly well, and am able to achieve BBS on most days with little or no irritation. My prep is good, so that shouldn't be a problem. I will probably be using a straight on weekends when I have extra time to shave, so that may make the learning curve stretch out a bit more.

I think his experience, unfortunately, represents one extreme. I was lucky to have a different experience. Never again picked up a DE after my first straight shave. Within a week or two the shaves became acceptable and continued to get better over the next year.

 

[CanonSterVa]

Great to hear that.
Nearing my 1 year mark from when I migrated to a straight.

 

[gmgaj]

Tomorrow is the day. I have my GD in, and I have the time tomorrow morning for its maiden voyage. Hopefully there won't be too much bloodletting. I will update sometime tomorrow.

 

[buca3152]

Lather slick, angle low. Short strokes until you get the hang of it.

 

[gmgaj]

Thanks. I'm getting nervous, but I'm going all in. I traded off the shavette before taking my first stroke. It's going to work, even if it scars me. I'm too old to worry about being pretty anymore.