Snikkerens "straight razor" adventure

[Snikkeren]

Hi everybody.

I ditched my Gilette cartridges just a week ago. I've shaved a couple of times with a Mühle R89 DE safety razor, but I'm really more fascinated by "straight razor" shaving. So, even before I got my DE starting set, I ordered a Parker shavette with 100 Derby blades on ebay.

It arrived today. I also bought some new blades for my DE, a styptic pencil, and Proraso Razor Burn Repair.

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I just had to test it a little bit before I had to pick up the kids from kindergarden, so I tested it on my leg. I just have to say, I don't normally shave my legs.

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My wife is a nurse, and she was working this afternoon, so I had to mind the kids. It was a long day for me. All I wanted was to try the shavette.

Anyway, when the kids finally were asleep, I could go at it. (Mabe I should have waited until my wife/nurse came home )

As the nerd I am, I actually filmed my first shavette shave ever. I don't know how interresting it is for you guys, but I would really appreciate some feedback on what to do, and what not to. If you have the time to watch it, it would be great. And feel free to give me any pointers.

 

[Attila]

Congrats and welcome to the world of straight razors! Shavettes are an animal all to their own. I have never used one but I hear they are much less forgiving than real straights. You really have to watch your technique, but on the flipside they can teach you good techniqe precisely because of that. I am hoping to watch your video at home (I'm at work now so would get some funny looks I think, if I tried it here) but I just wanted to give you a warm welcome!

There is lots to learn with regards to straight razor shaving, read all you can and don't be afraid to ask questions! The most important thing is to stretch your skin carefully wherever you are using the blade and watch your angles and pressure. No more than 1 or 2 spine widths away from the face!

 

[noahpictures]

Welcome to B&B! I started with a Parker shavette. Great idea keeping a public journal.

 

[Christian_V]

Grats on that first shave!.. only 3-4 nicks not bad. Excited to see how your speed and technique increases.

 

[Snikkeren]

Thanks, guys.

This morning I was expecting to wake up with those small red bumps and irritation on my neck, as they always seeme to appear the next morning. But to my surprise, my neck is just fine. Not even a hint of it.

I shure appreciate any pointers on my technique, if you've got some.

 

[malocchio]

Great documentary !..You did a lot better than I did my first straight shave..

 

[Snikkeren]

After the kids were put to bed tonight, I decided to shave my cheeks. My upper lip and neck was still pretty good, but today it was clear that the cheeks wasn't as close shaven as I thought they were yesterday.

I didn't want to put too much in to it, so I didn't take a shower. I just washed my face in hot water, made some lather, and put a hot towel on before I lathered up.

Yesterday I only did two passes WTG, so I initally decided to do 1 WTG and 1 XTG today. But then, when I started, it didn't feel as akward as yesterday. I felt that I hit just the right angle, and after the XTG I also did a ATG.

And MAN, that was one bbs!!!

And the best of all. No nicks, and not even a hint of razor burn.

I know the cheeks are probably the easyest part to do, but this really boosted my confidence.

 

[Doc226]

Nice job, the only thing I would tell you is to take a more deliberate stroke-very hard to do but it will cut better.

 

[Attila]

Alfredo is right. Longer deliberate strokes will work better. You were doing very short choppy ones. Remember to stretch the skin as much as possible too. Pull in the opposite direction you are going with the shavette.

 

[Snikkeren]

Thanks for the advice.
Today I actually felt I was more determined in my strokes. I wasn't "afraid" of it like I was yesterday. But I still used short strokes in the beginning, and a bit longer as the grains got shorter.

 

[Snikkeren]

So, today I decided to do a full shave (except where I want to have some beard) again. I've never been able to shave two says in a row before. I know I only did my cheeks yesterday, but still, it's only been a day between last full shave. When using the Gilette Fusion cartridges, I was only able to shave once a week, tops.

I made a video of my shave today. At about 12:07 in to the video, I almoast cut myself, but saved it.

So, what do you guys think? Do you have any more pointers for me? What should I do different?

As to the shave:
- Cheeks: BBS
- Upper lip: DFS
- Just below my lips: CCS
- Neck - mostly DFS but tendancys to CCS.

A tiny hint of razor burn on the side where I almoast cut myself, but nothing that won't heal up until tomorrow.

 

[Attila]

I see an overall improvement in your technique. I would say for the neck area, especially when going ATG, use even longer strokes, keep the spine of the razor very close to your neck and be very careful when first placing the blade on your skin. As you noticed, those shavettes can cut very easily with any undue pressure the wrong way.

 

[Snikkeren]

Thanks for the advice.
I'll try using longer strokes.

I do feel my technique is improving quite a bit. I feel a lot more confident than when I had my first shave. I still have to concentrate to get the angle right.

 

[Attila]

I found when I tried short choppy strokes on the neck area it was always a bad idea. The chance of the blade catching or you nicking yourself are exponentially much higher than if you take light, long swooping strokes. Emphasis on no pressure though. Again, be really gentle when you first start your stroke especially, that's where most of the cuts occur...I should know!

 

[Bird_Flu]

...be really gentle when you first start your stroke especially, that's where most of the cuts occur...I should know!

This^

I get most f my cuts at the very beginning or end of a stroke. It always happen because of too much pressure or a poor angle. Congrats on starting out great! My best advice is until you get closer to 100 shaves don't get too comfortable, getting complacent usually draws blood.

 

[Snikkeren]

I hope it's possible to get confident, and still keep the respect of the blade.

So to a question about blades. I've used the Derby Extra blades in my DE razor, and in the shavette I've used Derby professional single edge blades. Besides the DE and SE, what's the difference in these blades?
I've had more success with the Derby Professional, but I don't know if it's because of the blades, or if it's because of the shavette.

I've also got some Feather blades, and some Astra SP blades. Fot todays shave I'm going to try the Astra blades.

I've promised my son (5 years old) that he can try my Mühle R89 DE Safetyrazor (without blades of course). I remember when I was his age, I would shave with my dad, using his DE razor, and would like my son to have the same experience as me. He's really excited about it.

 

[oakeshott]

Snik,
Don't feel pressure to go ATG at this point. If you're comfortable doing so, fine, but don't do it just because all the cool kids are doing it. Three wtg passes will get you almost as close and with far less chance of bleeding and irritation. The first few months, only do more advanced strokes when they start to feel natural. Not perfectly natural of course, but like you're not having to fight your own hand.

 

[Bird_Flu]

I hope it's possible to get confident, and still keep the respect of the blade.

So to a question about blades. I've used the Derby Extra blades in my DE razor, and in the shavette I've used Derby professional single edge blades. Besides the DE and SE, what's the difference in these blades?
I've had more success with the Derby Professional, but I don't know if it's because of the blades, or if it's because of the shavette.

I've also got some Feather blades, and some Astra SP blades. Fot todays shave I'm going to try the Astra blades.

I've promised my son (5 years old) that he can try my Mühle R89 DE Safetyrazor (without blades of course). I remember when I was his age, I would shave with my dad, using his DE razor, and would like my son to have the same experience as me. He's really excited about it.

Confidence will come, don't worry about that. I got over confident in the beginning and have some light scars that turn red when I shave. Heck I'm 80 shaves into it and I just cut myself twice a few shaves ago because I was overly confident and not paying attention. You hit the nail on the head, respect for the blade. You're doing awesome so far keep it up!

 

[AndroiDad75]

Snik,
Don't feel pressure to go ATG at this point. If you're comfortable doing so, fine, but don't do it just because all the cool kids are doing it. Three wtg passes will get you almost as close and with far less chance of bleeding and irritation. The first few months, only do more advanced strokes when they start to feel natural. Not perfectly natural of course, but like you're not having to fight your own hand.

^This!!!!

I took that advice to heart and I think it helped a ton. There were a number of shaves where I wanted to do an XTG on my face, but when I would get ready to start the swipe, it just didn't feel very natural, so I waited. Same thing with the ATG for me, although it looks like you conquered that one quickly. Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to do them and went with it, and it's gotten a little more natural each day.

I still can not do a XTG on the neck, and not sure if I ever will be able to, but I am not giving up hope. Even if I can't do a XTG on the neck, which is only needed to get me to BBS, I can live with DFS with no irritation for the rest of my life!!!

 

[Snikkeren]

It's not that I feel the "pressure" to go ATG, it's just that I do want that BBS. it's actually not to much of a problem. I go WTG, XTG and ATG. And at the end I do minor touch ups.

Today I had my 5 year old boy with me. It's his first "shave".

He used my DE without a blade. He was so axcited, and all day he's been asking when we were going to shave.

Lather up:

Shaving time:

A little helg from dad:

Today I tried the Astra SP in my shavette. It seemes they Are quite a bit sharper than the Derbys.
The shave went pretty well, with a DFS all over except my neck. On my neck I have tendancys to SAS in some places.
But, I do regard this as the best shaving excperiance so far. Aftrer all, I had a great time with my boy.