Shaving with a straight is one of those things you have to learn to do before you die.
Yes but hopefully sooner rather than later!
What the heck is wrong with me?
- Thread starter Obsessed
- Start date
Yes but hopefully sooner rather than later!
Gooble Gobble
Gooble Gobble
We accept you.
One of us.
That is just too good, BTW!
You do want to try a straight razor. It is not difficult, and you can do it. B&B has not been a source of peer pressure. The members are your friends, and they are looking out for your best interests.
Straights give a better shave to a DE just so long as the edge of the blade is shaving sharp and is used correctly.
Learning to use a straight takes a little time. About a month.
Learning to keep a straight sharp is made out to be unbelievably complex. This is because it isn't easy and many specialists make a great living charging good money to sharpen razors and put out the myth that it is only for the talented few to undertake the work.
You need to buy a razor that is "shave ready" from a reputable supplier and you need to purchase a strop and be prepared to read and learn how to use the strop. Gently, gently, gently. You can find a reputable supplier if you carefully read the shaving forums.
After a week or so, the blade will need to be sharpened. This is not your fault, it is normal. Then.......
A leather paddle strop is the cheapest option but you need to buy one that has been pre coated with the correct abrasives. You need to look for a good supplier such as Tony Miller.
Eventually, you will need a hone (more money and learning time) or to send the razor off to a specialist.
So, I am not trying to put you off from enjoying the most enjoyable way of shaving known to mankind, but I am telling you that like many things in life, you can not experience the best without some input and willingness on your part to learn how to do it. There is also a cost to the learning curve
Of course once you have learnt how to do it, it is the most inexpensive way of shaving and for the rest of your life.
If you read and listen to the advice, it will be a quick and a richly rewarding experience, but if you rush and think you know best, you will cut your face and feel and wish you had not even started in the first place.
If you get razor burn, using a straight, you need to go back to basics.
1. Is the razor sharp?
2. Am I holding the razor at the correct angle to my face?
If you have prepared your face for a shave correctly and the razor is sharp and you don't try to cut your beard at the wrong angle, the rest is just pure enjoyment. Learning to do this can take a little time.
Don't give up however, it is really worth the learning curve.
Learning to use a straight takes a little time. About a month.
Learning to keep a straight sharp is made out to be unbelievably complex. This is because it isn't easy and many specialists make a great living charging good money to sharpen razors and put out the myth that it is only for the talented few to undertake the work.
You need to buy a razor that is "shave ready" from a reputable supplier and you need to purchase a strop and be prepared to read and learn how to use the strop. Gently, gently, gently. You can find a reputable supplier if you carefully read the shaving forums.
After a week or so, the blade will need to be sharpened. This is not your fault, it is normal. Then.......
A leather paddle strop is the cheapest option but you need to buy one that has been pre coated with the correct abrasives. You need to look for a good supplier such as Tony Miller.
Eventually, you will need a hone (more money and learning time) or to send the razor off to a specialist.
So, I am not trying to put you off from enjoying the most enjoyable way of shaving known to mankind, but I am telling you that like many things in life, you can not experience the best without some input and willingness on your part to learn how to do it. There is also a cost to the learning curve
Of course once you have learnt how to do it, it is the most inexpensive way of shaving and for the rest of your life.
If you read and listen to the advice, it will be a quick and a richly rewarding experience, but if you rush and think you know best, you will cut your face and feel and wish you had not even started in the first place.
If you get razor burn, using a straight, you need to go back to basics.
1. Is the razor sharp?
2. Am I holding the razor at the correct angle to my face?
If you have prepared your face for a shave correctly and the razor is sharp and you don't try to cut your beard at the wrong angle, the rest is just pure enjoyment. Learning to do this can take a little time.
Don't give up however, it is really worth the learning curve.
<After a week or so, the blade will need to be sharpened. >
Do you necessarily think so? I mean assuming one has a hanging strop and is using that, as they really should before every shave. Does everyone using a straight have a paddle strop?
<A leather paddle strop is the cheapest option>
Well, actually, I have a balsa wood paddle strop, which I would say is about as inexpensive as can be. If one really needs a paddle strop, and is trying to save some money at least starting out, I would say make a balsa wood paddle strop and get $4 worth of chrome oxide powder from that guy that is selling samples. That should do very well. Look up how to apply the chrome oxide--basically sparingly--and you should be in business. Use it very lightly, same direction as you strop on a hanging strop, using the back of the razor to set the angle. Should not take many strokes at all.
Do you necessarily think so? I mean assuming one has a hanging strop and is using that, as they really should before every shave. Does everyone using a straight have a paddle strop?
<A leather paddle strop is the cheapest option>
Well, actually, I have a balsa wood paddle strop, which I would say is about as inexpensive as can be. If one really needs a paddle strop, and is trying to save some money at least starting out, I would say make a balsa wood paddle strop and get $4 worth of chrome oxide powder from that guy that is selling samples. That should do very well. Look up how to apply the chrome oxide--basically sparingly--and you should be in business. Use it very lightly, same direction as you strop on a hanging strop, using the back of the razor to set the angle. Should not take many strokes at all.
You and I are on the same page mdunn, apparently exactly the same page since we are both using balsa.
I think a paddle strop, whether balsa or leather, is something of a misnomer anyway, because I think what one is doing with the pastes is closer to honing than stropping as one would do with a hanging strop because you are really removing metal, not just lining up the edge.
Daily stropping is a different concept altogether. Your are just straightening up that edge, not taking off metal.
I might use the paddle strop a little more often than every few months--maybe every few weeks if I had and was using only one razor--but "tiny touchups" is right. Once a week would seem way too often to be necessary. I suppose one could if they were being real persickety and had a real fine touch with it do it once a week as some kind of perfectionism, but I suspect I would be making the edge rougher not smoother overall, even though I find that chrome oxide to make a very smooth edge.
Thanks.
I think a paddle strop, whether balsa or leather, is something of a misnomer anyway, because I think what one is doing with the pastes is closer to honing than stropping as one would do with a hanging strop because you are really removing metal, not just lining up the edge.
Daily stropping is a different concept altogether. Your are just straightening up that edge, not taking off metal.
I might use the paddle strop a little more often than every few months--maybe every few weeks if I had and was using only one razor--but "tiny touchups" is right. Once a week would seem way too often to be necessary. I suppose one could if they were being real persickety and had a real fine touch with it do it once a week as some kind of perfectionism, but I suspect I would be making the edge rougher not smoother overall, even though I find that chrome oxide to make a very smooth edge.
Thanks.
- Thread starter
- #28
I appreciate and am amused by the peer pressure!
Gooble Gobble
Gooble Gobble
We accept you.
One of us.
Hahahaha, nice.
You do want to try a straight razor. It is not difficult, and you can do it. B&B has not been a source of peer pressure. The members are your friends, and they are looking out for your best interests.
That is hilarious, too!
- Thread starter
- #31
Would it be a safe bet that the peer group here would not be excited about the idea of trying to Feather AC first, so I can see how I like straight shaving without bothering with stropping and honing? (Should I also assume that mention of the Pro Guard blades for the AC is grounds for ejection from the forum?)
Stropping is not as daunting as it may seem. That said if you feel more comfortable with a disposable blade system go for it.
I think you'll have more fun with an authentic straight, but if you want to go for the AC, that will be okay too. Whatever makes you try it!
I have never tried a feather. Everything I have ever heard about them indicates that they have a different feel from a regular straight razor and are much more "unforgiving." I sure do not like the sound of that last part myself.
If I thought a feather would really be like shaving with a straight, I would not hesitate to recommend it, but I can't. I would hate for you to have a lousy experience after all this build up.
You are not going to have to worry about honing for a long time, if ever. Stopping is not difficult.
- Thread starter
- #36
As it turns out, I may start shaving in the evening anyhow, in which case the time crush won't be as big a factor. If that works out, there'd be a lot less need for the AC.
I am a bit confused based on some of the prior posts as to how frequently a razor must be honed. I would hope that if I purchase a shave-ready razor, I won't need to worry about honing for a long time, provided I don't screw up the stropping.
I am a bit confused based on some of the prior posts as to how frequently a razor must be honed. I would hope that if I purchase a shave-ready razor, I won't need to worry about honing for a long time, provided I don't screw up the stropping.
You are correct in that you will not need to worry about honing for some time. if you do some stropping damage odds are you can work it out on some balsa with paste.
I would actually love to hear some experts weigh in on this, too. To me using a balsa or leather paddle with paste is really a method of honing. (Although, I am thinking of chrome oxide and diamond paste, and others may be thinking of something more gentle.) And I am thinking that if a razor is honed properly in the first instance (meaning by someone other than me), it ought to be able to go at least a month of daily use, with proper stropping, before it needs something like a paddle strop and paste. But I am not completely sure. Because I have a paddle strop handy pasted with .25 diamond and with .5 chrome, as I recall, I can do a quick little touch up anytime I want. And because I only had a razor I had honed myself up until recently, it was pretty easy to convince myself to do a little touch up every couple of weeks or so. At worst it was not going to hurt anything.
Maybe it makes a difference whether the blade is carbon steel or stainless, too.
But bottom line for your purposes, Obsessed, think you will get a good amount of time out of a professionally made shave ready razor before you have to worry about anything other than standard before every shave stropping, which is pretty easy. And that when you do have to start worrying about anything at all in the nature of honing/using a paddle strop, it is going to be minimal, time and money-wise, and you are going to feel confident about doing it. And then, I guess, if you do not want to do it yourself, you send out a razor used every day, to be professionally hones every three months or so. Which means every six months or so, if you own two, or not very damn often if you are like many of the folks here and buy an additional razor a week. (That is not me, BTW, just so you know it does not have to be that kind of whirlpool. I owned one razor for months and months. I know own four, but one is untouched. I mostly use two, leaving my original razor unused, more because I want to get it re-scaled than anything wrong with the blade or anything, even though I as an utter amateur honed that razor. (Do as I say, not as I do. That was insane!)
I guess I am about 8 or 9 months into this stuff. Maybe longer.
Bottom line, go for it! Get a shave ready razor and a hanging leather strop and you will have all you need to give this a completely whole-hearted try.
I hate to say it, but it is really like your fear of putting a razor sharp piece of steel up against the thin, smooth, fragile skin of your one and only face. Three or four shaves from now you will have forgotten that you ever had a concern about doing that at all. By the time you need to worry about getting your straight razor re-honed or even touched up or whatever will not give whatever expense or hassle it seems to be a second thought.
Now maybe that should be concerning, but when it comes up I doubt you will worry about it in the least. You will be worried about other things, like just how many passes to make XTG just above your lip (that is a joke you do not want to point the sharp edge of that blade up right at your nose!)
- Thread starter
- #39
Thanks for the post!
I'm thinking that a stainless razor would make more sense for me from a maintenance standpoint, but they are obviously more expensive. Is there a good entry-level stainless, or should I just fo with carbon for now in case I don't like it?
I see that Vintage Blades has this entry-level package. Any thoughts?
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=886&cat=142&page=1
Honestly, I'm not really afraid of seriously hurting or disfiguring myself (I'm mroe afraid of my kids doig that if I leave the thing in reach). I'm more worried about having an unpleasant and somewhat painful experience, while getting crappy shaves and wasting money, and thus being frustrated at myself for going on a fool's errand.
Ultimately, however, it's also just my tendencey to research the hell out of things before I pull the trigger (as those who followed my thread on grills in the Speakeasy can attest to!). I am "Obsessed," after all.
I'm thinking that a stainless razor would make more sense for me from a maintenance standpoint, but they are obviously more expensive. Is there a good entry-level stainless, or should I just fo with carbon for now in case I don't like it?
I see that Vintage Blades has this entry-level package. Any thoughts?
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=886&cat=142&page=1
Honestly, I'm not really afraid of seriously hurting or disfiguring myself (I'm mroe afraid of my kids doig that if I leave the thing in reach). I'm more worried about having an unpleasant and somewhat painful experience, while getting crappy shaves and wasting money, and thus being frustrated at myself for going on a fool's errand.
Ultimately, however, it's also just my tendencey to research the hell out of things before I pull the trigger (as those who followed my thread on grills in the Speakeasy can attest to!). I am "Obsessed," after all.
No. It's too late. The Marathon bug has bitten. There is no cure. There is no antidote.
You are going to do a Marathon, you just don't know it yet.
I swore I would never do a Marathon, and I told my podiatrist friend he could bet his practice on that. And I added, if I was ever crazy enough to do one, it would not be New York.
Four NYC Marathons later, I can tell you it is the most fun you will have for 26.2
You will cross the finish line of your first Marathon, and immediately think, "Thank God! Never Again!"
Then they put the Mylar blanket on you. Then they give you a nice shiny medal. Then you start to feel good about finishing.
Then, this tiny crazy thought pops up. Out of nowhere it says, "Hey, you know, that wasn't so bad after all. And if you do one more long run, you can best your time!" And you think yeah.. yeah.. I can definitely do better next time...
You're hooked. You might as go over to http://www.marathonguide.com/ and start picking one out.
