Thread: Intro and First try. :)

Welcome to the fun adventure.

We have all struggled initially. Others have already said what I believe, which is get comfortable , slowly. It will all come together eventually.

I have been at it almost a year, and I still finish with a DE...partially for my own education and entertainment (if I hear whiskers cut with the DE, I need to pay closer attention to that area with the SR the next time) and partially because I haven't figured out a few areas yet (mustache area, point of chin).

You have a great beginning, typical of what many of us experienced.

I think you're gonna love it. Great start.

Practice non-dom hand in the mirror with a plastic- or butter knife. It get easy faster than you'd think. This from earlier in the week: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...hands-one.html

Whipped Dog items!



Razor is a Hartford Cutlery item with "Extra Hollow Ground" engraved on blade. It appears to be a well worn square type with the sharp corners well rounded.

Greetings and welcome to SRP - fellow Texan...
As others have said, you do what works for you. (we try very hard not to be judgmental here at SRP)

Just learning how to use a Straight razor takes some time - and it seems to come in steps for many of us, picking up a new level or pass every 5-10 shaves. It will be easier if you can work with both hands. Just as you can't do everything with your non-dominate hand that you do with your dominant, but you can do a lot of things, it seems to be the same for many with shaving. Much of the process is "muscle memory" and since its all new, why not try to bring both hands along at the same time (as you feel comfortable...)

One of my older Barber friends told me that in Barber school they learned working with shaving cream on a ballon. Let us know how that works if you try it, suggest you do it outside wearing something you can hose off.

And you don't have to do everything with the non-dominant hand. There may be only one pass/area/stroke that you can do in the beginning, but this is a one step at a time process.

We start off and we watch those youtube segments and cringe and say to ourselves "I will never be able to do that move" - and then one day you will be shaving and have to stop and have a moment to yourself, realizing that you did just make a pass from your Adams apple to the bottom of your lower lip and there are no parts on the counter...

It is one of those things that you get out of it what you put in to it, and you seem to be on the right path.

Smooth Shaving...

Had another go at it last night. Did not prep well, but at least I managed to touch the most of my face with the straight WTG. Did not really get very close and finished with the DE. With the abbreviated prep, the DE shave was pretty dicey.

Gonna do a full prep (shower, lather, hot towel, lather) tonight and have another go.

We are behind you,
Slow and steady will get you to the finish line.

Relax and enjoy!

Just got it done! Did a full three pass with the Straight! Minimal blood from a bump or two (same as with the DE).

My lather was a little too watery. I forgot to empty the brush before starting to work it up.

Needs some work on the funny grain under the neck, but overall pretty satisfied.

Still cheating with the mustache and goatee though.

Smells like success to me!
Great to hear keep at it, it only gets better!

Got a couple more shaves down.

Did the full three passes tonight with good results.

I had downloaded Larry Andro of Whipped Dog's beginners guide. After reading his advice and reasoning behind getting a proper WTG pass being he key to minimizing razor burn from the other passes, I took more time/care to ensure the WTG pass was smooth and thorough before moving on. Big difference in the confort and productivity of the final passes.

Richard

Here I am just over a month into the experience.

I have not touched a disposable at all since the day my SR arrived. I have only picked up the DE twice. Once in the beginning and again a week ago when I wanted to compare my SR shaves to the DE shave.

I am doing all three passes using both hands and have had only two or three nicks and some weepers along the way. Still growing the goatee, so no experience on the chin or lip yet.

My razor seems to be holding up to the noob abuse that I have subjected it to. My stop technique must not be too bad. I have been to the pasted balsa strop with it twice and that seemed to refresh the edge.

I am thinking it is time to acquire another razor or two (or ten..)