Thread: Impressions after first straight razor shave

I am a right handed shaver. It feels easier and I can do a good job with just the right hand. I may have to employ some strange blade contortions, but my left hand is dyslexic! Best advice is to take it slow and stretch your skin. Having a very sharp blade is also a great help. Lots of good blade honers on SRP, use the resource.

Originally Posted by Legman

Let the razor do the work. Light pressure. Weight of the blade only when you strop.

A couple of other suggestions you may have already been told. When you begin your shave if the razor is pulling STOP do not continue the shave. Either go to the strop or shave with a safety razor if you do not have another straight. Don't be afraid of the razor. If the razor is truly SHAVE READY it will be as smooth as a safety razor. Stretch your skin and do short strokes no more than an inch always being aware of the angle which should be roughly 30 degrees. Be especially careful not to lose your angle when you shave down over your jaw bone or chin. When you are starting straight razor shaving it takes a little while for you to find that perfect touch and to figure your angles etc. for shaving hard to get to spots etc. If you do a second pass shave across the grain. Instead of shaving down sideburn to jaw bone start at your ear and shave towards your nose. If at all possible do not shave against the grain. I promise that second pass across the grain will be baby butt smooth. Here is my post shave routine: a hot towel to my face until it isn't hot, sometimes I will then go over my wet face with an alum block. I don't always use the alum. Next, I put a pea size drop of George F. Trumper Coral Skin Food in my hand rub my hand together about twice and apply it to the shaved area. If you use this stuff and I recommend it, I have used it for over 20 years, do not try to rub it in. Leave it wet on your face. You will actually feel your face drinking this stuff in and it feels fantastic. In about 45 seconds you can touch you face and will not be able to tell you just put anything on it. Then I usually splash on some Pinaud Vegetal Lilac after shave. It has a very subtle fresh scent reminds me of a barbershop and it doesn't burn it simply refreshes. It is about $7 bucks from SRD. The Trumper skin food may seem pricy but a bottle will last me at least 18 months. Sooo, you are doing great, keep after it and enjoy! And, these are my thoughts and opinions having shaved with a straight razor since 1983 years before internet and all the info and forums and stores selling supplies, all the different hones, Norton, Naniwa, Shapton etc. My wife's Dad and Grandpa were barbers, old school barbers who showed me how to use the razor, gave me a razor, a Swatty barber hone and a Strop from 1957. I collected more barber hones and I had to learn the special touch needed to sharpen a razor to shave ready with just a Barber Hone. Good Luck and Good Shaving!

I really cannot contribute much other than I just started some three or four weeks ago myself. I watched a great video by Lynn from   and not sure why I came across that on youtube. I had been planning a trip to Asia and thought it would be neat to master my SR before I went.

I seem to have taken right to it....did my whole face the first try.

My neck hairs grow to the right, I wish they grew straight down! Anyway, I am learning how to go against the grain there.

It definitely seems to be a something we all have to learn as we go. I have found just how I like the lather, too think and the blade skips along, just right and it glides.

I can say one thing---SHAVING IS NOW FUN. I actually look forward to it, I assume because it is a challenge and has some risk involved.

My dad is proud of me and my mother and especially my girlfriend are happy I am now shaving at least twice a week.

*Background. Attempted to straight razor shave in 2009 but did not have a strop and quit after two attempts. I had no idea what angle to use. When I bought a strop I did not touch it for 9 years, until 3 weeks ago in fact.