Thread: Super Newbie question

Ok, so i began shaving with a super cheap crap straight razor and I am waiting for a Dovo in the mail. My question is, after a stroke when shaving, how do you remove the soap/hair from the razor? I tried running it under water (doesnt always get it off). I also tried filling the sink with water and waving it under the water to remove it all, but with a heavier investment in my new razor i dont really want to risk striking the sink with my blade. I also wiped it on a towel. What would you recommend to remove the soap from the blade between strokes?

Lots of options. I wipe the blade in a stropping motion across the meaty part of my palm, the section under the pinky.

mcjacob,

Get a towel from your kitchen that you use to dry dishes and use that to wipe the soap/cream residue from the blade of your str8 razor.

+1, A towel, That's what Barber's used to use. As a matter a fact, some sites sell Barber's towel's. Vintage or Classic I believe...

Hi, MC;

It's my understanding that your lather should normally wash right off the blade when you rinse under a running tap. I've been told that if your lather doesn't wash right off, then it is too dry. Try adding a bit more water (just a bit at a time) to your lather and see how that works. A drier lather may can encourage nicks, so getting your lather right is key. Getting your lather just right is a matter of practice. It should be moist, but not wet. Keep in mind that you don't have to rinse between every stroke. The blade should hold a fair amount of lather, depending on the width. With a 5/8 razor, I rinse mine after 5 or 6 strokes, depending on how much lather I have on my face. There are lots of good videos on making lather on SRP. You might do a search and see what you find.

As you surmised, swishing your nice new razor around in the sink is probably a bad idea. That would seem to me a quick way to chip a nice blade.

Warm regards,

Larry

i rinse under running water.

Originally Posted by LarryP

It's my understanding that your lather should normally wash right off the blade when you rinse under a running tap. I've been told that if your lather doesn't wash right off, then it is too dry.

This can be true, but water type (hard or soft) is actually just as responsible for this.

I agree with the other members, if running water isn't effective then just use a stropping motion on a towel or use a sponge like in Chimensch's video.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

This can be true, but water type (hard or soft) is actually just as responsible for this.

I agree with the other members, if running water isn't effective then just use a stropping motion on a towel or use a sponge like in Chimensch's video.

Really good point. I hadn't thought of that...

Thanks!

Larry

Originally Posted by LarryP

Hi, MC;

As you surmised, swishing your nice new razor around in the sink is probably a bad idea. That would seem to me a quick way to chip a nice blade.

Larry

It's also a good way to develop rust near the pins and on the tang. I'm unfortunately speaking from experience here. When I got my first straight, I treated it like a DE and swished it under a sink full of water to clean it. Even though I thought I was being careful while drying it, it still led to rust on a nice razor.

I fold up a damp - wet towels on the corner of my sink and wipe when needed. works a charm and when it gets full of soap and hair I turn it over. If the other side also gets full of gunk I unfold and use the inside which is now on the outside if that makese sense.