Thread: First Straight Shave with my freshly Honed by Lynn Red Imp Wedge

Although, not my first straight shave ever, its probably my 3rd. It ours my first straight shave, knowing I had a shave ready razor, as I received it in the mail last night from Lynn Abrams.Anyway, everything went great!! I had some difficulty on the left side of my.face as I'm a righty, and im still learning all the angles and whatnot. I actually feel more comfortable at times with the atg passes than.wtg, but that's just because I'm still learning how to hold the razor correctly and I'm comfortable going atg in my neck and on the opposite side of my face with the opposite hand. Anyway, I have too say, and I don't know if this has to do with Lynns honing, our the red imp wedge, our just straights in general, but I felt 110% more confident that I wouldn't cut myself, than with my ejde89 safety razor, which is considered a mild razor. I did 3 passes with my Imp, and suffered 0 zero nicks, cuts or weepers. Zero irritation, and although lengthy, a beautiful shave. It. Wasn't as even as with my de, but that's because I'm still learning. I did get some pulling and tugging in certain areas, but again that's my technique. I don't get what all the fear of straights is about? I was actually using some buffing type strokes around the edges of my moustache and side burns, and not once felt as though I was in danger of cutting myself. I actually think straights are milder than my de safety razors... Unless maybe I got lucky, but I know there were times that I knew I made a mistake with a stroke and was expecting blood, and nothing!! Nothing happened, no blood. Not a single drop. Now if I can learn to maintain the razor and eventually hone it (I bought everything needed, coticule etc.) Im in business... Woooooohooooo.. Im so excited right now, I wish my beard would grow faster, just so I could shave again tonight... Lovin it

Congratulations on a great start. You must be a "natural." Plus, it only gets better!

Good Job! I wish that I would've had the internet when I learned how to straight shave in the early 90s...a few bad habits might never have been used and cultivated, which, at this juncture, are almost impossible to break me of. For one, I shave the right side of my face w/ the left hand and the left side with the right. Which causes a brief blind spot while shaving. There's also my stropping, which is wrong, which I can only do left handed and I'm a natural righty who had a stroke several years back on my right side. I kind of zip it on and off the strop. I've tried the "correct" technique with the right hand, but I'm so slow as to be painful to watch. Basically, I make do. As a consolation prize, I am fairly ambidextrous in my abilities - not by choice, rather, by necessity.

Originally Posted by cflaageriv

I am fairly ambidextrous in my abilities - not by choice, rather, by necessity.

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

Wonderful to hear, Chef. Kudos for getting an edge from Lynn. The Imp or similar wedges are just wonderful to learn with - and you may find you continue to love them after you're tasted everything else.

'Very glad to hear of a fine early shave.

Originally Posted by Ogershok

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

That seems like it would be counter productive.

Great to hear that you're off to such a good start! I know when I got my first razor (also honed by lynn) I felt like I was going to slice my face off, but now that I'm used to having an open blade at my throat, I realize I was cutting myself more with my own EJ DE razor

Seriously though, sounds like you're a natural. Hope the shaves get even better from here on out!

I will echo Chefbaze,

At the beginning I also got shave ready razor from SRP member and I shave whole face, first time ever, no nick, cut with both hands. The only and small problem was my left hand. Now I have improve my shaving skills and can shave both hands regards side (Left hand-right side of face or left hand-left side of the face) however after more time, shaving….. bummer I cut myself once. Basically I think I got more careless which cause cut (in more precise description… I chop off 1 mm of my beard but no bleed as this was just small piece of skin).
With all this said I would say that we need to get confident from day one about what we do. I did this, read probably all post on this forum, all books, all Lynn and others members (mentors) advices and I decided go for it, all at once… but disclaimer her: It is just me and I advice everyone to study, try and sometimes go back to study and practice as we really need to realize that "you are" holding in the hand sharpest blade ever made (not including medical scalpels)

Originally Posted by robellison01

That seems like it would be counter productive.

Actually, for me, it was a fright I had with a first stroke (ischemic) when I was 34 years old. I had to learn to re-use the right side of my body. Sensing another might be on the way, I would shave with my left hand for 1/2 my face, then finish with the right. Well, I had another stoke exactly 2 years later, that one was hemorrhagic and almost killed me. By appearance, no one would ever guess I've had either stroke. I function well enough. I am a lawyer, so sometimes I must do hearings before ALJs. I just [over] prep, have all or most of the answers, and no one ever knows the difference. But back to your comment, it comes in handy: I can write with either hand, I can hit a ball with either arm and I can fish with either hand. One thing I can't do is shoot my shotgun with either hand. Probably because I would have to buy a left handed gun, and I'm too cheap to begin that all over again.