First ever wet shave with a straight razor

Just became interested in wet shaving and was gifted a straight razor. Would you recommend i start with something else or just give it a careful go? The blade needs to be polished and honed, i would also like to replace the scale, but haven't decided with what yet (im asking my questions for that in a different thread). because of those two things i believe i have plenty of time to practice getting a good lather although the shave will be finished with a dollar shave club cartridge razor.

Should i just do some researrch on good technique and give it a try once it is in the condition i want or start with a safety razor or Shavette and work up?

 

Welcome to TSD! Either plan is ok, but do your homework, and have the razor restored properly. I hope you enjoy TSD and thanks for joining in!

 

Welcome to TSD! Glad you found us.

 

Ditto! And welcome!!

 

Hi, nice to meet you.

A shavette is much harder to learn than a true straight razor. At a minimum you need to have the razor professionally honed. You will also need a strop. While your razor is out being honed watch videos and read about the technique. When you start just do as much you comfortable with and finish with your current razor. It takes time to learn to shave with a straight but it is very rewarding.

 

Do yourself a favor. Blow up a balloon put some lather on it and try to remove it with the razor. If you can remove it without breaking it it will help tremendously. I would do this outside though

 

I started my wet shave journey with a straight. I underestimated the importance of good lather in the beginning. One thing I did have was a shave ready straight. You will need to get any razor honed unless you are sure if its readiness. Very light touch shaving with the grain and stopping where your comfort zone ends are key to learning the straight razor. No shame in having to reapply lather if it is drying or finishing with a different razor if you find yourself out if your comfort zone.

Gains in knowledge and comfort with a straight tend to come every 30 shaves or so. Good luck.

 

Welcome to TSD.

 

Hello and !

 

Welcome to the Shave den. Good to have you here.

 

Welcome to The Shave Den, a great place to hang out!

 

Welcome to TSD, a great place to learn and share experiences. I wouldn't personally jump straight into wet shaving with a straight edge but that's your choice.

Learning to build a proper lather is important but don't overlook beard prep, a key factor. Many swear by hair conditioner, which works well.

Regards,
Chris

 

Welcome to The Den!

 

Welcome to TSD!

 

hello and welcome

 

Welcome to The Shave Den!

 

A straight razor eah... you're a better man than I

 

to TSD "Cody B."

I hope you enjoy it here.

Starting with a straight is as good as any other single edge razor, although perhaps a bit more intense!! Let me say that while I easily and consistently get BBS/DFS shaves with my DE's, successfully using a straight, as far as comfort and closeness is concerned, has eluded me so far. No matter using my DE's I get the best shave's I've ever had and I'm perfectly content .

There are 4 things you need with any razor and even more so with a straight.

1)A truly shave ready razor honed by someone who knows what he/she is doing! We luckily have shave meister's here at the Den.
2)You'll need to learn not only shaving technique but blade edge maintenance(stropping) also.
3)Good preshave prep and lather building technique.
4)Really good shaving technique which, especially for a straight, only time, patience and practice can give you. Remember if your going to shave with a straight, you really should practice with a "shave ready"straight. A Dollar Club razor or a DE, SE, injector etc. won't help you learn straight shaving. While like all shaving Straight shaving is a skill, but IMO it's also an art!

Good Luck on your new journey.

 

Why not? It's all our ancestors had. They survived (I'm proof ) and one reason I started - I figured if they could do it, I could do it.