So, since my teenage years, I've wanted to learn how to shave using a straight razor. As I'm trudging along a little bit after my mid 20's mark, I find myself more open to do stuff I've never had a chance or really tried to do when I was younger.

So, I bought myself a cheapy shave-bowl, brush, and soap kit, and a cheapy straight razor known as a 'shavette', which has replaceable blades. All of it at around $50. No point in paying $200~ for a decent setup if I end up not liking it, right? Gentlemen, it is absolutely amazing. It's like having sex, but with your own face. The results are becoming less bloody as the week goes by and I'm getting used to the art. I'm pretty sure I'll order a real straight razor very soon.

I'd appreciate any pointers if you have any experience in this! Currently, my primary educators on the subject are Master Yoo(tube) and Sensei Goo(gle).

I've thought of getting a straight razor shave from a barber, but on the other hand, I haven't been to a barber since about 1987.  Something about a straight razor shave kind of makes me nervous, too.  I seem to keep thinking of Vincent van Gogh:



My father used to shave with a straight razor, but started to use double-edged Gillette safety razors and never went back to them.  For a long time the best shave I got was from the Gillette Sensor Excel cartridge razor, but they started to get too expensive.  They're now about $20 for a pack of ten. To save money, I got a battery-operated razor sharpener.  It works, but I also found that honing the razor on a piece of newsprint works very well, and there are times when I think they come out better and sharper than when they are band new.

When multiple-blade razors first came out, I thought they were ridiculous.  Then they had 3-blade razors, then 4.  "Hey, why not ten blades," I thought to myself.  But they do work better.

Even though my beard is now white/grey and doesn't show much of a "5 o'clock shadow," it's pretty thick, so I am always looking for new shaving methods.  (Yes, I also use an electric razor when in a hurry.)

Of late, Kroger (King Soopers out here) has come out with a pack of four 4-edged disposable razors for only about eight bucks, and I am very pleased with them.  They also re-sharpen on the newprint pretty well.  I have a leather strop for knives and such, but the newprint works perhaps better, at least on the razors.  You just push the dry blade with the edge along the paper, varying the direction of stroke.

I know this newsprint honing only polishes one side of the edge, but that doesn't seem to matter.  I guess if you're getting a zero-thickness edge, it doesn't matter that you're only working on one side. 

One hint (in any sharpening) is whatever medium you're using, use lighter and lighter strokes as you proceed.  My father taught me that.

Sex with your face, huh?  Isn't there a poem... something, something... about that, tickles my brain... having to do with some town up in Maine?  I can't remember exactly.

Terry, 230RN

Pic credit in properties

I'd appreciate any pointers if you have any experience in this! Currently, my primary educators on the subject are Master Yoo(tube) and Sensei Goo(gle).

Haha, Yoo Goo   

.......................I'd appreciate any pointers if you have any experience in this! Currently, my primary educators on the subject are Master Yoo(tube) and Sensei Goo(gle).

Always make sure you strap the razor before you use it and make sure you don't let kingkeoni shave his knuckle and backhair before you use it............

I bought an expensive straight with my re-enlistment bonus and it was pretty good.  The problem I ran into was that after about 30 shaves or so (give or take based on beard type), you need to hone it.  I've got a Norton 800/1200 wet stone, which I was under the impression would work quite well, but it seems you need a much higher grit than that; the 800/1200 is for setting the bevel, not honing.  After looking at how expensive a good fine grit stone is, I went with a Merkur HD safety razor, and I love it.  It's similar to the straight in that it's very traditional, and it's a well-crafted tool instead of being a crappy sheet metal and plastic disposable POS.  On top of that, I get ten packs of blades for it for $1.99 at Wally World, which means that I throw them out after only one use and still come out way ahead.

On the other hand, I did go tossing through the bathroom drawers looking for that old straight the other day, because although an old-schools safety razor is romantic, there's nothing as manly as a straight.  If you figure out how to hone yours back to a proper edge, let me know, I'd be willing to pitch you a five or ten-spot to hit mine up. 

As for tips, go with good quality shaving cream.  You've got the cheapy soap bowl, which I'm thinking is probably that pinkish round bar that comes in a green box at Wal Mart; I'd get rid of that straightaway.  Go with some of the higher-end soaps from someplace like vintageshaving.com or I think vintagebladesllc.com also carries soaps.  If you don't want to pay a premium, I've had good results with Neutrogena's shave cream.  It comes in a dark charcoal-grey squeeze tube and makes a nice thick lather.  The other stuff I like is the yellow bottle of HeadBlade shave cream.  It's fairly cheap and lasts approximately half of forever.  That's what i'm using now.  Then, if you haven't already, find a good non-alcohol based aftershave *lotion*.  Again, I like Neutrogena's aftershave; it's got a light, clean smell that doesn't compete with cologne, if you choose to wear it.  That also comes in a black squeeze tube, which is packaged in a black cardboard box at WalMart.  The aftershave is readily available at most any Wal Mart, but the shave cream isn't always.  I'll have to ask the Mrs. where she gets mine, since she handles all the consumables shopping.

Final thought:  I was in a huge rush this morning, and left my Merkur at a friend's house after preparing for a wedding, so I didn't have a razor and had to use my wife's Gillette Venus lady shaver.  I got an amazing shave with that thing, but I'll be damned if I'm going to remove my facial hair with a pink woman's razor on a regular basis!

Edit to add:  Get a badger brush!  Boar hair brushes do the job, but any badger brush will blow your cheap one out of the water.  Just make sure you're sitting down when you price them out.  Also, consult your doctor to make sure your heart is healthy enough for badger brush shopping.   

I mentioned this in another thread but look for something called Shave Secret. You can buy a small bottle of this at Walmart for just a few bucks and you will not believe how smooth your shaves are. It's like this minty oil that you only need a few drops of for a full shave.

I used to use some Shave Secret in with my lather when I was using a soap mug and brush. Cool stuff, and it's got a nice smell if you're using unscented soap.

Thanks for the advice!

I got all my things from amazon. I like to read a little before spending money. lol. Besides, it's already ingrained in me that Hawaii sucks as far as inventory availability. If it's not mainstream, chances are, nowhere in Hawaii holds it. O_o.

I got myself some aftershave the other day. Love that stuff! I always liked Brut, so ended up getting one of theirs.

I'll have to learn honing too. hehehehe.

Thanks again for the advice!