Starting with just the cheeks wtg is a great idea.Don't know if this will help ,but when i started with a straight i just did my cheeks at first,
Then finished with a DE. I added more of my face as i got more confident. Cheeks then flat bits of neck,
Then jawline and under nose. I still struggle with under nose .(I have a fear of slicing it off) although i have never cut myself deep.
Had a few tiny nicks and i use straights at least once a week Good luck it will come
What a post!I would suggest you try to practise more frequently. Reading the experience of new straight shavers on different forums they all seem to crack it within a number of shaves.
Counterintuitively ambidextrous shaving is easier than one handed because you have more flexibility in stroke
Here are some useful videos
In this video Dr Matt says it isn't instructional and to follow GeoFatboy. Personally I think Dr Matt"s passes are better, and would not follow GeoFatboy as his angle is far too steep.
If you are in the UK, Trumpers run shaving lessons: https://www.trumpers.com/shaving.cfm
You need to bear in mind four things in this order:
1. The razor is ready to shave.
That means a properly honed and stropped razor. Hopefully your razor comes from a supplier who honed it properly for you.
You then need to strop the razor correctly. You can roll the edge if you do not keep the razor flat on the strop and it will need to go back to a hone to correct this. I recommend a paddle strop to start.
2. You need to have a well hydrated lather. Straight Razors do not have teflon baked to the blade like DE blades. Consequently they need more assistance from the lather to glide through the hair. You should aim to add more water into your lather than with DE shaving.
3. Angle of blade, pressure and angle of stroke. The blade needs to be lower than most people think. Generally a spine width from the face, but mileage may vary so you will need to experiment.
4. Practise. Everything else being equal, the closeness of shave improves considerably over the first 100 shaves. People report an improvement at the 30 mark and then very good shaves around 100. I would not limit yourself to straight shaving once a mouth. At least consider shaving with a cutthroat at weekends, once on Saturday, and once on Sunday.
As others have said, incorporate it into your DE shave. Start with the easy bits and leave the upper lip and chin til last.
I'm doing alternate passes between shavette & DE and I'm getting results that I would never have thought possible a year ago
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Thank you so much for the pointer - Truefitt & Hill offer them too https://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/products/traditional-cut-throat-shaving-class , and so do Pall Mall Barbers https://www.pallmallbarbers.com/product-category/vouchers/ and so do Ruffians https://ruffians.co.uk/collections/gifts-accessories/products/cut-throat-razor-masterclass but I wouldn't have found that out without your suggesting! Are there any others anyone can think of? Anyone done any and have a recommendation?I would suggest you try to practise more frequently. Reading the experience of new straight shavers on different forums they all seem to crack it within a number of shaves.
Counterintuitively ambidextrous shaving is easier than one handed because you have more flexibility in stroke
Here are some useful videos
In this video Dr Matt says it isn't instructional and to follow GeoFatboy. Personally I think Dr Matt"s passes are better, and would not follow GeoFatboy as his angle is far too steep.
If you are in the UK, Trumpers run shaving lessons: https://www.trumpers.com/shaving.cfm
It is - Neil Miller restored my razor, and I use a paddle strop (although its been a while - at least a year, so I'll need to send it back to him again!)You need to bear in mind four things in this order:
1. The razor is ready to shave.
That means a properly honed and stropped razor. Hopefully your razor comes from a supplier who honed it properly for you.
You then need to strop the razor correctly. You can roll the edge if you do not keep the razor flat on the strop and it will need to go back to a hone to correct this. I recommend a paddle strop to start.
I don't think my lather technique is bad either. One of my favourite moments of a shaving day - a bit of alchemy. Currently really enjoying the last bit of my Klar Kabinett. Here's hoping the Dusy is up to the same standard!2. You need to have a well hydrated lather. Straight Razors do not have teflon baked to the blade like DE blades. Consequently they need more assistance from the lather to glide through the hair. You should aim to add more water into your lather than with DE shaving.
This is in part why I'm thinking some professional help might be a way forwards. Not convinced I am getting it right. Experimentation is painful!3. Angle of blade, pressure and angle of stroke. The blade needs to be lower than most people think. Generally a spine width from the face, but mileage may vary so you will need to experiment.
Even if I had a prolonged period of time off, and could shave 2-3 times per week (which is what I do usually) that would only be 6 shaves or so. probably less as it is taking at least a week for my skin to recover between shaves! If professional courses I've looked at offer 2-3 shaves per day, that would be a much quicker learning curve!4. Practise. Everything else being equal, the closeness of shave improves considerably over the first 100 shaves. People report an improvement at the 30 mark and then very good shaves around 100. I would not limit yourself to straight shaving once a mouth. At least consider shaving with a cutthroat at weekends, once on Saturday, and once on Sunday.
Really well put. I too first shaved with a dull blade and it was an horrendous experience. I later found out that it was me who ruined the freshly honed edge while stropping.I've been straight shaving for about 2 years now but I remember when I first started.
If there was one thing that made a difference when I first started was learning to keep the razor sharp. I'm not sure what happened to my first SR but it just wasn't sharp enough, despite being bought shave ready, my guess is that I didn't know how to strop the blade properly. Once I sorted the blade stropping out I began to make progress regularly..... dull blades definitely make the whole experience much more difficult. It is more important to have a sick than cushioning lather.
You need to give yourself plenty of time, you can't rush these things.
I think it's a common mistake made by people starting out.Really well put. I too first shaved with a dull blade and it was an horrendous experience. I later found out that it was me who ruined the freshly honed edge while stropping.
Lesson learnt.
I think it's a common mistake made by people starting out.
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