Straight razor shaving

[Fishing Rhino]

2 hours ago, .ghoti. said:

I used a straight razor for about a month, about 40 years ago.

 

Then I came to my senses.

 

 

[frosty]

9 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Yeah, but you got a really smooth shave 

[deaknh03]

I bought a 1959 fatboy and a selection of blades. Using it as my regular razor. Closest shave I've had in my life, I'm getting used to it and really liking it 

[frosty]

30 minutes ago, deaknh03 said:

I bought a 1959 fatboy and a selection of blades. Using it as my regular razor. Closest shave I've had in my life, I'm getting used to it and really liking it 

I’m loving this straight after getting some practice at it. I’ve got no irritation and it’s just a relaxing process. I won’t say it’s the closest shave I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely the most comfortable!

[Boomstick]

I have been using a safety razor for some years now. I used to a pack of 4 Gillette cartridges for $20 that would last a couple of shaves and then immediately dull and cause irritation, and that got expensive really fast. I've also had electric razors, which seem to pull more hair out then they cut even brand new. So I decided to try a safety razor and never looked back.

 

I like the Merkur blades because they're fairly mild and I still get a good month of shaving daily from a single blade. Theyre a little more expensive, but with the contours of my chin, I can really skin myself so they're worth it. If you don't normally cut yourself, Feather blades are super sharp and much cheaper, and Astras are somewhere in between.

 

The one thing is you have to be sure to take short strokes and keep your angle consistent, because you can really skin yourself. I did quite a few times before I figured out what I was doing, and even switched from a Parker razor to a Merkur, which is much harder to skin myself with. I would recommend the short handled Merkur, as the short handle gives you better control than the long handle.

[frosty]

2 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I have been using a safety razor for some years now. I used to a pack of 4 Gillette cartridges for $20 that would last a couple of shaves and then immediately dull and cause irritation, and that got expensive really fast. I've also had electric razors, which seem to pull more hair out then they cut even brand new. So I decided to try a safety razor and never looked back.

 

I like the Merkur blades because they're fairly mild and I still get a good month of shaving daily from a single blade. Theyre a little more expensive, but with the contours of my chin, I can really skin myself so they're worth it. If you don't normally cut yourself, Feather blades are super sharp and much cheaper, and Astras are somewhere in between.

 

The one thing is you have to be sure to take short strokes and keep your angle consistent, because you can really skin yourself. I did quite a few times before I figured out what I was doing, and even switched from a Parker razor to a Merkur, which is much harder to skin myself with. I would recommend the short handled Merkur, as the short handle gives you better control than the long handle.

Good advice, thank you! I’m still planning on picking up a safety, but I’m really enjoying the straight razor, all my post shave irritation is gone, and my face feels great days afterwards!

[Boomstick]

32 minutes ago, frosty said:

Good advice, thank you! I’m still planning on picking up a safety, but I’m really enjoying the straight razor, all my post shave irritation is gone, and my face feels great days afterwards!

I hear the straight razors can work just as well, I just feel that they'd be more difficult not to skin myself which is a problem for me and even more time consuming. Either will correct post shave irritation issues.

[frosty]

1 minute ago, Boomstick said:

I hear the straight razors can work just as well, I just feel that they'd be more difficult not to skin myself which is a problem for me and even more time consuming. Either will correct post shave irritation issues.

It definitely took some practice, but I’m getting to the point that I don’t really cut myself, at least not until I said that, but the first few times were a mess. It does require some time but I prefer to shave after my shower in the evening, it’s pretty relaxing for me. 

[BigTerp]

I've been using vintage straight razors for many years now. A little more time consuming than using a cartridge, but WAY less expensive. I take my time and go WTG for my first pass and then ATG for my second. This is what takes more time then a quick cartridge shave, but the end result is so much nicer. If I'm in an hurry I'll just do one pass WTG and it really takes no more time that using a cartridge. Those of you using straights should look into lapping film to maintain an edge. I used to send my razors out twice a year or so to be honed, which was really the only expensive with a straight. With lapping film I can do everything from setting bevels to touching up a razor. Super easy to learn to do compared to honing on a stone, and much quicker as well. 

[frosty]

7 hours ago, BigTerp said:

I've been using vintage straight razors for many years now. A little more time consuming than using a cartridge, but WAY less expensive. I take my time and go WTG for my first pass and then ATG for my second. This is what takes more time then a quick cartridge shave, but the end result is so much nicer. If I'm in an hurry I'll just do one pass WTG and it really takes no more time that using a cartridge. Those of you using straights should look into lapping film to maintain an edge. I used to send my razors out twice a year or so to be honed, which was really the only expensive with a straight. With lapping film I can do everything from setting bevels to touching up a razor. Super easy to learn to do compared to honing on a stone, and much quicker as well. 

I’m definitely looking into sharpening. I’m needing to get mine touched up, I was looking at balsa strops with diamond paste, I’ll look into lapping films! Thanks!

[BigTerp]

On 5/4/2018 at 5:50 PM, frosty said:

I’m definitely looking into sharpening. I’m needing to get mine touched up, I was looking at balsa strops with diamond paste, I’ll look into lapping films! Thanks!

Very easy to do with lapping film. And the cost is minimal. I think I have $30 wrapped up in the different micron sizes of lapping film and the bull nose tile that I use as a honing surface. Google "Lapping Film, Try It" and you'll come across a pretty lengthy thread on another forum that explains the process well. You can get 2 to 3 usable pieces of lapping film from each sheet, depending on the size you order. And each piece can do 12 or so razors. Mine are in need of a touchup themselves. With 2 razors I can get them back to tip-top shape in about 30 minutes. Much better than paying to have them honed and waiting a week or more to get my razors back.

[FordsnFishin]

My father,  and grandfather being barbers. I learned to straight shave by the age 17.

 

A bit of practice and you won't do anything else.  I maintain a beard,  but I can clean up my neck/cheeks/sides/eyebrows in roughly 2 minutes.  Run with grain,  use cold water to help from breaking out. 

 

Rinse face,  apply clubman pinaud. Wallah! 

 

I have several different razors,  but started using a replaceable blade style so I don't have to maintain the blade.  The blades I buy are microscopically thin,  and are $8 for 100 pack.  A box last me a very long time. 

[Fishing Rhino]

In my first post I mentioned an implement for sharpening/honing double edge blades.  Just came across it.  Close the door on top, and crank the handle.  The blade would flip from one side to the other, and it had a transmission which would reverse the rotation of the sharpening drums while cranking in one direction.

 

 

 

[frosty]

17 hours ago, FordsnFishin said:

My father,  and grandfather being barbers. I learned to straight shave by the age 17.

 

A bit of practice and you won't do anything else.  I maintain a beard,  but I can clean up my neck/cheeks/sides/eyebrows in roughly 2 minutes.  Run with grain,  use cold water to help from breaking out. 

 

Rinse face,  apply clubman pinaud. Wallah! 

 

I have several different razors,  but started using a replaceable blade style so I don't have to maintain the blade.  The blades I buy are microscopically thin,  and are $8 for 100 pack.  A box last me a very long time. 

I’ve unfortunately met the end of my edges life so I’ve had to resort to the cartridge razor again, but I’ve got my sharpening stuff on the way, but I can tell a huge difference in my comfort level post shave. 

4 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

In my first post I mentioned an implement for sharpening/honing double edge blades.  Just came across it.  Close the door on top, and crank the handle.  The blade would flip from one side to the other, and it had a transmission which would reverse the rotation of the sharpening drums while cranking in one direction.

 

 

 

That’s really neat, I was trying to picture what that would look like, I bet it’s worth a fair amount with the double edge and straight razor shaving getting more popular.