Shaving and Beard/Face Maintenance

My beard grows normally, so I've been using a Braun SyncroPro 7526 then finishing with Zelex after shave gel (from Key West Aloe) for years. No problems.

 

Not really pissed, the blade is very salvageable, but has a wave on the edge, when it was buffed (before I got it) the blade was buffed in unevenly which caused sections of the blade to be not as wide.

The horn might be saved, but it is unknown, it could also crack and or take a really long time. So I went with new instead

 

krazie

I just got to shave with the frame-back

I must admit, of all the razor I have had honed, this definitely shaves the best of all. It feels sharper than the rest...which also makes it a lot easier to get very shallow slices (just enough to draw blood lol, easily stopped by cold water).

either way, I must admit, my first use of a frame-back and I am happy

 

I've gone a few months with my DE, and am really liking it. Maybe in a few years I'll pick up a straight and give it a go. I want to try it, but it seems so damn dangerous it's kind of scary!

 

Do it. You can feel your balls grow larger with each shave.
Crazy engineer- Impressive. I might have to see it I can find one. Sounds promising for sure!

 

I ordered up a full sized Badger brush (the Art of Shaving one that came in the kit was small and didn't fit the holder) and it finally came in yesterday Like a kid on Christmas, I tore open the box, pull out the brush and daammmn that thing stinks! Apparently, it's a common issue and you can wash them out but if it's your first time with a brush, you might not be ready for it (I wasn't)

 

did you get your stand offline? ive been looking around town (bed bath beyond wallyworld etc.) and cant really find any. ive seen plenty online but im moving in a few days and dont want to have to worry about if ill be at the house when it gets here

 

No, I bought it at Lee's with the rest of the stuff. It's the simple stainless steel safety razor/brush stand. The new brush came with it's own plastic drip stand and I bought that one off Amazon. It was only like $20 for the brush, drip stand and shipping. I'm pretty bad about going to stores, if I can get it online and have it shipped, I usually go that route. I work fairly long hours and like to have my weekends free for working around the house so I order most things online. (Plus with Lee's, you get free shipping over $100 so I did one big order and got everything I'd need)

This is the stand I bought:
http://www.leesrazors.com/products/Chrome-Shaving-Stand.html

 

I agree with him

Do it

Definitely try to find one. It is a different shave from hollows and wedges. Very comfortable, though in all the places I have looked, I have seen one.....I bought it too

Under my 25 limit per razor (assuming good condition)

If you can to one, definitely get it

 

Any of you guys heard of a French razor company Malaingre Staurenghi? Apparently it's 19th century.

Crazyengineer, I'm looking to buy one through SRP, generally do they seem like a decent bunch over there? The guy I'm looking to buy through offers 3 free honings with the purchase so that's a decent value to me since I can't do it myself.

 

they seem like a decent bunch to me, may I ask who you are thinking about buying from?

I haven't heard of the razor company, but there are a lot of companies, I would check out SRP they will have something on them there if there is info anywhere.

by the way, what razor are you looking at? (link, I won't buy it out from under you, I spent my razor budget for a while on 2 restores)

 

PM sent

 

You're doing it wrong

 

What are you using, straights, safety razors or cartridge razors?

I hear you about the course hair, keep your blade sharp and rinse them out often! The safety razor I'm using now I can finally shave against the grain on my chin, something I'd never dare to try with a Mach 3.

 

Well... I bought it


What do you guys think?

Thanks for your help, Patrick! I'm registered at SRP now also, same user name.

 

Looks I have that to look forward to... I haven't tried my luck with a straight blade yet, my first one is coming in the mail. I've already got the alum block ready and waiting.

 

Thanks! I was looking at a couple Fredrick Reynolds blades on Ebay but not knowing how to hone, it becomes too much of a gamble. Maybe when I grow up

 

Yeah, sorry totally forgot to mention that. They reek at first. My horse hair brush smelt like a horses ass for the first 3 shaves till the scent of the Proraso killed it.

That's a nice looking straight. Very plain, but in an elegant subtle way. Kinda like a Black Maserati. It's bad ass but it doesn't need to flaunt it.

Suckered you in did we? Just because it was honed doesn't mean it didn't need a good stropping. Stropping is the difference between an okay shave and a great shave. Get a strop. Work that shit. And make sure you're using both hands. One for the razor, the other to pull the skin taunt. Right hand for the razor on the right side of the face, left hand for the razor on the left side. Don't cross over, it'll take time to get used to using your non dominant hand but soon it'll become awkward to use your dominant hand on the other side of your face.

You gonna burn. But grin and keep rubbing that block! Best way to do it is to wet your entire face after the shave, getting all the soap off, and then just rub, rub, rub till your face starts to dry and all the stinging has gone away. Where it burns most (that isn't cut/nicked) is where you need to work on your angle or pressure. While your face completely dries, do your clean up: brush, soap, razor dried and stropped for the next go, and then by that time your face is completely dried.

Rinse all the alum off, otherwise you'll have what looks like salt marks all over your face and you'll look like a tool.

The biggest thing with learning to straight shave, is that you're not trying to shave. Just try to remove the shaving cream; your beard will come off with it. Go with the grain at least once, if not twice, THEN do an against the grain if you're feeling lucky. But keep a gentle grip on your razor, so that if a stubborn hair catches it, the razor will bump in your hand instead of cutting into your jaw.

I stropped my Wade and Butcher so well last night, I nicked myself on an angle that I didn't even realize I was holding my razor on. I was like how the hell did that happen? Then I burned it closed with the Alum Block.

Admit it...your balls felt a few sizes larger after using a straight.

 

Mike,

You will like that razor. It looks better than I thought originally (I was on phone, good pictures, but small lol....I have good eyes), and I thought it looked good to begin with.

I wish I would have learned on a round point like that. I learned with something between that and a square point, it was easier for the point to bite me.....glad I didn't have a spike point lol.



Oh and guys,
here is a hint that I learned by accident watching a youtube video. I was there for something else and noticed the guy doing it

whenever you are shaving, wet your finger and or alum block and rub your fingers on the alum block. Then use the fingers with the alum on them for stretching. It will give you a lot better grip. I had a problem with my skin slipping until I tried it.

also, if your first few shaves feel rough, it gets better. I am something like 3 or 4 months in with my straights regularly (off and on before that for a year). The longer you do it, the better the shave. I am still not a a baby butt smooth shave yet, but each time I get closer. I have a few areas (on cheeks mainly) that are BBS after a shave. they get a little bigger each time.

If you get a few razors, you will find a blade grind that does best for you

for example I tend more toward wedges than full hollows. I can use hollows, but they dont seem to do as good of a job (I think its the weight and balance, but who knows). My 2 favorites are a frame back (picture I posted from earlier) and a 1/4 hollow torrey.

regardless, good luck on the shave.

isn't that part of the reason you started?

 

Check this out:
http://whippeddog.com/products/view/poor-man-strop-kit

I was looking for a strop and came across this site (recommended by a few folks at Straight Razor Place). Not bad for a first strop, $22 and seems to include everything you'll need for a little while. I'm going to get one of the $8 'cosmetically blemished' strops as a spare also.