Nessmuck56
40 Cal.
Nope....just a different design....
straight razor shaving
- Thread starter JOHN F
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hanshi
Cannon
I don't use a straight razor but have "mug shaved" ever since I was a little girl. 
Nessmuck56
40 Cal.
I don't use a straight razor but have "mug shaved" ever since I was a little girl.
Nevah too late Hanshi.....I started at age 52....that was 10 years ago.....Nevah looked back.
hanshi
Cannon
One Sneeze away from Boot Hill.
Finally took the plunge and shaved my first time with a straight with only one nick. Thought it was gonna be a hassle trimming but I did ok.
Nessmuck56
40 Cal.
We
welcome to the club . Did you have your razor honed by a professional ? That’s the big mistake a lot of first timers make. Then they get discouraged. Big learning curve....proper stropping....learning what “Sharp” is....Then honing..but it’s a lot of fun. Good beard prep is step #1. Soften that beard in the shower by washing your face 3-4 times with soap and rinsing ,is very important to a good shave.
Treestalker
Treestalker
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Did you ever consider how tough that guy is that pulls live badger hairs for brushes? About as tough as a plate of woodpecker necks, ha!
Nessmuck56
40 Cal.
I have a few Boar brushes too....they are cheap..under 15.00... and after they break in,they work great. The old Italian barbers swear by them.
Greenjoytj
54 Cal.
I giggle every time I see shaving brushes with natural whisker hair bristles recommend. Would you apply water base paint with a hair brush? No painter would, they use a brush designed for the medium being applied, plastic or synthetic bristles for water based paint. Real bristle hair brushes for oil paint.
Shaving soap, cream, gel is a water based lather, it’s not oily enough to qualify for natural hair bristles shaving brush.
Use a synthetic hair brush or plastic bristle brush they work up a lather much better because the water doesn’t mat or clump the bristles together. Bonus is they don’t take days to dry because the brush filaments don’t absorb the water and can be cheaper to buy and work better to do the job intended.
Also look into getting a “Feather” brand straight razor. They use factory sharpened replaceable blades. No one could make the edge as good. But you can hand strop them sharp again but they will never be quite as good as a fresh blade.
Shaving soap, cream, gel is a water based lather, it’s not oily enough to qualify for natural hair bristles shaving brush.
Use a synthetic hair brush or plastic bristle brush they work up a lather much better because the water doesn’t mat or clump the bristles together. Bonus is they don’t take days to dry because the brush filaments don’t absorb the water and can be cheaper to buy and work better to do the job intended.
Also look into getting a “Feather” brand straight razor. They use factory sharpened replaceable blades. No one could make the edge as good. But you can hand strop them sharp again but they will never be quite as good as a fresh blade.
I've found that growing my shaving brush on my chin works best. Nice place to develop a good lather. My bristles aren't synthetic though, and they work great 8^)
Had a bit of a fight with "Mr. Murphey" for a couple months, we figured to have a draw. Neither of us was winning cause we are both stubborn.
Anyway.... I bought one of the Gold Dollar razors, fired up youtube for some lessons and DO NOT think these are "shave ready" out of the box even if they say so. So I got me some learning, strop, grit, stones (finished off with a Swaty I found from a flea market), all the soap/brush/mug/etc and got to work. And yes, it is work but I took me time and went at it in small increment. Most folks burn them selves out from the gitgo.
As for your post Nessmuck, things went well. Me Pop, ol' school dude, used Williams so I went with that. Had me a shower but went further, had a hot water towel wrap and off to the races we went. The VERY first swipe cut me at the sideburn area (note taken) but not too bad. I have tremors from a motorcycle wreak but calmed meself down. I did however decide to grow out me goatee, yeah, I think I will work up to that in a later date. I almost loped me foo manchu off in the process.
Nessmuck56
40 Cal.
^^^^^^^^^^^^ those 10.00 Gold Dollar razors wont take an edge needed to shave with. I bought one for laughs....and now it sits in the drawer. Keep at it....get your self a German or Sheffield razor from the 1890-1930 ....those take an edge...and the older ones too.
Yeah I looked around the area here looking for an oldie and the shops think the handles or rivets are gold or something. Too high for me blood.
I'll get to looking for one. Thanks.
Nyckname
45 Cal.
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The exploding balloon while learning to shave mentioned up thread.
MaterielGeneral
40 Cal
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Check out eBay. Don't forget Craigslist. eBay you can subscribe to a search and they will let you know when a new listing pops up.
Davy Gray
32 Cal
Just got into straight razor shaving about 6 months ago used some vintage straight razors that I thought were sharp and had some frustrating experiences. Learned how to hone myself (still learning) but have all the stones now! But I recently bought a Dovo straight razor from Howard of The perfect Edge. He sells razor and sharpening stones as well as professionally jones straight razors to a perfect edge! I never realized what a sharp razor was until I received the Dovo from him! A whole different experience!! Now I have a razor that I use as a standard and base line as I learn and get better at honing myself! I tend to have with the straight razor on the weekends when I can take my time and enjoy the experience! I shave my face as well as my head! Definitely can’t rush things especially with a razor as sharp as you get from Howard and the perfect edge!
WRustyLane
32 Cal.
Ain't got no use for a razor period! After my open heart surgery and a month in the hospital, the Dr. shaved off my beard. I was kinda mad when I came to and saw my beard was gone. But I'd rather have a naked face than be dead! The whiskers are now growing back.
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I found one recently in things after my 93 yr old mom passed. Ain't no way I will even try it.
