straight razor

[darxus]

I ordered a carbon (not stainless) steel straight razor made by Dovo in Solingen. I used it for the first time last night. Bringing that blade to my flesh for the first time was more scary than I expected. I achieved a terrible shave, and only one tiny nick. I'm happy, I expected this to take practice. I strongly recommend hitting youtube before trying this.

Another thing I've been wanting to try for years off the list.
Yes, I'm coating it with mineral oil after each use, have a strop, and watched a video on that too.

I totally blame Fahrenheit 451 and Snow Crash.

Comments

[zzbottom.livejournal.com]

I had a coworker, once, in Vermont, who sported the same hairstyle as I do. He said he used a straight razor on it every day. Now, I am a fairly fearless shaver: no mirror, no shaving cream, I can even use cold water if necessary, but a straight razor where I can't see, where I could mess up an ear, that's a bit extreme for even me.

Looking forward to progress reports, including how your skin feels about the shave.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

At this point it's hard to say if I'd be comfortable doing that (if I had that hairstyle). I'm certainly quite a lot more comfortable with the blade now than before I tried it.

I'll certainly be doing progress reports. My skin is generally pissed off abut shaving. I've practically exclusively been using Gillette Sensor / Sensor Excels since I started shaving. I only shave in the direction of hair growth. I've been using wintergreen alcohol afterward for years, and have recently been getting into the habit of using cetaphil lotion afterwards which has significantly improved our relationship. So yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

A lot of blades come 'sharpened' but all that means is that they did a cursory pass. A strop only de-burrs (just like the sharpening steels for knives)

My very expensive wood chisels worked like crap out of the box. I sharpened them on my 1000 grit water wheel and now I can shave transparent shavings off a block of wood.

It may be that the blade needs to be finished sharpened on a oil/whetstone first to be really sharp.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

The blade didn't seem to be lacking in sharpness at all, I was just very awkward with it. But I'll pay more attention to that in case it isn't appropriately sharp, thanks.

[beowabbit]

Cool; I’ve been meaning to try a straight razor at some point.

I used to use a slightly less retro safety razor (the kind that takes double-edged razor blades, and was much happier with the shaves it gave me than with what modern multi-blade cartridges do. Then suddenly a year or so ago I started getting really bad shaves — as if the blades arrived already very dull. I’m guessing the distributor that provides razor blades to the various brands in the US started using a different supplier, or a factory was replaced, or something. It is sad.

I am, however, far too lazy to try sharpening individual razor blades.

[ex-absurdmin176.livejournal.com]

Good luck with it. I tried it a while back and while the shaves were marginally better when things went horribly right, the usual scenario was me bleeding out of the back of my head because I slipped. Then again, you're not trying to shave your whole head with it.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah I'm hoping it'll be easier to do the parts of my head I can see.

[time3.livejournal.com]

Nice. I would love to be able to ditch the disposable two blade I use for shaving and shaping. I'm sure the accuracy of my shave would increase if I did. I've watched shows on PBS about Philadelphia barber shops and how craftily they use a straight-blade to shape. Although they usually use a disposable to get the rest off, unless the shop is ultra-professional.

It also makes me nuts that every year Gillette and Shick put out a new 'extreme' razor with another fucking blade on it. They even sent me a sample of one once with one side being four or five blades and the other being a single blade for shaping. Neat idea, except the entire thing pivots back and fourth. How are you supposed to shape properly with a moving target in your hand? Extreme washboard-looking suck-shaver, heh.

At this stage, I'm using two shaving implements. An Andis pivot-motor trimmer for keeping the length down on my beard and trimming near my lips and under the nose and a Gillette disposable two blade razor for shaving and shaping.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

Yeah this process actually started with me needing new blades for my Gillette Sensor Excel, deciding to go back to the Sensor, verifying this was entirely doable, then getting pissed off at the marketing in general, and finally deciding to go for the straight razor.

When I went to a barber shop with my Pop-pop (paternal grandfather) as a kid they would shape my hair with a razor.

I use scissors for my beard.

[time3.livejournal.com]

Yeah this process actually started with me needing new blades for my Gillette Sensor Excel, deciding to go back to the Sensor, verifying this was entirely doable, then getting pissed off at the marketing in general, and finally deciding to go for the straight razor.

Hah! :-)

[inseriatim.livejournal.com]

I am totally fascinated. Definitely keep us updated. Do people use straight razors on areas besides their heads?

[darxus.livejournal.com]

Other than the comments here I've only heard of them being used to shave faces and shape hair.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

After having shaved with this thing about 5 times it seems like it would work really well on legs. Want to come over and let me try?