learn how to shave with a straight edge razor

I have shaved quite a few times with my straight razors. I really have to figure out how to maintain my blades and work on my technique. I’d mark this as done, but I want to shave with my straight at least once a week, if not daily.

It is just too easy to use the double-edge safety that I have ignored my goal. I will get back into it.

I have been slipping lately with this goal. I don’t make the time at night to shave or hone my razors, and I just end up doing a quick job with the double edge safety razor. I really need to get back into working on this.

I bought a Tosuke razor from a guy on the straight razor forum. I am going to hone it up and learn to shave with it. I really like the look of the razor and hope it will be one of my prized razors shortly. If you don’t know what a Tosuke is, it is in my profile picture, or you can find it with a Google search. It is a traditional Japanese straight razor.

I am thinking maybe I should get a pasted paddle strop. I am still working on my honing, but I think the paddle would help me keep my edge on the razors I do get sharp so I don’t have to worry about them as much. I can then use the hones and any other restoration tools to get the razors shave ready and then keep them there for a long time with the paddle strop. Just a thought as of right now though.

There is an ebay seller who goes by the name open_razor who sells some wonderful starter razors for someone just starting up. They don’t come shave ready, so it might be necessary to get a hone to get them to this state. They are highly touted on the forum I mentioned in an earlier post, and although I cannot speak for the shave personally the seller is great to work with. His shop is called classic_razor and the link is http://stores.ebay.com/classic-razor_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

So my honing is coming along, I have a few razors, and the one I consider to be my example (received it sharp from a professional) was getting to the point where it wasn’t shaving as well as it should have been. I did a pyramid of sorts on my 4000 and 8000 cheap hones, and then finished it rather well I think on my Shapton. I went to the strop and had one of my best stropping sessions yet. Shaved very well, but not perfect.

I am still working on getting less shave-ready razors to the point of readiness and getting my example to work perfectly. A lot of it has to do with technique while shaving, but soon I will have it all sorted out.

Part of learning to shave with a straight razor is learning to sharpen them when they get dull. So I acquired a few hones and am trying to learn how to use them while I learn how to shave with the razor. Yesterday I had my first semi-successful honing. I don’t think I got it as sharp as it could have been, but it was cutting hairs and doing pretty well. I had a little problem with the shaving cream, which made my shave less enjoyable, but other than that I was very happy. The key thing I noticed was the draw I felt on the strop that I normally don’t feel. So I’m getting there.

I found that the single biggest help I have found in learning this difficult task is www.straightrazorplace.com. The information there is monumental.