My Journey on the Straight Path

[filobiblic]

Yeah right, just like:
1x EJ89
1x EJ badger
1x Cella
-----
an entree into a world where I spend twenty-five times more than I thought I'd save from a wretched life of 'expensive' cartridges and aero-foam.

I buy a straight today, and then tomorrow I will want this:

Oh how I want this!!!!!!!!!!

Mate. For $300 odd you can make your own (actually two) Kamisori with Deano at a forge just south of Canberra. I'm definitely keen to travel down for the day workshop one day.

 

[stillshunter]

Mate. For $300 odd you can make your own (actually two) Kamisori with Deano at a forge just south of Canberra. I'm definitely keen to travel down for the day workshop one day.

Now why did you have to go and tell me that!

...out of interest is shaving with a kamisori exactly the same as shaving with a straight? Or more pointedly are you better off when you take up the kamisori to be familiar with straights or are there many straight habits you need break so be better to start fresh with the unscaled blade...not sure if I already asked this question - if I have apologies for my early-onset Alzheimers

 

[Mark]

Day 5
Not much to add. Getting smoother and into the rhythm. Finding my way around with both hands on both sides of the face. For some reason the left hand seems to be smoother (I'm naturally right handed).

That's great to hear @filobiblic. Sounds like you're enjoying the journey. Looks like you'll be showing us all up in no time

 

[filobiblic]

That's great to hear @filobiblic. Sounds like you're enjoying the journey. Looks like you'll be showing us all up in no time

Fat chance of that happening!

 

[stillshunter]

Damn you @filobiblic ....you get me hooked and then I realise how 'odd' your $300 is. Having said that it sounds a top day... hmmm maybe we could have an exclusive P&C session there.

 

[filobiblic]

Damn you @filobiblic ....you get me hooked and then I realise how 'odd' your $300 is. Having said that it sounds a top day... hmmm maybe we could have an exclusive P&C session there.

Yeah. I forgot exactly the price... [emoji15]
But $450 for 2 Kamisori razors that you make yourself... Not bad at all I think!

 

[borked]

Yeah right, just like:
1x EJ89
1x EJ badger
1x Cella
-----
an entree into a world where I spend twenty-five times more than I thought I'd save from a wretched life of 'expensive' cartridges and aero-foam.

I buy a straight today, and then tomorrow I will want this:

Oh how I want a Iwasaki Kamisori!!!!!!!!!!

Want ?
No!
Need upon the other hand...

 

[Dale.Whiley]

Yeah right, just like:
1x EJ89
1x EJ badger
1x Cella
-----
an entree into a world where I spend twenty-five times more than I thought I'd save from a wretched life of 'expensive' cartridges and aero-foam.

I buy a straight today, and then tomorrow I will want this:

Oh how I want a Iwasaki Kamisori!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hearin' ya. I got into straights to save money. Now I have a better brush, a good DE, more than ample soaps to shave twice daily for 18 months and a dream to have a collection of straights like @Mark1966 's DE museum. What a joke. Save money. Somebody please sink the ship HMAS Enabler. I think I'll swim from here.

 

[borked]

I'm hearin' ya. I got into straights to save money. Now I have a better brush, a good DE, more than ample soaps to shave twice daily for 18 months and a dream to have a collection of straights like @Mark1966 's DE museum. What a joke. Save money. Somebody please sink the ship HMAS Enabler. I think I'll swim from here.

Yeah, problem being it was sunk by JS Ineiburā!

 

[filobiblic]

Day 6
Been just over a week now so it's time to reflect. I am certainly enjoying my straight shaves. The Stropping seems to be going well. The shave (admittedly only on the cheeks) is comfortable.

Pragmatically, it currently adds time but that's understandable. I really feel that it'd be almost just as quick as a DE with a lot of experience and practise. At the moment, it's more hassle swapping the straight for the DE but that's only a temporary factor.

I reckon you could dive in a lot faster than myself and by the end of the week be shaving the whole face. However you'd probably end up with a few cuts (compared to the zilch I have suffered so far- it will happen...). I'm pacing myself for the whole kit & caboodle so I'm willing to learn slower.

As it has been said: quicker in means quicker out, whereas slower in means slower out (With words to that affect...).

 

[stillshunter]

Day 6
Been just over a week now so it's time to reflect. I am certainly enjoying my straight shaves. The Stropping seems to be going well. The shave (admittedly only on the cheeks) is comfortable.

Pragmatically, it currently adds time but that's understandable. I really feel that it'd be almost just as quick as a DE with a lot of experience and practise. At the moment, it's more hassle swapping the straight for the DE but that's only a temporary factor.

I reckon you could dive in a lot faster than myself and by the end of the week be shaving the whole face. However you'd probably end up with a few cuts (compared to the zilch I have suffered so far- it will happen...). I'm pacing myself for the whole kit & caboodle so I'm willing to learn slower.

As it has been said: quicker in means quicker out, whereas slower in means slower out (With words to that affect...).

Mate it's great witnessing the buzz you're getting out of this new little adventure. Looking forward to hearing more...it's infectious

 

[filobiblic]

Mate it's great witnessing the buzz you're getting out of this new little adventure. Looking forward to hearing more...it's infectious

I recall when I said I was interested in straights, @Marlow said he'd be interested in hearing about how it goes. So even though he's not around, everyone else can read along. Maybe a few others might be keen to start learning some new skills also...

 

[borked]

Does anyone know @Marlow personally ?
I've attempted private contact as well.
If you're reading this mate, hope all is well and to see you muddying these waters with the rest of us soon

 

[alfredus]

This is really a fantastic read - I always had the urge to try straights, but I have a shavette, that only causes blood baths...

The only issues for me is the taking care of the straight part - honing, stropping, drying etc. - disposable blades are simply so much more convenient.

Two questions I have for all you knife masters out there: I know a knife can never be as sharp as a blade, so do I get also closer shaves from a blade? I read somewhere, that a good DE shave is closer than a straight - is that really the case?

Second question: my beard on my neck and chin/jawline grows chin to nose - I cannot begin to visualise a chin to ear pass on my neck with a straight - however as it is the WTG pass, its' the first I would have to master...your thoughts?

 

[filobiblic]

The only issues for me is the taking care of the straight part - honing, stropping, drying etc. - disposable blades are simply so much more convenient.

For me starting out, I see straight razor maintenance as only 2 main issues - Stropping and honing.

Stropping is straightforward and adds a minute or two to the shave prep. That's it. Very simple. It sounds troublesome but isn't anymore than taking a DE apart, adding a blade and putting it together again.

Honing. I think this is the tricky one, but... I haven't needed to worry about it yet. In time @Mark or any good honemeister could take care of that. I'm guessing a couple of times a year. But in due course, you could get a finishing stone and it wouldn't take too much practise to keep an edge in shape.

The issue comes if you drop or chip the blade. Because then you need the razor to be sharpened again from the base level up. And that's what requires lots of stones. I see this aspect as bewildering, but is also an area that an average straight user doesn't need to get into.

Two questions I have for all you knife masters out there: I know a knife can never be as sharp as a blade, so do I get also closer shaves from a blade? I read somewhere, that a good DE shave is closer than a straight - is that really the case?

It comes down to technique in my mind. Poor technique with a DE would give a poor result. I think that with experience and time, most could acquire the skills to shave with a DE or straight to get a very close shave.

 

[Young Buck]

This is really a fantastic read - I always had the urge to try straights, but I have a shavette, that only causes blood baths...

The only issues for me is the taking care of the straight part - honing, stropping, drying etc. - disposable blades are simply so much more convenient.

Two questions I have for all you knife masters out there: I know a knife can never be as sharp as a blade, so do I get also closer shaves from a blade? I read somewhere, that a good DE shave is closer than a straight - is that really the case?

Second question: my beard on my neck and chin/jawline grows chin to nose - I cannot begin to visualise a chin to ear pass on my neck with a straight - however as it is the WTG pass, its' the first I would have to master...your thoughts?

In relation to question one DE for me will always be closer as you can achieve any angle direction you want with a DE due to the handle and length of the blade.

That said I aim for DFS in awkward places and BBS on the easier places.

In relation to chin to ear this is not difficult on most parts of the face. On the neck however, this may be a bit to tricky as most use the opposite side hand and reach across as you are able to steady your hand more so when doing a pass in the upwards direction.

 

[Young Buck]

Day 6
Been just over a week now so it's time to reflect. I am certainly enjoying my straight shaves. The Stropping seems to be going well. The shave (admittedly only on the cheeks) is comfortable.

Pragmatically, it currently adds time but that's understandable. I really feel that it'd be almost just as quick as a DE with a lot of experience and practise. At the moment, it's more hassle swapping the straight for the DE but that's only a temporary factor.

I reckon you could dive in a lot faster than myself and by the end of the week be shaving the whole face. However you'd probably end up with a few cuts (compared to the zilch I have suffered so far- it will happen...). I'm pacing myself for the whole kit & caboodle so I'm willing to learn slower.

As it has been said: quicker in means quicker out, whereas slower in means slower out (With words to that affect...).

The big tip I can offer when venturing away from the cheeks is know where you stroke will end. If you are going to go across a crease stop, change your angle or shift the skin; the proceed to take another stroke. One you learn your face you will be able to navigate the direction of you beard and how to flatten each and every spot of your skin and the best approach.

If you are lazy about this; this is when you'll run a ground so to speak and cut yourself.

 

[filobiblic]

The big tip I can offer when venturing away from the cheeks is know where you stroke will end. If you are going to go across a crease stop, change your angle or shift the skin; the proceed to take another stroke. One you learn your face you will be able to navigate the direction of you beard and how to flatten each and every spot of your skin and the best approach.

If you are lazy about this; this is when you'll run a ground so to speak and cut yourself.

Thanks for the advice YB! That's a handy tip indeed. [emoji106]

 

[Dale.Whiley]

Two questions I have for all you knife masters out there: I know a knife can never be as sharp as a blade, so do I get also closer shaves from a blade? I read somewhere, that a good DE shave is closer than a straight - is that really the case?

@alfredus ,

IMO and experience, yes you can definitely get a shave as smooth/close as a DE. Just don't expect to be there in a couple of months. You may jag it like a duck to water but I certainly didn't. It's all about:

1. Knowing your hair growth patterns/mapping your face
2. Stretch/pull taught your skin
3. Keep trying different techniques of holding the scales and the path/track you draw the blade
4. Practice, practice, practice and don't give up as just far too hard. The joy of being proficient in the use of a straight is worth the effort.
5. Believe what you read when others say it is possible to get a shave the equal of a DE. Many times I doubted but you you can get excellent shaves.

Second question: my beard on my neck and chin/jawline grows chin to nose - I cannot begin to visualise a chin to ear pass on my neck with a straight - however as it is the WTG pass, its' the first I would have to master...your thoughts?

Points 2-5 above answer this. Stretch your skin, try different techniques paths to draw the straight, practice and believe that you can do it.

While saying that anybody CAN do it (I have a physical disability which gives me even less control of my non-dominant LHS plus visual impairment of limited depth of field judgement), not everybody will want to use a straight. It takes more time looking after your equipment (more skills to to master and what man doesn't love well looked after tools - especially his own), it takes more time to have a shave (I DE each morning before work and straight each evening before bed. Weekends are straight morning and evening) or many blokes just couldn't be bothered spending many months learning a new skill that you can perform using a DE.

Straight shaving is a very personal thing, from buying a blade, learning what techniques work for you to just how does it make YOU feel when you shave with that beast of a tool. I have never regretted going the straight path (except I do not have the finances to increase the stock in my stables considerably) even though many times I thought I will never get the hang of this and all those blokes who talk abou BBS shaves are telling porkies. It was my lack of skill and technique. Over the journey, and it took me 10 months to get to the "lights on moment", there were little gains each month. Just take each little gain as a battle won on the way to winning the war. You can do it @alfredus , it's just a matter of if you want to. I hope you do.

 

[filobiblic]

Shave 7*
Back home and back to the straight razor. I decided to start on the neck as well and quickly began to see more challenges. The different holds on the razor require different techniques and adjustments. Instead of going down on the cheeks, my beard growth requires shaving up. So maintaining the angle becomes critical, especially on the curves up the neck. It's easy to increase the angle of the razor without thinking, but this will result in cuts. Slow, smooth and small are key I found. I didn't get very far and didn't feel as confident so I didn't go far.

As an aside, I can see how shavettes (disposable blade straights) cut more easily. Beside being ultra sharp, they would cut straight away if the angle is too steep. But a straight seems to give a little leniency. Not sure what it is, but it's good.

Shave 8
Feeling a lot more confident today holding the straight and it showed in the shave. Smooth sailing on the cheeks, so moved to the neck. It went very well. Slow, smooth and small swipes work well for me. It helps to have extra time (looking after the kids at home today), but it does't help having kids squawking in the background...

Personally, I've found that confidence seems to be good if it doesn't become boldness (that progresses to recklessness).

So I think that I need to watch some more videos In order to watch how different people hold and use their razors on their necks and under their chin.

~~~~~~~~
*Updated to reflect ongoing shaves rather than literal days.