I am going to take the plunge into straight razors

[javyn]

Great news. When you run out of the preshave oil, if you want more, you'd do better just using extra virgin olive oil. Works much better than preshave oils and it's good/moisturizing for your face too.

 

[Sartorian]

Originally Posted by javyn

Great news. When you run out of the preshave oil, if you want more, you'd do better just using extra virgin olive oil. Works much better than preshave oils and it's good/moisturizing for your face too.

+1. It's what I do, has the same positive qualities. If you want to emulate the tiny bottles of oil sold for way too much, you can go and buy yourself some almond 'cooking' oil in the supermarket; pretty much exactly the same thing.

 

[Thomas]

I've never tried preshave oil, I just don't wash my face beforehand. Seems to work.

 

[javyn]

I wash my forehead and nose with Cetaphil, but any part I shave I don't wash. I know I will get gasps for that, but my skin has never looked or felt better.

 

[javyn]

Sartorian are you familiar with the oil cleansing method?

 

[MCsommerreid]

Originally Posted by javyn

Great news. When you run out of the preshave oil, if you want more, you'd do better just using extra virgin olive oil. Works much better than preshave oils and it's good/moisturizing for your face too.

Even better is to use a good quality shaving cream and a hot/warm towel, and then re-lather on top of that. The various oils don't really soften the hairs as much as the shaving cream does, what they do is make a more slick surface for the razor to glide on.

 

[Sartorian]

Originally Posted by javyn

Sartorian are you familiar with the oil cleansing method?

No. I'm listening, javyn.

As far as washing the face, I pretty much have to shower before shaving now. And I use an exfoliating scrub on my face. I guess that makes the pre-shave oil more of a necessity. But we all know these rituals can only be modified bit by bit...

 

[javyn]

try googling up oil cleansing method. essentially, instead of washing your face with soap or scrubs, you use a mixture of olive oil and cold pressed castor oil, then steam/wipe off with a very very hot wash rag. it's quite amazing really, been doing it every night (almost) for a month.

The castor oil heals and draws the oil, grime, etc from your pores and dissolves it. Then the olive oil replaces what the castor oil drew out for moisturization.

It actually doesn't make my face oily at all, often my face is dry after doing it, and I have to moisturize more with straight olive oil.

 

[Sartorian]

Sh*t. Yet another tweak I'm going to become obsessed with. OP, beware, straight blade shaving brings out the serious OCD in a man...

 

[Girardian]

I made the move to a good DE (Merkur Vision) and have found, after testing a number of different blades, a bit of shaving heaven.

I find your move from safety directly to a straight edge to be bold, indeed.

I'm so satisfied with my DE shaves that presently I cannot imagine moving to a straight edge, manly though they are.

 

[cldpsu]

I want to take the plunge as well but im worried about havign to sharpen it myself... i don't know if I can handle doing that properly. I'm going to start to shave again (have been using a beard trimmer and never shaving completely for a year) and I want to do it right this time and buy the correct products (pre shave oil or something) to minimize irritation. I'm searching styleforum right now but if you know any good sites that talk about products, throw them my way.

 

[Opcn]

Originally Posted by Girardian

I made the move to a good DE (Merkur Vision) and have found, after testing a number of different blades, a bit of shaving heaven.

I find your move from safety directly to a straight edge to be bold, indeed.

I'm so satisfied with my DE shaves that presently I cannot imagine moving to a straight edge, manly though they are.

I considered making the switch one step at a time (DE then straight) but figured that a DE wouldn't help me that much so I should just skip it, I'm finally not bleeding profusely with every shave now, its pretty nice, and I got the best shave of my life today, although my skin is a little rough, I really need to step up my skin care regiment.

Originally Posted by cldpsu

I want to take the plunge as well but im worried about havign to sharpen it myself... i don't know if I can handle doing that properly. I'm going to start to shave again (have been using a beard trimmer and never shaving completely for a year) and I want to do it right this time and buy the correct products (pre shave oil or something) to minimize irritation. I'm searching styleforum right now but if you know any good sites that talk about products, throw them my way.

Feather no sharpen razors could be the answer for you to start with at least, the experience is not identical but they are sharp as can be, some say too sharp, or even a DOVO shavette, where you use half of a DE blade, both are reported to let you get a feel for holding the straight blade and for how much you like the idea of straight edge shaving. Personally I really like the look of the Japanese style no fold and considered getting one for myself but didn't want to drop $200on something that will require blade changes, part of what drew me to straight razors was the fact that nothing needs to be replaced for a good 100 years or so.

 

[cldpsu]

Well I could always have someone sharpen it for me, right? Do you guys ever use coffee mugs for your soap? I'm guessing it may not be wide enough?

 

[Opcn]

You could and it is a good idea to buy your first razor from a honemeister or order a hand honing service with it so that you don't have to worry about honing till after you know what a good shave feels like. I used a coffee mug in highschool, before I really knew what to do, it was a big one so it worked okay, but not as well as a real shaving mug would.

 

[cldpsu]

What could be the difference.. i mean the brush isn't making contact with the bottom of the mug, right?

What do you think about the quality of a carbon steel? I am considering getting the art of shaving kit (not sure yet how to tell what my skin is like) and might get the black 105 dollar straight razor... after having it honed properly.. do you think it would prove worthy?

What are the downfalls of a 100 dollar straight razor or a carbon steel material..? After seeing 700 dollar razors on classic shaving i feel like 100 is crap or something lol. I take it the material of the handle adds a lot to the price though.