Straight edge razor issues

[Kamikazie]

Since I helped my cousin with her wedding she deemed it necessary to give me a gift for all my hard work. What I received was a straight edge razor because she knew that I was interested in learning how to use one. After a few attempts to find a decent site of how to use it without slitting my throat, I figured to ask here because there might be an off chance that someone here has used one of these. Or at least know how...

If you wanted to see it, here it is.

 

[Raziaar]

Those things scare me.

 

[Kamikazie]

Have you seen Sweeney Todd?

 

[Evo]

That was my first thought, Kami is Sweeney Todd :O

 

[CptStern]

oh man, I've had a few barbers (old italian guys who had the barber pole and everything) who could do it right but they've been doing it for generations ..I'd never use it on myself ..but man does it ever give a close shave

oh and monogrammed toileteries are not meant to be used ..my wife's cousin has a 1930's men's toiletry set that costs in the thousands because it's a collectors item

 

[Kamikazie]

Would this be considered a monogrammed toiletry?

 

[The_E]

Those things scare me.

yeah ... i feel ... edgy when around them... lol

 

[Raziaar]

Have you seen Sweeney Todd?

No... why? :x

I've seen Eastern Promises... :x

The beginning anyways.

 

[Kamikazie]

 

[Dan]

First rule is always push the blade in the direction of the sharp edge, never ever swipe it or move it sideways across your skin, unless you want to be known as scarface.

Uh other than that, keep it really sharp, trying to shave with a dull straight edge is terrible because you are just pulling out your hair instead of cutting it. There are lots of sites explaining how to use a leather strop. Hopefully your straight blade came with a strop and maybe a little honing stone and some sharpening pastes. If not, you could probably use an old leather belt.

Flip the handle up, so that it is sticking up about 45 degrees off of vertical, and so that your thumb goes under the handle with one finger on the back of the blade or on the little lever on the back of the pivot. Hard to explain, but it feels natural. Then just pull it down your face, pushing the blade lightly against the skin at maybe a 30 degree angle or so. The skin is elastic enough that it just gets pushed down, but the hairs stand up and get the full force of the cutting edge. I assume you know how to lather and wash your face.

Getting the chin area is the worst.

 

[The_E]

eeeew!

 

[Kamikazie]

Yea, I know how to lather and wash. Can I use any shaving cream or would I have to purchase a special kind that doesn't harm the razor?

eeeew!

Shut up and get out.

 

[Ravioli]

the barbers over here still use those (i dont know if its normal). First it scared the shit out of me, then i was stunned because i thought it was going to hurt shitloads...and it did. But in the end my haircut looked good so i didnt burn his barbershop down.

 

[Kamikazie]

It hurt? Why's that?

 

[Lucid]

My barber uses those to shave heads.
Hurt me the first couple of times but after awhile you get used to it.

But, I haven't had a high and tight cut this year because the weather really hasn't called for it.

 

[Ravioli]

It hurt? Why's that?

A very sharp piece of metal scraping against your skin cutting of every hair it can touch and all the dead skin particles can be very unpleasant, especially if you happen to have some form of cut/scar/pimple/overall bad skin.

 

[Kamikazie]

I figured that, I just thought there was a another reason of some sort.

 

[Ravioli]

They heat it in the oven before use

 

[Kamikazie]

Then dip it in molten lava? I thought so.

 

[Ravioli]

molten lava mixed with highly toxic acid.

 

[Kamikazie]

They're just trying to destroy the worlds faces. Bastards.

 

[mindless_moder]

you should practice on your arm ...

 

[Kamikazie]

I actually did that, needless to say I have a patch of hair missing on my left forearm.

 

[Unfocused]

you should practice on your mom ...

Fixed.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Oh Jesus no.

 

[Insano]

Practice on a balloon.

 

[Slug Advisor]

Practice on a balloon.

Ballons? Hair? Furry... balloons. Furry balloons! Oh God, I'll be rich!

 

[Jintor]

 

[Krynn72]

How come they call it a straight edge razor? Has there ever been a bent edge razor?

 

[Vegeta897]

How come they call it a straight edge razor? Has there ever been a bent edge razor?

 

[Druckles]

Was thinking Sweeney Todd.

Be interesting to try with one one day, maybe.

Homicide, I mean, not shaving.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Straight razor! Cool. Just keep it away from snails, lest your methods become...unsound.

How come they call it a straight edge razor?

It doesn't drink, smoke, or take drugs.