Straight Razor techniques

John has kept a beard for years, largely because he's extremely allergic to chromium - a critical component (10% in regular stainless & 13% in surgical) in stainless steel. The fact that I love his beard (when it's neat) hasn't exactly hurt, either. But, last month, it just really got to him (particularly when trying to buckle his motorcycle helmet under his chin!) and he took it off. He's using a ceramic coated straight razor, but wears bifocal glasses, and it's often difficult for him to see what he's doing. I want to learn how to do it. He does so much for me, and if I can learn how to do this for him, and make it an enjoyable, relaxing ritual for him, that's what I want to do.

Unfortunately, it's not something that comes naturally, to me, and I'm REALLY struggling. I let him strop the blade, then I got the towel nice and hot, wet, but not dripping. I put it on his face & neck, while I trimmed his hair, and when he deemed the beard soft enough, I lathered up the brush and dabbed it thoroughly over his face. I was careful with the angle, and went in - cheek first, to get the feel for handling the blade and how it played against the whiskers. By the time I was halfway done with the first cheek, my frustration level was just crazy. It seemed like I was trying to cut the whiskers with a butter knife. Every stroke left more than it cut, and the whiskers were cooling off and firming up so fast, it felt like I was losing ground - then, the shaving cream and ridiculously few whiskers on a stroke came up pink. I know and understand that nicks happen, even when he's doing it, himself. I'm not generally bothered by blood - but, the fact that the whiskers were in full-on rebellion, refusing to leave their porous homes, the shaving soap was losing its foam, and now, I was already drawing blood... well. The next thing was just the icing on the cake - tears of frustration - and I couldn't see what I was doing. So, I handed him the razor, and let him finish it, before it would simply have to be restarted, from the beginning. He was very understanding, encouraging, and his usual sweet self. Dammit. It might actually have been easier, if he'd been a jerk about it.

So, here I am - still determined to figure this out. A couple of possibilities come to mind as things that might help: 1 - more initial stropping; 2 - a longer hot/wet towel phase; 3 - me giving myself a bit more grace; 4 - practice, practice, practice! And 5 - tips, thoughts, ideas, from y'all - my awesome permies peeps. Help? Please?

I won't be much help, but that was an incredible gesture on your part! I have a beard just because I really hate shaving.

I tried the switch to a straight razor a few years ago. I wear bifocals and it was a disaster!  Just one attempt at placing that thing on my neck under 3 inches of chin hair while trying to slide my glasses down my nose far enough to see scared the crap out of me! I will still use the straight razor to make a nice straight line on my cheeks or around my mustache. I have found that short stubble is much easier to cut than long hairs.

So good news!!? Take the sheep shears to him then you get to practice every few days! ;)

 Or let it grow and try something like this. https://eagleleather.com/products/helmet-ratcheted-quick-release  
My last helmet came with a quick connect and I won't be going back

I don't use a straight blade razor either. But from my general sharpening knowledge, I would not expect a ceramic blade to respond to stropping. You are using a ceramic coated blade, but I don't know if that would be any different than a ceramic blade.

Thanks, Marty. I really don't want it to be merely a gesture, though. He's been keeping it shaved, for a month or two, now, so the shears I use for the goats are just not gonna cut it. Ahem - pun intended.

I use a quick release on my helmet, but he hates them, because the beard gets in the way, and it pulls. Ugh...

Hypothetically, if you aren't already, maybe your legs would make some good practice to get a general feel for the basic process. Less contours, more area, softer hairs. Kind of learning to crawl before learning to walk.

It sounds like a wonderful bonding experience. I'm sure you will get the hang of it.

Jeremy VanGelder wrote:I don't use a straight blade razor either. But from my general sharpening knowledge, I would not expect a ceramic blade to respond to stropping. You are using a ceramic coated blade, but I don't know if that would be any different than a ceramic blade.

The blade isn't ceramic - just has a ceramic glaze covering all but the edge, so that he can handle it, without his hands blistering up, and the skin melting off (I can't even begin to express how much I *WISH* this was a gross exaggeration, but it's the stark reality!) Unfortunately, the edge still contacts his face, so it's causing an allergic response, there. It's relatively mild, barely more than what most would see as a pimple, because the blade is only in contact for a miniscule amount of time, but is there - and is where the blade came up with pink. But, it (theoretically) sharpens well. A carbon steel blade would be far and away the ideal - but those are crazy expensive.

Jordan Holland wrote:Hypothetically, if you aren't already, maybe your legs would make some good practice to get a general feel for the basic process. Less contours, more area, softer hairs. Kind of learning to crawl before learning to walk.

It sounds like a wonderful bonding experience. I'm sure you will get the hang of it.

This is likely my best bet, for practice. But, wouldn't I be largely shaving against the direction of growth? Any idea how that might require a change in grip? Hmmmm... I'll work with this one and see how I might manage it. Thank you!

P.s. As far as a bonding experience, that will, eventually, be a lovely bonus, providing I can get past this learning curve, without both of us needing stitches. Thank you...

But, wouldn't I be largely shaving against the direction of growth? Any idea how that might require a change in grip?

I'm not sure, because I've never done it, lol! So I just took a pocket knife to my leg to see. It was just barely sharp enough to shave hairs, so maybe it's not a good test, but I didn't really see much difference going against or with the natural lay of the hair. I do think pushing the blade away seems to feel more natural than pulling it towards me. That wouldn't be so practical for shaving someone in a normal sitting position, but laying down it could be more practical (did barbers used to lay the seat back to shave people like this?). Now I do remember from way back when, that the hairs on my face grow at a very shallow angle. I had to shave with a safety razor top down first, then shave again from down up. Shaving only down up was not possible. I have a suspicion learning to be a master with a straight razor will mimic using many other tools in the sense that once you get the "feel" for it, you will be able to do it in virtually any position from any angle. I imagine "it's all in the wrist" as they say.