Thread: my first shave with a straight was a success!!!

I received my 5/8 full hollow vom cleff and slightly narrower either near wedge or quarter hollow berger glose razors i ordered from airportcopper and both arrived in great condition, the vom cleff was honed by lynn and the berger by airportcopper and both were very sharp. I have 10+ years expereince sharpening and stropping knives but im not sure how much of the skill carries over so take this as you will...the berger seemed to shave easier than the vom cleff but that could very well be because i stropped the vom and destroyed the edge and not the berger or airportcopper may just be a honing prodigy.




Enough set up Now on with the shave



I started off with mamabear sandalwood vanilla soap in my sons spongebob mug that is way too tall and narrow to properly work the simple yet awesome van der hagen boar brush properly but after soaking my soap in 140+ degree water then draining and working the lather i got something that was about equal thickness as canned cream but far better smelling, after a couple minutes with a hot towell on my face and a quick reworking of the lather i applied it and enjoyed the stiffness of the boar and dont think i will ever want a badger. I started with my right hand under my right sideburn and had planned to do only that but it seemed so natural that i decided to keep going and did the entire right cheek, so far so good so i went on to the neck and then entire left side, i tried to use my left hand but the only area i was able to do so on was the right side of my neck and poorly at that. After managing a full with the grain pass with no blood and my head still attached i mixed some more lather and suited up to do battle once more and tackled an against the grain pass once again with no nicks or cuts my only injury of the day being minor irritation on my lower neck. I didnt acheive a baby butt smooth face all over but there are my cheeks are very close and the rest is smooth when rubbed with the grain and only slightly stubbly against the grain except just under my heavy jawline wich is at least as good if not better than with disposables. I finished up with some aqua velva and it was so good i needed a cigarette afterwards. Forgot to mention that i switched between razors throughout the shave.



I shaved again tonight but switched to van der hagen soap and acheived a lather superior to any ive ever seen before and if it never gets better i wont be dissapointed. I only used the berger on this shave because i find the slightly narrower blade and much lighter weight to be more manuevarble and i managed to get the whisker just under the jawline that i didnt quite get earlier and now im darn near baby butt smooth all over, i doubt ill master the skill anytime soon but the results are promising enough that i will definitely continue.

I know its just plain wrong but my woman had me shave one of her legs and i did such a good job that the aftershave i rubbed on afterwards didnt burn her.

Congrats on the shaves. A full hollow blade is less forgiving of technique and that is probably the difference you felt in the blades. Nothing wrong in shaving your womans legs. Converting them will make it easier to justify your AD purchases.

Sounds like you enjoyed the process. Nothing like a properly honed razor and good preparation.

6 or 7 shaves in and im getting much more confident in my shaving abilities, last night i went over one side of my face with a bic after i was done with a straight and my woman couldnt tell which side i did. ive stopped trying to immitate canned cream and started mixing it a little looser because i seem to stay wet longer, im now able to execute wtg, atg, and xtg without much irritation. Im still having trouble under the corners of my jaw and the edges of my goatee but even that has improved. Im now starting to think my razor could stand to be a little sharper which may be my fault since im stropping on newspaper until i can afford a strop but overall im very pleased and shaving has went from being a chore to being a luxurious indulgement that i look forward to practicing, its a time when i have no children or nagging woman and everything outside the bathroon ceaces to exist, i transcend to another plane of existence where there is nothing but me and a razor and i am at peace.

Great stories, keep it up!

Originally Posted by pontiacfieroguy

6 or 7 shaves... to exist, i transcend to another plane of existence where there is nothing but me and a razor and i am at peace.

that.

focus.

yes.

Congratulations sir!
Shaving with a straight is no easy task. I've shaved with a kamisory style razor and a shavette and I have never managed to archieve the comfort I get with my Merkur HD. I'll practice more often.

You should take a picture of the gear used always nice to see straight razors in photos and even more if they're acompanied with the rest of the gang.