I've taken the plunge! My two first straight razors came in the mail today: An Ern 6/8 spike-point and a Geo. Westenholm 9/16 round point. The Ern had the honor of initiating my face to straight-razorhood. Tech specs:

Ern 6/8 spike point
Col Conk Original amber soap
Burts' Bees apothecary-style mug
Tweezerman brush
Illinois strop
Wich hazel
Dead Sea Laboratories "Ahava" After-Shave moisturizer

I was able to get my cheeks pretty damn smooth. Less luck on the neck...Lynn makes it look so easy on the DVD! Still, only two minor nicks that the styptic pencil took care of (hot dangit does that sucker sting!). I managed not to hack off half my Goatee, although the sides are thinner now. It wasn't quite the hot-knife-throgh-butter experience of legend, but it wasn't a terrible first shave either. I think I'll need to do a lot more stropping next time, the razor did tug at my skin. I stropped 15 strokes on canvas, 50 on leather and a few more as I was shaving. Obviously my technique needs work. I have a feeling I might do better with the Westenholm 9/16, as the Ern's spike point made it difficult to reach certain areas without poking myself. I'll probably watch the DVD a few more times.

My neck's a wee bit raw now, but my cheeks are super-smooth and that's enough of a taste of what's in store to keep me optimistic. Considering the other stuff I'm into (pocket watches, vests, stone lithography, darkroom photo) straight razor shaving fits in nicely. Anything old-fashioned that involves some amount of ritual makes me happy.

--Noam