Report from another first shave
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! :p 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