Thread: Newbie With Beard

Hi All. I am a newbie with a straight razor. Have a Dovo Bismarck 6/8" that I got from SRD hopefully honed by Lynn. I have a Van Dyke beard so shaving with an SR has its challenges. The mustache is a pencil-thin type and the beard close cropped on the chin. I shave below the lower lip and have to cleanup under the nose above the 'stach. I also only shave twice a week because I like the look of one-two days growth. Right now I only shave WTG and I'm getting more comfortable using my left hand but it is still shaky. Only nicked myself once and almost cut into my upper cheek but felt the blade grab and backed off quickly. Right now I finish everything off with a Harry's Truman, which I was using before I got the SR. I will say that with the combination I am getting the closest shaves I've ever felt in my very long life (official senior citizen). I have a pure badger brush and also picked up what is supposed to be a chip dip cooler that works perfect as a skuttle. Love the warm lather shave.

What I love is that shaving has become a ritual for me and it is very meditative. We are in the midst of a drought, so I don't run the sink water. I heat my water up in a pan on the stove, pour it into a pan that hold a towel and some into the skuttle. I whip up my lather and then use the towel on my face before I get started. I strop prior to preparing the water -- getting better at that all the time. I am careful, slow and deliberate when I shave and will probably continue to be since it is part of my ritual/meditation. I have to say I like shaving like this. It does take a good half-hour or more, so I plan accordingly.

My only regret is that I didn't start doing this sooner in my life.