Thread: And ... it begins ...

I enjoyed my first divot the other day due to lather not being wet enough. i use a 1/4 grind razor and it has a rather different feel against the skin, and some lather encourages a smooth and a shave less prone to nicks. My wife is being kind. It isn't bad. She expressed her opinion that I was too old to mess with a straight, so the battle is on...Good luck.

You don't have to be a Jedi master to use both hands. You just have to decide to do so.

My wife has been understanding as well. Slowly getting better. I couldn't find my styptic pencil, so I bought a new one. Just in case. I'm not trying to shave as close while I'm learning, but it's fine. Next series of questions:

1. Thoughts on preshave oils.

2. Preferences around stropping. Before shaving or after so that it's ready for the next shave?

Thanks!

In can't help you with preshave oils, but as to stropping Incan give you my opinion.
I strop before each shave linen/webbing 20-30 and then on the leather 100.
Also strop after a shave on linen 20-30 after to be sure the edge is dry

Personally stropping before each shave prepares the razor to shave and is just part of the ritual

Forget the pre-shave oils and buy better shaving cream / soaps and work on improving shave preparation (e.g., shower first or washing your face and neck). Cleaning oil from the blade becomes messy during the shave, so I still have 95% of the one pre-shave oil I bought.

I used to strop after shaving but have switched to beforehand like most others. After shaving, I wipe the blade dry and don't stow it inside of any box until a few hours later to give any unseen water a chance to evaporate off. While I'm stropping, I allow my brush to soak in warm water for several minutes to get it prepared.

1. Shave oil - Shave Secret.
2. Stropping - both, before & after.

Still working on it. Since I know everyone enjoys reading about my experience (). Here's where I'm at: working on my angles, still working on both hands, moderate success; using a good creme but still using preshave oil (a little insurance and it's paid for), stropping before and after. Just minor nicks - I still have my nose (and goatee).

Those first shaves no matter what are like being a awkward teenager again. Soon it will start to come together and before long will be easy. Good luck finding your style

Pretty successful shave this evening. After reading another thread I tried lathering one area at a time. This was not a post shower shave but went well - I felt more at ease, not in a hurry.

I've been using supplies from AoS. I do have soaps from Van DER Hagen (got on clearance) and a cake from Colgate that I inherited (may be older than me). Anyway, thoughts on soaps versus cremes?

Soaps vs creams is a preference. I use both there is a thread here on soaps let me find the link. I highly suggest any of the top tier soaps. They will help give you a smooth shave with good cushion and nice lather.

Here ya go

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html