First Few Shaves with SER's

Yet another experiential story for the forum. I recieved my package from Tony Miller, Razor, Soap, Brush, Strop a few days back. It then travelled back to the US with me. I tried my first shave on monday.
I did nothing special in way of preparation, except that I shaved after a shower. Lathered up, waited for a few seconds, put blade to face and that was that. Smooth strokes WTG on both the the sides of the face. Then downward strokes on the neck portion, followed by the chin. Lathered up again and this time around it was across the grain. The moustache presented no problems either. No burn, no major cuts (two spots of blood on the chin area) and a good, clean and highly satisfying shave. I did have to strop between the shave. Not sure if this is required, but i think my hard facial hair might have something to do with this.
I repeated the shave twice after that, tuesday and wednesday. No cuts or bruises. I think i am enjoying this enormously.
Thanks gents for the forum, for all the experience you guys have bought together in one area and the willingness to help out with responses to even the oddest of queries.
I am looking forward to bying up a few more razors during my visit to the US, and the process has already been set in motion.

You are now officially, one of us!

Glad it went well for you.

Tony

Good start, keep coming back for anything you need! Glad to hear it went well.

Good job! Nice to see it work out so well on the first shave. Enjoy :D

Jordan

May not be interesting, but I have been using the SE for a little more than a week now. About 5 shaves so far. A few observations if I may:

1. It seems easier to shave a two day growth than shaving the next day.
2. A two day or more growth seems right. Shaving the very next day does not seem to give enough for the SE to bite into. Not sure if this is related to technique or goes with the experience of the Don's in this forum.
3. I tried two different stropping techniques (if i can call what i do as a 'technique'). The first few times I stropped about 30 times, with no pressure applied to the razor. The last two times I applied a little pressure as mentioned elswhere in the fourm.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...ghlight=barber

This seems to have given me the most comfortable shaves. This may be attributed to gaining experience in using the razor or stropping. Unfortunately i dont have sufficient data points to make a conclusion.

Overall I am thoroughly enjoying using the SE razor. I am getting very smooth shaves, no burn, no cuts (a few spots do happen, but they happened with DE's and razor sticks too!).

I have become confident enough to start buying a few more. I have 3 already and a few more are on thier way. Distinct RAD symptons, right? And i am loving every bit of it.

One day i may have enough money to get custom razors from Mr. Joe Chandler and Mr. Robert Williams.

Thanks to the forum and its unparalleled members. Amazing forum and outstanding people.