Thank you and first shave.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone on this board that has help in my new venture into staight razor shaving. With out this support group I may not have taken the plunge, or I may have taken the wroung path alongthe way.

Thank you.

First shave...
The razor I bought was from vintageblades "Razor of the Month" , a Dovo 5/8 Classic Honed by Lynn Abram. The strop Illinois Russian. Van Der Hagen soap and boar brush. Lynn's DVD, which is awesome and I am glad it is in my collection.

After watching the DVD, I went for a shave. Hot towel prep and some good lather. I went a head and stropped the blade, and set in to make the first cut. I noticed a little pulling on the first stroke. I changed my angle and it got better. The sides went very easy. The neck I had problems with. The blade seems to be pulling more, so I changed angle. It didn't seem that it helped any. I went ahead and stopped cleaned and dried the blade, and re-stropped. Started the shave again and it felt much better. The upper lip was difficult. I thought to myself "This is when you loose something". To my surprise it went very well and I still have an upper lip. I have a large chin and I had a little problem getting around the tip, but once I figure out good hand placement, and a better stroke I don't think I will have a problem with the chin. After a good rinse and hot towel I dabbed on a little Old Spice. I work in a very hot humid environment and I noticea slight burning when in the heat. I may have to look for a good balm to use.

Only one major nic. Right on the tip of my chin. "You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs".

Over all I don't think I will ever go back to a safety razor. I need to work on my stropping skill. I hope I don't damage or dull my razor from stropping. I think I may get a couple of cheaper razors and try my hand at honing. I think I may go a little insane now wanting every soap, aftershave, and balm that is out there. I am going to save my money and look into a good badger brush and a good vintage blade. Untill then I am very happy with my Dovo, and boar brush.

I can't wait untill my next shave.

Thank you everone.

"Don't Panic"

Great to hear this!

Take it easy on the acquisition disorders :D

Cheers
Ivo

Excellent first shave and a good starters kit!!!


Don't lose track of your towel! and keep it up.

Congrats Arthur! Good job on the first shave. It only gets better. Be sure to keep the razor flat while stropping and go slow. Practice makes...er, much better! I'm still trying for perfection myself. :D

Jordan

congratulations Arthur:tu :nj :y

( and be carefull , after having 23 straight razors for 29 years and six months ,now after 7 months in this excellent forum I have 79 )
but I like it :y , my wife....hmm :rant: )

Congratulations Arthur! :)

Yannis, 79 razors ??? :thinking: :thinking: ...Wow...
I have only 25. :( :rant: :(

Cheers,
Viktor

:tu I'm glad to hear your first shave went so well ! On my first two shaves I had to do my upper lip , chin and neck with a shick disposeable :D . But I was learning to hone my razors at the same time I was learning to shave with them . I've been honing knives , chisels and plane irons for over 25 years , so it didn't take me long to learn how to get my razors sharp enough to shave . By my sixth shave my razors were "shave ready" , but until then it was shave , hone again , shave , hone again , and so on . You may want to get a Norton 4k/8k hone (I have one and it's all the hone I need) , a good strop , and a half decent vintage razor off ebay to practice with . And a nice , hand knotted silver tip / super badger brush wouldn't hurt either :D . Have fun with your new addiction :D ! .....Dave

Great job, Arthur.

Now just make sure you don't misplace your towel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Viktor

Congratulations Arthur! :)

Yannis, 79 razors ??? :thinking: ...Wow...
I have only 25. :( :rant: :(

Cheers,
Viktor

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I am 4 months older than you (in this forum) so you have time
to be .........loaded :)

The towel I keep with me... Always.

Even though it was much more difficult than using my Mach3, after my shave I left for work feeling better than I have for the past two weeks (working non-stop and long hours). I would have to say this is the closest shave i think I ever had just shaving with the hair. I have to say, this is something I will pass down to the next generation. We will be a straight razor family.

I have a lot a practice ahead of me, but my beard does not grow that fast.

I will try to keep control of my soap, aftershave collection. Although I may get some Bay Rum, and try some of Mam Bears soap.

Have to get back to work.

"Like getting smashed in the face with a golden brick"

And the shaving becomes a pleasure and not a forced labour for the rest of ours life!:y

Thanks for the encouragement. Still working up to my first. I have a Shavemac 177, a scuttle and some Mama Bear on order, and I've bid on some Wapiencias on Ebay (4 days to go). Nervous about getting started and posts like yours help :)

At first my hands were shaking. The first stroke was the hardest thing I've done in a long while. Just remember to breathe, and focus. It felt strange at first, but after the first stroke, it just felt right.

Untill next time...

I didn't have trouble with the blade on my face... However cleaning the blade gave me the willies thinking of the edge sliding through my fingers... That wigged me out a bit.