Hello all,
as you can tell I am a newbie here as well, and today I had my first straight razor shave. Well OK I just shaved my sideburns and cheeks but it is a start.
I have the following equipment.
DOVO black star
Vulfix Super Badger brush
Illinois hanging leather strop.
Classic Brand Fresh Lime shaving soap.
Lynn's DVD
Norton 4000/8000x honing stone.
So I ordered the razor before joining the group and so I didn't get it honed before being delivered. I do have a lot of experience sharpening knives and chisles however so I was pretty sure I could hone the razor OK as long as I took my time. Well it arrived yesterday and I watched Lynn's DVD and found out about the pyramid method of honing the razor and followed his advice about new razors and did a 3/3 1/3 1/5 honing sequence. Then I followed that with 30 passes on the linen strop as I had read that this is a good way to make sure any metal shavings had been removed before touching the leather side!
So this morning I decided that I was going to shave, I did not have to be at work until 10 so it was a good day. First I stropped the razor 30 passes on the leather. Then I showered well and used some mild face scrub to prepare the beard area. I lathered up the soap (which I think needs some work on my part but that will come) and lathered my face. Shaved the side burns and my right side and wow it is cutting with no pulling at all, 1 pass and it is as smooth as with the M3, then I did the right cheek and that was pretty good as well. Then came the left side, and I decided I would try switching hands, now I am not very good with my left hand at all and I managed to catch my earlobe with a small nick:thinking:, this made me decide to use my right hand in a cross side motion. This actually worked really well and my left side turned out smoother than the right:). With everything going so well I decided to do some of my neck as well and this worked out OK. I still need practice on changing angles as I go down my neck but I know that will come. As for the chin area, well I was not brave enough to try that on my first go, so finished up with the M3.
Overall I am very happy with the way the shave went and am looking forward to getting better and being comfortable doing my whole face.
Thanks