My First Straight Shave!

[Belegnole]

Well, after months of agonizing planning and waiting I received my first straight and "THE DVD" last night in the mail (Thanks go out to Lynn and Mike_ratliff). I stayed up late watching the dvd and waiting for my beard to grow. Today not having to work I chomped on the bit but had to drop my daughter at school then ran a few errands after. I knew I had to get a strop, but Tony's illness and popularity has made it impossible to get one of his strops. So, I went to Appleton Barber Supply and picked up a Illinois 127 for now. While I was there I grabbed a few aftershaves for fun...off to home. While at home I reviewed (as if I hadn't slept practicing) and stropped my Wapi on the leather only (30 strokes). Finally I took a hot shower did the towel prep and with shaking knees grabbed the blade. I have to say I hadn't realized that there was any fear until I was just about to shave. After figuring out the initial angle I had to stand at so that I could see not only the razor but also my face I began. Lets just say that though chafed I had a good shave (3 passes wtg). Only two nicks that didn't need any styptic and razor burn from the inexperience. I found that I will need to have a sharper razor than what I shaved with this morning as I definitely had some tugging. While I don't believe I did damage in my stropping as I was MOST careful, I may have. Also considering what the razor may have gone through in shipping the edge may have lost a bit of it's keenness. Mike the razor arrived wicked sharp but my beard said not quite sharp enough when I shaved. I place no blame on Mike though as like I said I stropped it and the USPC isn't always real nice to things. I am going to try stropping the Wapi on both the canvass and the leather and see how she does next time. Any way I'm stoked and as one of my returns is in I'm off to Woodcraft to look at hones.....muhahaha