First Shave - Thanks Mike

So turns out the two razors from my great-grandfather were no good but thanks to Mr. Ratliff, I was donated a shave ready straight. I gave it a whirl this morning using normal shaving cream (old style cream, not that new fangled gel crap) Anyway, things went smoothly, a little tugging here and there but I think that is mostly because of the cream I was using and the lack of technique. I'm extremely happy though. I didn't nick myself at all and my skin wasn't irritated afterwards.

Guess I need to buy myself a brush and some soaps now. I just need to figure out which to buy. Any recommendations for cheap but long lasting? (I'm a college student so my funds are rather meager and by requirement must be spent between whiskey and whatever else. in this case shaving supplies)

I must admit though. As I'll be doing this shaving more as part of a living interpretation of a 1915 logging camp this summer, I'm sure I'll keep up shaving this way after the summer is through. The fact that my skin wasn't irritated is amazing, I've used a Mach 3 and electric razors and they all irritated the hell out of my skin.

As a side note, Listening to some Alison Kraus while shaving = super relaxing.

AND, as a final question. SO, as previously stated, this summer I'll be working at a camp playing as though its 1915 in a logging camp in northern new mexico. As such, showering will not be a daily occurance. The need to stay clean shaven though, is a requirement of camp. SO, this hot towel method. I'll have a wood burning stove and thats about it for my source of hot water. Is the hot towel just a towel tossed in a pot of hot water or what? Any ideas on methods I can use to get the effect of the hot towel?

Ron

hey man glad to hear things are going so well. Yeah you can just soak your towel in hot water no problem. If you don't have a hot towel just use plenty of hot water on you face and give the lather plenty of time to do its magic.