Thread: I drew first blood (but not that much)

This morning was my first shave with a straight razor (I've been already using a brush and a soap since almost three years and a DE, a brush and a cream since a few months). That was some experience.

I was very happy to discover the DE thanks first to my wife (Hourray!) who pointed me to Mantic's videos and B&B a few months ago. It gave me the pleasure of me shaving (for the first time ever) with a smooth and nice shave (without skin burns or ingrowing hairs). And even if I'm interested in using a straight, I think I will not let it down (I'm using a Merkur Vision, a birthday present from my wife).

So I was interested to try a straight and, having read this forum all over, I decided to commit to my desire. So I bought a Le Grelot 6/8 with a 1/4 grind as my first weapon (and, having been infected by the virus, already bought a Wade & Butcher and a Royal crown from SRP members on ebay... and, thanks God, I have a wonderful wife who supports my folly with a nice TI with a Griffon on the scales.)

Let's go back to the topic: Even if I am a right hander, I used my left hand to shave the left part of my face. I must say I was surprised how smooth this first shave went: I only did two passes WTG. The result was not a very close shave (I can use my DE for ATG if needed until I'm comfortable with the straight) but a very smooth one (actually, I prefer a comfortable shaving as a close one...) Only two little cuts - on the right side of my face... dammit... I thought the left will suffer more - (they stop to bleed by themselves): one on the jawline and one on my ear (will look in the mirror next time ). I think I will continue to practice the next months: the two first passes with the straight WTG and the third ATG with the DE... does this seems reasonable ?

To finish, just wanted to thank you guys... your forum is wonderful and really helping.

BTW Thank you Tony for the strop, it's gorgeous !

Welcome aboard matey! Shaving's an experience I look forward to every day since I started with a straight. And yes, this forum is amazing- a bunch of top notch guys in here. Their help has been indispensible!

Ockham,
You have a brilliant username! Why didn't anyone think of that before?

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ockham,
You have a brilliant username! Why didn't anyone think of that before?

Unfortunately, I'm missing something.

Congrats on your first straight shave. Sounds like you have a wonderful arsenal of tools, and you're very lucky to have a wife who SUPPORTS this hobby! Mine loves the shave I get, but still laughs at me

Welcome aboard.

~Chris

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

Unfortunately, I'm missing something.

William of Ockham (or Occam) is a Franciscan philosopher and theologian who lived in the fourteenth century (1285-1347); he is famous for what we call "Ockham's razor": the main principle of his philosophical system lies in the affirmation that only individual beings exist and that universals are nothing but signs (spoken, written or mental); he "cut through" what was the common doctrine to lessen the number of beings only to individuals.

you're very lucky to have a wife who SUPPORTS this hobby! Mine loves the shave I get, but still laughs at me

My wife thanks you... but add that support does not always exclude laughing... and sometimes she has just THAT kind of smile when I'm going in the bathroom for my morning shave... but I can always make her remember the passion she has for Mac, iPod and stuff...

BTW she just save my day this morning: after my second shave I noticed a dark little spot on the the blade near the spine... this was driving me crazy: I thought I cleaned it and dry it thoroughly... a new razor ! and just like the good fairy god-mother she came with an iPodCleaner... and cleaned it without a mark