Thread: my story, or how not to get discouraged

I'm sure there are people that come here, because they think it is cool, they wanted to try(once), or those who truly want to learn this lost art and it is just way too much stuff, it is easy to get discouraged, but if you take it slow it will probably will be worth the time. So I'll tell my story.

From my childhood I have a vague memory how I found a rusty straight razor in my grand-grand mother's shed and was told it was my grand-grand dad's, who was already long gone. The shape of that object stuck in my mind for many many years. It had strange magnetism to it.

I always had hated shaving, as long as I could remember. Even with 2/3/4/5 or however many blades Gillette puts in their plastic crap. I do own an electric razor too(my second), it should be called "BURN" 2/3/4/5 times too.
Two years ago I was starting a new job and decided to do some 'shaving adjustments' as well. So I googled it and came across a few forums, one was this one, another one that I stopped by was a DE related.
I did not think I have enough time/patience to learn STR right away, it was scary and overwhelming just to read about all of it, so I got a Mercur Double Edge razor, badger brush some good shaving cream and my shaving routine became much much better, I did not start to love it, but I stopped hating it. I did not need to spend $2-$4 on a cartridge that lasted me just two good shaves and the rest where horrendous. I just got 100 DE blades on E-Bay for $15 (still have some left). Even they are disposables, they rust outside way faster then that plastic in cartridges and if I wanted I could use a new one every day, it still would be cheaper and environmentally friendlier.

But I know that the bigger change that mattered was a badger brash, real shaving cream and knowledge that face has to be prepared for shaving that took me a bit long, but I'm finally there.

A couple of month ago I was searching for something on the internet and came across this message, which was totally unrelated to the what that newsgroup all about, but I'm glad I did, it made sense and I had to try it: http://linuxfromscratch.org/pipermai...er/027634.html
STR came back to the surface of my mind, post 'offered' a long, slow road - use a disposable blades in a relatively cheap holder for 6+ month. If I couldn't do it, I wouldn't invest much.
This time I got a pre-shave cream as well and re-started my learning once more.
I got a DOVO shavette, brush, cream, blades were already in my bathroom cabinet. First shave was with a couple of nicks, very minor, next three were uneventful, so I got cocky and my fifth shave gave me a small scar, ouch!!! I had to slow down again and figure out that when you use a STR. I figured that it is not just razor that has to be sharp but your mind as well, reminds my ZEN meditation to some degree. Shavette, I know many people do not like it, it is too light and it's not a real STR, but what I liked, that for short while I did not need to think about stropping, honing, etc.
Another great thing about Shavette that just take a blade out of it and you can practice all the moves before you actually do put a f@#$ sharp steel to your face and neck, and after my scar, that took two weeks to heal, I did that a lot, just to figure out how do I hold it and how to move it.

Last friday I finally got my real one for classicshaving and it was honed by Lynn. I shaved with it and Oh God, was it awful, even with Shavette I could give myself a very close shave with no razor burn at all. I know I have some more learning to do. I'm telling all this because if I started with a real STR two years or two month ago, I'd probably go back to cartridges, but now I know that real skill takes time and patience.
Another nice side effect, after starting with STR, I know how to handle my trusted DE razor way way better, which is nice, I use to nick myself with it once in a while, but now it just glides through all the sharp angles of my face - yes I'm somewhat jealous of men with "round" faces.

I also need to say "THANK YOU" to all the members who share so much knowledge and experience with us.

Still a newbie, still learning....

Your start up story illustrates how there are many roads to "Shave-ana" (not all of them lead to the straight razor either). I am glad you shared it!

Good luck and good shaving!