Thread: Still waiting for my first shave

Well I was supposed to get my new shave ready, hand honed razor that I ordered last week but it still has not showed up. I hvae been tracking this diligently, as any obsessed newbe would, but it is obvously late since it was supposed to be here yesterday and has not arrived. Hopefully it will be here Monday but since I dont have to shave everyday and I need to shave before work Monday its looking like Wed or Thursday is going to be the day.

So right now I believe I have everything I need, a new razor (still on its way), two leather strops (got a little excited and went on a shopping spree), a canvas strop, and a barbers hone to keep the edge as necsessary. Right now the only shaving soap I have is some cheap stuff that came with the strop and hone I bought and my aftershave is nothing to write home about either. So if anyone has any suggestions on where to get some good soap and aftershave, or maybe someone has some they dont want any more, I would love the ideas so I can get the best experience possible.

On another note I am really excited because I think I am more obsessed with collecting and restoring razors as I am shaving with them. I have ordered 15 razors and one without scales so I can begin my training on restorations. I also have a project that I am already working on for my dad. I am going to make a custom box and two razors before fathers day next year. I already found some wood for the scales and have begun designs and will proably start the first set sometime this week. Wish me luck

Yes, I can confirm you've truely dived in. Have fun.

Classic case of RAD.

Good luck!

And I'm still waiting too, so I'm with you on the whole pacing anxiously thing.

Did ya feel that???????? That was you, as you started the slide. down the slippery slope of RAD. and even worse the RRD. have fun with yer acquisition disorders we all have

Welcome to the straight train may yer ride be long and smooth

Yeah I have definantely started my slide. It doesnt matter what I seem to do I keep looking for and finding mroe razors to buy, when my wife actually looks and sees what I have bought I am sure I will be forced to sell some then Ill probably be additicted to ebay as well.

1. Don't start trying to hone until you have a little experience under your belt with shaving.

2. If you only have one shave ready razor, go easy on the stropping. Use very light pressure, and don't ever ever ever ever lift the spine off the strop until you are done. Much better to under-stop than ruin the edge. I suggest having at least two shave-ready razors, one as a backup.

3. I have lots of scars to show for my attempts to shave with Ebay razors that I was restoring, before I really learned to hone. Don't force it, and don't keep shaving with a dull razor. Either you will cut yourself, maybe badly, or you feel like your face is on fire all day.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

Thanks alot that is some good advice. This is going to be a true test of my wills since I am not a patient person at all and I know that to be safe I need to make sure that the razor is not only sharp but to GO SLOW. So wish me luck everyone I hope I dont kill myself.

Ok so I got my razor today and got to have my first shave. Boy am I excited, I am going to try to post pics in the SOTD forum if I can make it upload. So for my first experience I am pretty pleased. Only 3 minor, and I mean very minor, cuts and not too much razor burn. The only thing I am confused on, not really confused because I know the reason, is that the right side of my face is much smoother than the left. I am pretty sure that this is due to the right side being easier to shave than the left im not very coordinated with my left hand. So I am excited to wait for the next few days so I can try again and hopefully my skills improve. The only thing I am confused about is how sharp is the razor. I had the razor honed before it was sent ot my but when I got it, it did not pass the HHT and at some points it did pull some of the hairs. Any suggestions are welcomed and I cant wait to try again.

Take it slow pal, a lot of people give up on the whole experience just because it all doesn't happen for them straight away.

No pun intended.