Lurker stepping out of the closet...
Hi guys!
As is customary, I thought I should spend my first post on introducing myself.
I'm a 35yo guy from Norway. My occupation is with software development, mostly doing 3D graphics visualization systems targeting the oil sector. I've been a computer geek since I was 11-12. Of late interests (the last couple of years), I have been studying up on peak oil (peak everything actually) and the global credit crunch, and have as a consequence been pondering about how a more low-energy / sustainable lifestyle would have to affect me. One of the more pleasant ideas that has come out of that ongoing exercise is the idea that I should probably learn how to shave with a straight-razor :)
Straight-razors have fascinated me since I saw them as a young boy in the movies. I'm a movie buff. Thank gosh it wasn't smoking that caught my fascination, and no - it was not because of the movie Reservoir Dogs. Straight-razors just seemed so classy. Since they're not for sale at supermarkets I never got around to acquire one though. I've therefore been a Gillette safety-razor junkie all my life (I've also had electric shavers but never been satisfied with the results). But a month or so ago, standing there with a new vibrating fusion turbo in my hand, feeling a bit ridiculous, I finally woke up. Things weren't meant to be this way!
A few weeks ago I had to go to Pittsburgh on a business trip, and while there I decided to really keep my eyes open. Checking out the strip district, I finally found a shop that actually had some, and I ended up with a $15 made in China "American Master Cutlery" stainless steel straight-razor, and later that day a brush, soap and bowl set from a CVS pharmacy. I read up on technique, went to the bathroom, lathered up, and set myself up for a pretty big disappointment. Back to the internet and some reading later I found out there was such a concept as a "shave-ready" razor, which my straight-razor definitely was not. Also, the fact that it was stainless steel was also probably not such a good thing - it might even be one of the brands listed here as no good, although I can not be sure.
Some studying later and I ordered amongst other things a shave-ready "Dovo Ebony Spike Point, 5/8" Carbon Steel Straight Razor" from Vintage Blades and received it at my hotel a few days later. I postponed shaving with it until I was back home, but I continued lathering with the soap and brush.
So this monday, I started the process of switching teams. The stock market seems to be reacting favorably, so this must clearly be the way to go ;) Monday I did mainly the cheeks WTG and tried one stroke on the neck, and used the safety razor for the rest. Having just flown over the Atlantic and not shaving since the morning before the flight, I more or less had two-day beard-stubs that morning. Weird experience - felt like I could hear every hair being cut. No stropping beforehand (as Lynn intended) since this was the first shave. After he shave, I put some gun-oil on the blade before storing it in the box it came in. Today I started with stropping 15 times on the leather side only. I did the whole face, neck and all, except the chin where I still had to pull out the safety razor. The cheeks I also did ATG. I'd say it was a definite improvement over the usual Gillette treatment, but putting the care to stretch the skin in various directions can also be done with a safety-razor to get a better shave with them as well. I currently have a mustache and a soul patch, so I have been staying clear of those areas for now. Can't wait to get rid of the safety-razor clutter around the sink though, so I will probably tackle the chin problem tomorrow I guess, and if that goes well, it is bye-bye safety-razor. So that's my beginnings. No cuts so far. And it clearly does something with the morning routine, and I like it.
Still lacking in technique and confidence, one of the things I struggle a bit with is that I feel I shouldn't use as much pressure as I do, but trying to relax the pressure, I sometimes make the blade start skipping (jumping off and connecting a bit too sudden some millimeters later), particularly in the less trivial parts of the face where I don't stretch the skin as good. Things went definitely better today than yesterday, so I guess I will get a better hang of it with each shave. I don't know if beard strength would affect this, in which case I would say mine is pretty strong. Or holding angle? Or maybe it's the razor sharpness? Or all... The other thing I struggle a bit with is how to hold the razor when on the left side of my face. This should also become easier with more practice I guess, so nothing to worry about.
As for the stainless steel razor, I haven't given up on it. I'll hone it when I get around to it and see how it fares. The scales on it seems way too heavy though, now that I have used the Dovo, so it might end up just being for show (it matches the brushed stainless steel bathroom-accessories I already have), or if it becomes a good shaver, I might use it as a traveling kit razor or maybe even try to rescale it myself. Time will tell.
Now, this place is a gold mine of good information. The fact that it exists was really helpful in taking the necessary steps to start the switch, and I hope to be able to contribute to it in my own way. There won't be any guru-advice from me though for some years... ;)
See you around,
Larsarus
