Thread: I had to try this.

Originally Posted by flyboy

Now I finally got my stuff. I was exited like a little kid on christmas when I started stropping it. After like 100 draws on each side of the strop, I tried the hanging-hair-test. It popped hairs all along the edge, so I figured it had to be shave ready. Am I right?

A razor that pops hanging hairs is surely sharp enough to shave a beard. (the "overhoning" exception left aside, but that is not something to worry about with a razor that came straight from Dovo)

Originally Posted by flyboy

Then I Made some nice lather and stropped some more. I started out with the sides of my face, but got a bit exited and did the whole face. I got a small nick (2mm) on the left side of my mouth, but that was all. The left-handed part under my nose was a bit tricky, so that was where I cut my self.
I am overall happy about it, being my first time and all.

Congratulations!
You're doing great.

Bart.

Congradulations and welcome aboard.
Sounds like you are off to a great start!

You have heard really good advice thus far, there will always be dozens of guys here that can help out down the road as you progress, myself included.

Good luck,

Sean

One question: what is razorburn, I read about it all the time in here, but don't really know what it is.

Hey Fly Boy, I just responded to another one of your posts and then I saw this one. This one answers most of the “where is he at” questions going thru my mind as I wrote the other response. From this posting …..

You have a strop. Great. There are actually newbies that say “Do I really need one?” ABSOLUTLY.

Dovo razor. Great. Still amazing that it is as sharp as you have described, few new razors actually shave ready, even the good brands.

Norton 4000/8000 Great. Get it. Cheapest way you can get serious about this sport. This is the workhorse that many serious honing addicts use.

A paddle strop pasted with CrOX is all I would add.

You are a mechanic? I’ll take a blind leap of faith and assume you like to fix stuff, fidget with things, figure it out and do it yourself. Sharpening and honing is not rocket science, you will get it all quickly with what you can read here. Just do it and you are going to have a roaring good time.

Congrats on a great first shave! Sounds like you did really well.

Razor burn is that painful (almost burning) feeling you sometimes get after a particularly harsh shave - the skin is pretty much abraided and raw (hence slightly painful).

Mark

Now I am off for my second shave, today I am going to try to let the beard be lathered up for a longer time, so I hopefully totally avoid razorburn

Originally Posted by flyboy

Now I am off for my second shave, today I am going to try to let the beard be lathered up for a longer time, so I hopefully totally avoid razorburn

Many of us lather up before we start stropping the razor. After that, I usually just rework the lather a bit, but it's even better to rinse it off with the hottest water you can stand, and reapply a new coat.

If razor burn is an issue, back off on the pressure. A razor only needs to touch the skin to shave well.

Best regards,

Bart.

Have had 3-4 shaves now, and by now it is better than my mach3, it gets better every time and I enjoy the process. got a cut after trying to shave XTG, how do you guys stretch the skin with al the lather in the way?
Just had a midnight-shave Awesome! My first totally burnfree shave in years.
I was really careful, went two times WTG, XTG and ATG is a bit scary yet. Got a really good shave and the best part was that I finally managed to get a comfortable shave

Regarding the sharpness of the razor: I took it to a local barber and he said it was sharp enough, so I just go with that for now.

So now I have been shaving with a straight for one and a half week. I am getting consistently ok results.
It is still some stubble left on my chin that are kinda sandpaper-like when I drag my hand ATG but feeling WTG it is smooth all over. I get some areas that are BBS, parts of my cheeks and a spot in the middle of my chin.
The not so good thing I have is a vertical scar almost an inch long under my ear after my first XTG pass, but it is fading quickly.
I also bought an alum block in an Indian market and really like the feeling of it.

It is kind of funny how earlier I would dread my weekly shave, and now I just can't wait for my beard to get long enough for a shave. So at least I am not scared away after 10 shaves.

Sounds like you are right on track. I completely recognize everything you wrote out of my own "straight" shaving history.
Take a chore and turn it into a hobby, isn't that a great achievement?


Best regards,
Bart.