Thread: I had to try this.

I had to start at a new school a couple of months ago because the last one I went too went bankrupt. At this school we have to be clean shaved at all times and I guess the same would go for the rest of my career.
All the different shaving methods I have tried so far has been kind of hard to my skin, if I shave two days in a row, it feels like someone lit my face on fire. It goes for electric and disposable. I guess it is because I try to get a really close shave and overdo it.
One and a half years ago I was in India for three months and could actually afford to go to the barber quite a lot. The straight razor shaves was amazing! So now I am trying this out and hope to be able to achieve the same results by my self.

This is what I have ordered:

DOVO Best Value Ivory Yellow Straight Razor 5/8"" Full Hollow Ground

Standard Pure Badger Shave Brush Off White Handle

Styptic Pencil

Shave Soap

DOVO German Razor Strop Leather Conditioner

Illinois Razor Strop 2"" x 20"" Top Grain Cowhide with Handle

Thiers Issard Low Grease White Paste for Razor Strop (for canvas side?)

Col Conk glycerine shave soap

And I am thinking about ordering a 4000/8000 Norton

Does this sound like a good start?

Welcome. Sounds pretty good to me. Razor honed?

No, it is not honed, my plan is to try it myself with a pyramid and lots of patience.

I have been working as a mechanic on jets, so I am used to both being patient and using a fine touch. It might be a bit optimistic, but I am an optimist and don't see any reason why I cannot do this.

Welcome aboard! You sound like me when I got started, of course there was no SRP to make the trip a little easier!

Thanks!

By the way, how did it go for you? I guess it can't have been too horrible since you are still doing it.

And if it doesn't work out at all, I could always send it to Lynn

if i were you i'd have started with a honed razor, but see how it works for you.
yeah, pick the norton.

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.