Thoughts from a Newb

Well Im into about my 12th shave, I really had no problems learning how to do this. I have yet to even nick myself and today I got my first BBS shave. I watched Jockeys vid this morning and it gave me some new ideas on how to shave the neck. Today I also decided that I want to be able to use both hands for shaving and that I better learn now while Im still a beginner, I put the razor in my left hand and went to work , it was actually easier than I thought it would be and now gives me a little more versatility.

A few things I noticed reguardless of some of the horror stories I have read is that I like to rinse my razor, it just seems to cut better for me, I tried wiping the blade on a towel and that method sucks for me.

I also noticed that I dont need to use my hand to strech my skin, I can just use face muscles or tilt my head and that works fine for me. I also find that most the soaps seem to dry to quick and I find myself putting a couple of drops of water on my brush and relathering the second time with a more watery lather. I dont have this problem with glycerine soaps, they seem nice and slippery and they stay that way.


Im not sure how many times Im stropping but I dont think Im doing 30 linen and 30 leather like what I have been reading from most, Im not counting but it seems like Im only doing it like 10 times, but my razor is cutting beautiful. My skin is not red when Im done and my face is smooth as silk.

I rinse my face when Im done with warm water then I use cold water. I hate the cold water but I do it because everyone here says you have to.

I also noticed that I have a thing for Wade and Butcher, I already have 4 of them and have sent one out for restore, so in one month of lurking here on the forum and about 6 weeks of shaving I have aquired 5 razors, 1 new DOVO and 4 vintage W& B 's


I tried TABAC 3 times now and I think it sucks, the smell makes me want to puke !


So when is a newb not a newb anymore ?

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Originally Posted by Mike257

I rinse my face when Im done with warm waterthen I use cold water. I hater the cold water but I do it because everyone here says you have to.

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OK I will say it "You don't have to!". I'm sure this will help you

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Originally Posted by Mike257

So when is a newb not a newb anymore ?

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That's easy - when you stop following what others tell you and do what works for you :)

You are not a newb , when you can look back , and realize your 12th shave wasn't as great as you thought it was ;) .

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Originally Posted by dave5225

You are not a newb , when you can look back , and realize your 12th shave wasn't as great as you thought it was ;) .

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perfect! Mike257 it sounds like you are doing great and that is awsome, especially the left hand thing which is tricky (i still haven't ventured there though i do plan to). i know that i have had some shaves in the past that i thought were amazing, but when i look back on them they were just good shaves and i still consider myself a newb.

again it sounds like everything is going really well, so i wouldn't pay too much attention to whether your a newb or not. your the only one that will know.:w

I love me those wade and butchers too. I'm a firm believer that everyone, with a few notable exceptions, will always have more to learn. I'll always be a noob when it comes to straight shaving. :)

If it makes you feel better the smell of Tabac makes me gag too...but I absolutely love the lather it makes so I add a little cream (normally Proraso) to make the smell more palatable.

You are no longer a newb when you can achieve BBS with no nicks or razor burn while blind drunk and in the dark. After a couple decades I'm still not quite there. :D

Austexshaver, I accidently tried the drunk shave when the postman delivered my new razor 30 mins after I drank a half a bottle of wine. I stopped when I saw what I looked like in the mirror and saw me holding the razor on my neck. I thought this just does not look right. I looked like some kind of Psyco.

I know the problem! You were missing the other half of the bottle.
Don't give up too early :roflmao

Thats funny :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by Mike257

So when is a newb not a newb anymore ?

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When I get my strop back.;):rofl2: Im glad the razor is working alright for you, just joking about the strop.

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Originally Posted by Mike257

Austexshaver, I accidently tried the drunk shave when the postman delivered my new razor 30 mins after I drank a half a bottle of wine. I stopped when I saw what I looked like in the mirror and saw me holding the razor on my neck. I thought this just does not look right. I looked like some kind of Psyco.

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Heck, with a razor in my hand I look like some kind of psycho even when I'm sober! :w
:rofl2:

Hey man I still have 12 days left lol , been sick as a dog here. BTW Strop is still in usable condition

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

When I get my strop back.;):rofl2: Im glad the razor is working alright for you, just joking about the strop.

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Been str8 shaving since January of this year with a Wapi Razor. I have been shaving every other day since then. If you ask me, I'm still a newbie. I will think as my self as one till I can hone a dead edge to a great shave. Where I can shave face & head with no nicks, cuts or lose of ear. Then maybe I won't be a newbie then. I don't think about being called a newbie now, It's not like it's a bad name. Remember everyone was a newbie before when they started.

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Originally Posted by Mike257

Hey man I still have 12 days left lol , been sick as a dog here. BTW Strop is still in usable condition

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Im not to worried about the strop, just get over that bug!

Im trying man, been laying on this couch all weekend, unfortunatly I have to go to work tommorow.

great post thanks for the update :tu

I love Tabac... and I really hate Nivea.. it reminds me of sandwiches on the beach when I was young tasting like Nivea sunlotion... YUK....

Maarten