Thread: The Pay Off

A day when everything goes right. I'll post this here because I've only been straight razor shaving almost five months and I wanted to address the posts from folks about to throw in towel or wonder what all the fuss is about.
The shave this morning was effortless. Badger brush soaking in hot water while I showered, coffee very hot. The Darby shave cream smelled good and the lather whipped up fast and creamy. Today was cream instead of soap. Lathered my face and stropped the razor about 50 laps with long easy strokes, fipping the blade with an easy flick, settling into the rhythm. It just felt like the right amount. Like darby felt like the right cream to use today. Zip zip zip, WTG, ATG... the blade glided on the cream, it felt perfect in my hand, the angle and my grip worked effortlessly. I felt so confident the shave went so easy. I have had my share of cuts and nicks and razor burn. It has been a frustration trying to figure out how to grip the razor. When I needed a break I would switch to a Double Edge Razor and give my face and my mind a breather. But the payoff after all this time is having a day like today. Everything just fell into place and it showed me how my shaving routine was changing and my skills were improving. These days are happening more frequently and I can see all my shaves being like this. I'll be in a routine again but it will consist of having options and choices from razors to soaps and creams and aftershaves and stropping time. My routine use to be, get up, smear bar soap on my face and race a Fusion razor as fast as I could over my skin. Go to work. No fun in that. This is fun and today felt like shaving like a man. Walk in, be in control, skilled and confident you don't even have to think about it. Come out smelling lika a Clubman.
Dannyr

Great post!

It's great to hear to success stories such as your's. It's almost magical when everything aligns and goes smoothly. Keep it up!

Great to hear Dannyr! There will be many more where
that came from, I promise!

- Scott

It's stories like these that push me to improve, I'm still at the experimentation stage. Blade angle, pressure, phase of the moon... But I'm loving it and enjoy reading about people like yourself who get it right one day and it all pays off.

well dannyr thanks for your great post!
Today I had a similar experience.. everything fell into place and the shave was great.

Yesterday I honed my J.A. Henckels #50 again.. the first time I honed it it was shaving but it needed a bit too much pressure to cut through the whiskers. I just honed it with some nice music in the background..BBW with slurry, coticule and then some newspaper.

So today I tried it after a shower.. today I used soap in stead of cream with my homemade silvertip badger brush.. worked great and had some nice warm lather on my face while I stropped the razor..

Then I started shaving and I wasnt sure if the razor was skipping over the whiskers or if it was just eliminating them from my face.. well the whiskers where gone.. in stead of going XTG after the WTG pass I just went ATG.. on my next pass and it went great.. no blood, no irritation and after some touchups BBS all over my face..

After the shave I rinsed with warm water and then icecold water.. and then some aftershave balm..

now I cant stop touching my face..

Think I'll get nice whiskey now and enjoy the moment..

Shaved with a razor I rescaled and honed myself, a brush I built myself ... priceless.

Maarten

Originally Posted by mlangstr

well dannyr thanks for your great post!
Today I had a similar experience.. everything fell into place and the shave was great.

Yesterday I honed my J.A. Henckels #50 again.. the first time I honed it it was shaving but it needed a bit too much pressure to cut through the whiskers. I just honed it with some nice music in the background..BBW with slurry, coticule and then some newspaper.

So today I tried it after a shower.. today I used soap in stead of cream with my homemade silvertip badger brush.. worked great and had some nice warm lather on my face while I stropped the razor..

Then I started shaving and I wasnt sure if the razor was skipping over the whiskers or if it was just eliminating them from my face.. well the whiskers where gone.. in stead of going XTG after the WTG pass I just went ATG.. on my next pass and it went great.. no blood, no irritation and after some touchups BBS all over my face..

After the shave I rinsed with warm water and then icecold water.. and then some aftershave balm..

now I cant stop touching my face..

Think I'll get nice whiskey now and enjoy the moment..

Shaved with a razor I rescaled and honed myself, a brush I built myself ... priceless.

Maarten

ya gotta love the routine. And hone your razor, and a homemade brush. Excellent!
Dannyr

Very cool Danny, very cool.

Great post, Danny. Thanks!

Jordan

Way to go!

Great post! Sounds like you are getting you straight razor bearings. You make me want to go shave now. Lol...