WARNING: This is longer than I thought it would be when I started writing.

A few of you helped me choose my first shaver a week and a half ago. The razor, strop, brush, soap, bowl all came on the same day: Thursday. I knew I was going to spend the weekend away, and I was very anxious to get my first shave in. I had been reading, pondering and razor-lusting for months. I knew this would be right for me. It sounded like exactly what I wanted and needed from this formerly-terrible routine.

I searched on google for a badger brush made of Desert Ironwood and came across badgerbrush.net . I had wanted a "best" brush instead of silvertip because so far I've used more soaps than creams. Unfortunately there were no Desert Ironwoods with best, so I found another brush made of a wood I like nearly as well, and well, long story not-so-short, the brush is well made and I've been happy. He sent it quickly, and seems committed to good customer service. I recommend him for those looking for a so far great brush.

I then opened the package of soap/bowl. I'm not blown away, it's some Col. Conk almond. I will try some other soaps/creams of course, but nothing else do I have to say about it.

I opened the razor and strop. I decided, as you may remember, on the ebony spike point and 3" Premium strop from SRD. It was packed well, wrapped in butcher paper as I'm sure some/many of you know. In what may have been an omen, in my excitement and haste I gave myself a pretty nasty paper cut. I'm about to shave with a super sharp piece of metal and I cut myself on paper. Great. I continue on in my endeavors to open these pieces of art. First the strop. Wider than I was expecting (even though I knew it was 3" it seems HUGE). Nice looking piece of equipment here. Well put together, I'm pleased I went with the upgrade.

On to the main event. The long awaited purchase. 4 months of anticipation. I get the box open, get out the tin, open it up, the foam is down on it and I lift the foam to behold my beautiful..................white scaled razor? I think I was sent the wrong razor. Hmm. Yeah, I was sent a Bismarck spike point in bone. Whoops. (Lynn/Don if you're reading this and want me to send you the $10 dollars or so difference between what I ordered and what you sent, let me know. I'll probably order some soaps from you shortly, too).

Well, I was going away for the weekend and wanted/needed to shave. I took a shower, got some hot water ready for my brush/lather, lathered up, hooked up the strop, and wiped the oil off the blade. I stroped it up for around 5 minutes to develop some rhythm and dexterity. I'm not sure if I'm the best at it yet, but I'll improve with practice I'm sure. It was time. What I'd been waiting for. I raised the blade to my face, held firmly in my right hand. Just before touching it to my face I hesitated. I couldn't see what I was doing in the mirror. I moved again. I stopped again. Finally I just figured I should have faith in myself. I put the blade to my face and with a smooth, pain-free stroke I removed the first bit of hair. It wasn't a pretty stroke by any venture of the imagination. I continued on. I keep a goatee. I know the common advice is to shave one cheek on the first time. I couldn't stop. I had read all this literature and advice. I knew I should stop. I didn't. I shaved the other cheek. So far, so good. I shaved under my chin. I lathered up again, did the XTG pass in all spots. I thought about ATG but then decided I better not press my luck. I had a completely nick free shave, pretty smooth (when felt WTG) and overall I was hooked. My wife came in and watched for a few minutes. She was apprehensive at first, but then said "I'm actually pretty impressed by this!"

Well, that was my first shave. The second I also came away nick free and it went much like the first. I'm about to go for number 3.

My thoughts? I know I'm not a master by any stretch of the imagination, and I know there are areas I can improve, but it's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. To all my newb brothers, keep the faith, don't give up, and to my more experienced brethren, thanks for the advice and encouragement!

-Matt