Thread: Report: A few weeks in, and some new info/surprises

Backstory (for those who haven't interacted with me):
I'm a college student who needed a hobby and thought this would be $*p*i*m*p*$. And it is. (Since I started, a lot of my friends want to start, and a lot of the girls I hang out with have the usual "OMG is that dangerous? I bet you're really manly" response)
So anyway this is my boot leg shave set up:

Brush, soap, mug:
VDH combo- $10 (thanks walmart)
Razor- $10 Friedrich Wilhelm (Solingen, looks like not a full grind, not a wedge though, maybe around 4/8's, OLD) that hi_bud_gl graciously tried to hone for me. He thinks it is not shave ready... well it passed my hht and its good nough for now.
Strop- $15, Illinois 127, needs work (/oil/lather/breakin... lol...)
Other strops- 3 year old Levi's stretched real taught, newspaper on a texbook, stretched taught
Aftershave- $5 here's the shocker- Neutrogena for men post shave lotion. Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, and I used it before with cratridge razors so it carried over. Amazing stuff. Absolutely amazing.
Cologne- $40 Armani Code obviously gifted, from/for SWMBO, never could've afforded.

So I'm str8'n it up for $40. Granted I'm looking for two better blades (I found one, a Fontenille Medaille d'Or, nice worked spine and etching and stuff) and will be getting them really honed to shave ready.

Anyway-
What've I learned? Four cuts, six nicks and one case of razor burn (which occured before hi_bud_gl graciously sharpened it) later I am getting the hang of it. And its great. I'm about to experiment with other neutrogena stuff and I'm gonna start hammering it, cus its a lot cheaper than the standard chique shaving stuff, and its amazing.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO ALL YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS (WHOOPS AND GIRLS) ARE AMAZING AND I NEVER EVER COULD'VE DONE THIS OR WANTED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT YOU. THIS SITE IS THE BEST. HANDS DOWN. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

congrats for hanging in there and not giving up. that's the spirit!

In a few months it will become second nature.