Thread: One hundred and fifty shave retrospective

I last posted in April after ninety shaves with a straight razor. Since then I continue to shave every day with a straight razor. I have eight razors in my rotation with a 7/8 Wade and Butcher 1/4 hollow and 7/8 Dubl Duck special no. 1 full hollow my favorites. (both exceptionally restored by Max)

I have used numerous different shave creams but my standard is Taylors kicked up with Olive oil, Castor oil, Glycerin and Bentonite clay. Its some what heavy but I never get razor burn.

Beard preparation always includes hot towels. I now do all three passes with the chin and mustache areas still giving me most of the problem. (no surprise there) Total time for shaving still rather lengthy at forty minutes.

I have used numerous after shave balms including Castle Forbes and Truefitt and Hill but find Zia post shave balm works best for me.

I acquired diamond and chromium oxide lapping film sheets which I use to touch up my razors.

I now get a BBS shave almost every time. For me that what makes it worth it. Straight razor shaves in the morning gives me a shave that can last for evening business meetings.

As I have only one 1/4 hollow and like it very much, I intend to acquire at least two or three more quality razors of that type.

I very much appreciate the insights this site provides and enjoy reading the posts. Thanks

PWS203

Thanks for the detailed update!

I find it interesting that you have added to the shaving cream several additions. I also combine 2 different soaps/creams to get what I want. One is a shaving cream from Macedonia, thanks to Superfly (Nenad), and the other is Mama Bears Northwoods shaving soap ( good stuff!).

Let me add to it to give Newbies some insight as well. I started out a little rough, but the process of straight shaving kept getting better with each shave.

First 90 - 120 days
Razors - Feather knockoff, Feather Straight, Dovo Special tortoise, NOS Dovo No 55 7/8, and down the road a Robert Williams.

Strops - 3" Latigo, & 4 sided pasted strop with .50/1.0/3.0 pastes.

Soap - preshave oil has been replaced with Castille Soap which already has the same oils in it and cost a lot less. Col Conk cold cake soap, I have no idea when these soap cakes will run out as since I came up with a new preshave oil substitute, the Col. Conk soap lasts even longer, not to mention I am saving money.

Best Pure Badger Brush - the best compromise between soft, but firm enough to be effective and reasonably priced.

4 blade rotation, BBS results every shave. I enjoy integrating the disposable straights with the fixed straight. For some reason, this variety really works for me.

Aftershave - None - Facial skin cream for sensitive skin does well. I do water it down a little before applying.

Took about 25 shaves to get on top of the learning curve. I was determined and always kept the mindset of a student learning. SRP was my tutor. Integrated the left hand at 15 shaves and learned the advantages of using two hands to improve BBS results. The left and right hand have particular angle advantages over the other on certain parts of the face.

I always prep the face with hot water and whip up a great lather.

Biggest Challenges:

Figuring out the maintenane of the fixed strights to give a great performance at every shave with them. Solved around 25 shaves
Figuring out how to get the neck hairs, which grow in all different directions, BBS Solved at 25 shaves.
Getting a BBS shave down to 20 minutes - arrived around the 35th shave.

Pabster

Originally Posted by Pabster

Let me add to it to give Newbies some insight as well. I started out a little rough, but the process of straight shaving kept getting better with each shave.

First 90 - 120 days
Razors - Feather knockoff, Feather Straight, Dovo Special tortoise, NOS Dovo No 55 7/8, and down the road a Robert Williams.

Strops - 3" Latigo, & 4 sided pasted strop with .50/1.0/3.0 pastes.

Soap - preshave oil has been replaced with Castille Soap which already has the same oils in it and cost a lot less. Col Conk cold cake soap, I have no idea when these soap cakes will run out as since I came up with a new preshave oil substitute, the Col. Conk soap lasts even longer, not to mention I am saving money.

Best Pure Badger Brush - the best compromise between soft, but firm enough to be effective and reasonably priced.

4 blade rotation, BBS results every shave. I enjoy integrating the disposable straights with the fixed straight. For some reason, this variety really works for me.

Aftershave - None - Facial skin cream for sensitive skin does well. I do water it down a little before applying.

Took about 25 shaves to get on top of the learning curve. I was determined and always kept the mindset of a student learning. SRP was my tutor. Integrated the left hand at 15 shaves and learned the advantages of using two hands to improve BBS results. The left and right hand have particular angle advantages over the other on certain parts of the face.

I always prep the face with hot water and whip up a great lather.

Biggest Challenges:

Figuring out the maintenane of the fixed strights to give a great performance at every shave with them. Solved around 25 shaves
Figuring out how to get the neck hairs, which grow in all different directions, BBS Solved at 25 shaves.
Getting a BBS shave down to 20 minutes - arrived around the 35th shave.

Pabster

Thanks very much for that! Its good to know a bit about the timeframe other people have taken to get the results they wanted! I used my str8 for the second time today and I would have liked a slightly smoother finish, though I suspect thats my ability rather than the razor...!

I'm going to keep practicing though, and I`ll get there in the end I`m sure!

Thanks again!