Thread: First Straight in Colorado

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

The first time I shaved with a straight razor my heart played an endless drum solo that rattled my insides. In time the drums grew quieter and the solos shorter.

I still get the butterflies before every shave, though now their wings are much shorter. After 30 years in radio, I still heard the fluttering of butterflies inside me the first time I turned on the microphone to start my show.

Shaving with a straight razor, in a way, is much like encountering a beautiful woman who radiates a sense of danger. Perhaps that's what attracts many of us, butterflies and all.

Regards,

Obie

Obie,

I always love reading your posts. I know they will be interesting and lacking of any offensive content. You, sir, are a true gentleman!

I'm glad to hear that someone else's first straight shave went as well as my first did on Friday.

My dear Richmondesi,

Thank you for the kind words. I feel I am in the company of gentlemen.

Regards,

Obie

A few things I have started to figure out:

1. Steady breathing. Learned while recovering from trauma that slow, steady, deep breathing helps get the anxiety back down.

2. Try and get it right the first time. IOW, the more passes, the more razor burn. My barber Curly is the example here. He never had to do it twice. Also, the more passes, the more frustration. I'm not interested in keeping the styptic pencil folks in business.

3. Be humble, not a hero. Since I don't have a clue how to do the lips and chin thing yet, I am real ok with leaving it alone. Beats having no lips and no chin.

3rd shave today. I am not an everyday shaver. Went much better, other than that dumb slip next to my ear. Actually did an ATG on the chin line. Did the rest of the chin, only leaving the lips. Back to the video...

I had my 2nd whole face shave today, and no way am I going back to disposables. Still waiting for my razor to bite me, I'm sure that is because of all the things I have learned from this great site and it's members Thank You SRP without the wisdom of your helpfull members I would definatly not have had such pleasurable shaves. The only problem is I seem to have caught RAD ,2 shaves 3 razors and 2 I just got from an antique store (never thought I would ever go "antiquing") and I still want MORE MORE MORE my wife is going to kill me.

John

Welcome fellow Coloradoan!

dworks - I just used Tabac today for the first time, and it seems to take more water than other soaps. I find the easiest way to work out how much water is needed for a new soap or cream is to start whipping with a near-dry brush, and add small drips of water until the lather looks about right.

If it looks tacky or glue-like, it needs more water. If it's runny or doesn't last long, too much water. The perfect lather should (IMHO) look like whipped egg whites - it should be thick, creamy, hold texture (peaks and spikes of lather), and it should have enough body to it to be able to sit on the side of your mug/bowl without slipping down. Hope that helps, you've picked an excellent soap in Tabac

I used a cheap soap and cheap brush before. I agree that Tabac takes a little more effort, but I really like it. Plus, it is German, so has to be better! LOL. Think I got it about right today.