Thread: well, round 1 went pretty well.

Round 1 with a straight
Parker SRW with Shark blade
Nivea shaving cream (1 of my 3 creams that get rotated)

Probably a few flaws in this, but this is only round 1.

I've been using cream or lotion on my face for close to a year, with a schick quattro. Just lather on my face, adding water as needed to keep everything moist. I get a pretty close shave, but I have to go against the grain to get anywhere... and usually only get 1 good shave out of a cartridge. Been looking at straight razors for a little over a year, since it's pricey to go through cartridges like that.



I've got 3 flea market razors soon going to Lynn to get ready for me. Ordered this Parker the same day as the flea market, figuring I can work on my technique before I have to worry about sharpening.
It came today, so I ran off to walmart for supplies.

The razor was easy to figure out getting a blade into (as is typical, the info sheet was ignored).

Out comes the coffee mug and the brush I picked up (Wilkinson, synthetic). Soaked the brush, squeezed out the same amount of Nivea shaving cream I use when I lather on my face directly. Lesson #1: the mug is too skinny, had no room for the brush to move... didn't get any lather going... have to look for a bowl at the dollar store tomorrow.

... so I lathered on the face. The system isn't broken, and has worked so far.

Went with the grain on both left and right cheeks, against the grain on right cheek and neck (couldn't get the angle figured out for the left side reaching across). Have to get some practice with my left hand. Lesson #2: stretch the skin, it takes fewer strokes (Found that one out quickly)

Cleaning up around the goatee didn't work too well... nicked myself due to the angle I was holding at (changed grip). Lesson #3: watch the angle

Switched back to the cartridge for the middle of my face after the nick. Did the against the grain pass on the left side, and the clean up work around the edges and tougher spots on my neck. Can definitely tell which side I used the straight on for the against the grain pass.

Cool water rinse, Nivea aftershave balm. Only a couple spots bleeding, but that's normal with my face (always in the goatee area on both sides of my mouth), which is why I shave at night and not first thing before work.



I've shaved with my EDC knife before, and constantly do touchups at work if I missed a spot... so this isn't the first time I've had a razor sharp edge on my throat (today's rotation is the Spyderco Calypso Jr in ZDP-189, sharp enough to fillet letters off of a phonebook page). Might try the Wilkinson puck soap I picked up when I go for round 2 on friday or saturday, if I don't find a bowl.

So, all told... the right side of my face is smoother than the left, only nicked myself once, and I need something better for lather. Not bad for a first time.

Well done mate,
T`was my first time a week ago, and it only gets better....

Welcome to Straight Shaving. Sounds like you are reading up on the Wiki and thats solid advise.

Someday, you may look back on the learning curve and say, "that was fun"

Pabster

Don't know if you guys have Pier 1 or Cost Plus up there, but they always have bowls on sale that make great lather bowls. The majority of which have some sort of texture in them that makes whipping up some lather a breeze.

Originally Posted by Pabster

Welcome to Straight Shaving. Sounds like you are reading up on the Wiki and thats solid advise.
Pabster

I think I've covered most of the wiki and most of the posts/reviews on the forum... and countless youtube vids. I've spent the better part of a year learning, and just finally giving it a shot.

My father's only words of wisdom? "good luck"

I was actually surprised how far I got for the first shot. Only have a couple spots that got over-worked, and didn't get tight against the sideburns or chin, but that's why we practice and learn.

We're not going to mention how many times I've cut myself with a knife in all these years, and yet I keep making em sharper.

Originally Posted by NFlames

Don't know if you guys have Pier 1 or Cost Plus up there, but they always have bowls on sale that make great lather bowls. The majority of which have some sort of texture in them that makes whipping up some lather a breeze.

You know... I've never even stepped foot inside the Pier 1 a couple km from my house. Might just have to check it out.

Originally Posted by vampyrewolf

You know... I've never even stepped foot inside the Pier 1 a couple km from my house. Might just have to check it out.

I was dragged in by the wife and kicked myself when I saw all the potential shaving gear in there.

Originally Posted by NFlames

I was dragged in by the wife and kicked myself when I saw all the potential shaving gear in there.

So where else here in Saskatoon might have stuff? I've got a couple ideas to check out this weekend (Giant Tiger, The Body Shop, Cutting Edge [they've got a couple straights], and now Pier 1).

Originally Posted by vampyrewolf

have to look for a bowl at the dollar store tomorrow.

I have one of these and it's done me right for many many years