Sunday Evening

On Saturday I reived a package from RupRazor, thanks Ken again, sorry my orginal post got eaten by the post monster. But if anyone want to know my fantastic story about Ken and RupRazor. Just contact me and i will explaine.

But back on track, I recieved my package, I unpacked everything I need to start, GD 208 razor, strop, brush, soap..ect. Although I wanted to jump into the shower and get ready for my 1st shave...I had to wait, we were running out and I did not have time. Forward to Sunday night, I added hot water a mug and soaked the brush as I was getting ready for the shower.....sniff sniff....mmm the badger brush smell....I guess I will have to shampoo that sucker...which I took and shampooed/rinshed resoaked. Took the shower and then prepaired for my 1st shave.

Brush out of the mug, flick off excess water, swirl on the soap....over to the mug and whip, whip whip. After some time I got enough lather to put on my face.

I decided I was going to do both sideburns/cheeks. The first with the freshing honed razor from RupRazor with out stropping to know a properly sharp razor should feel. So I started on the left, a little hesitation and what I would call a shave similar to my M3, but a good clean shave on the left side.

I pulled out the strop, hung it on the door handle...and with about 15-20 passes I tried the right side of my face... on the 1st pass, Wow what a diffence...it went much smoother and almost felt like silk across my face...Which is when the razor told me I was getting a little ****y...a small nick on the second pass. Nothing bad, in fact I did not even feel it...saw it within seconds. A little stepic stick and all is good.

I finished up the shave with the my normal razor, alum blocked and all was good.

Things I learned....

1. I need a better shaving mug or bowl...the one I have just does not cut it (using a coffee mug from the kitchen)
2. I need to work on my lather skills
3. I will keep up on working on my stropping to get better shaves
4. I need more razors

But I will say over all It was a fantastic experience.

Jeremy

Try face lathering. Load up your brush on the soap puck and then go to your face to create the lather. IMHO, this works better for soaps. Increase your stropping to 50-60 laps when you start out...when you get better, you can judge the blade's edge based on how it feels on the strop and the sound it makes.

And yes, you need more razors...:)

Sounds like my first shave (last week). First thing I figured out was that a coffee mug wasn't big enough for lather. Found some glass bowls at the dollar store and picked up a couple. Last night I had plenty of lather.

It took me a quite a few months before I learned how much of a difference a good brush will make. I started with a Wally World special boars hair brush. Thank goodness it fell apart and forced me to order a badger hair brush and what a difference it did make! The first brush made such a poor lather that I would have to lather several times when shaving. With the good brush, I only have to lather twice: once for both cheeks and sides of my neck then re-lather my chin and throat. That's only because I had an injury in my right arm and am limited on the mobility of it. The only way I can shave my left cheek and neck along with stretching the skin causes me to rub some of the soap off. So, yes a good lather does a lot of good. Also, I started lightly lathering up the first time, then I work that lather into my skin with my hand, then re-lather. I then strop while letting the lather go to work on my beard. This seems to help soften up my beard.

I had my 2nd shave last night, and I am toying with the idea of turning this thread or createing a similar one to do a mini cronicle of a beginner.

I will start on things that I changed since the last things I learned. I found a new bowl, it is a stainless steal bowl that fits perfectly in my had and the whole thing has a brushed finish. It measures about 3"-4" across at the top. Using the bowl has increased the amount of lather I can get as well as making it very easy to whip up. My Stropping skills have already improved!!! I now have a very smooth draw and roll to a reverse stroke...all with a decent pace. Not too fast right now but steady smooth at a decent pace.

Now to the Shave, I stated by filling my new bowl with water and soaking the brush. Did 35 lashes on the strop. Jumped into the shower. After the shower, I started my lather, now much easier with the larger bowl, I am still learning the water/soap ratio, The 1st lather was a bit too dry. Lathered up and started my 1st stroke. It was pulling slightly not quite as easy as I remember from the last shave. Did another 5 or so laps on the strop...back to the face and smooth across the face. (40 lashes seems to be about right for this razor) So the 2nd shave was out to a good start.

I did a WTG all of my whole face...which went fairly well. Then did a few XTG stroks allong the jawline and chin and finally did a ATG. My ATG missed a few places and did not do that well along the jawline or my chin. I did a clean up with my M3. And I will say about 60% of my face is BBS by just using my Straight, and the rest of my face is still a good shave.

I did realize I need to start using my off hand to shave as well to get the other side of my face easier and better. Also have to work out all the angles to be able to shave completely with a straight. But over all a DFS for my 2nd time out.


Things I have learned on the 2nd time around:

1. I need to train and use my off hand and work out the angles
2. Larger Shave bowl does help a lot with making lather
3. About 40 lashes on the strop seems to do the trick with my Razor
5. I want lots of different soaps/creams
6. I need more razors


So, if anyone has any razors or soaps/creams they just want to get rid of I would happy to take them out of the kindness of my heart and will give them a nice new home.

-Jeremy

I'd recommend poking through the classified here if you want affordable razors that are ready to use... or ebay if you want to work on them a bit first.

The question off which is the off hand is both a question of experience and training. I've recieved a solid reminder that I'm a natural left that was forced to use my right and become ambidexterous. I've shaved 3 times now with my left hand on the left side, and all my nicks are on my right side. Not sure if I want to try shaving entirely with my left hand yet (wrist injury a few years back, still not a smooth full range of motion), but I'll wager that it'll be a better shave than I can get with my right hand.

very cool! I'm just starting out (and I'm also in Chicago too!), did my 2nd shave this morning with only one nick.

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Originally Posted by davidcxr

very cool! I'm just starting out (and I'm also in Chicago too!), did my 2nd shave this morning with only one nick.

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It is nice to see another from Chicago here. And I will pass along any info I come across about things that are local, like shave supplies/stores ect.


-Jeremy

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Originally Posted by JeremyP

It is nice to see another from Chicago here. And I will pass along any info I come across about things that are local, like shave supplies/stores ect.


-Jeremy

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awesome, I'll do the same. There's an old-timey looking apothecary/drug store in Lincoln Square that looks like they carry a bunch of stuff, I'll pass on more information from this end too.

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Originally Posted by davidcxr

awesome, I'll do the same. There's an old-timey looking apothecary/drug store in Lincoln Square that looks like they carry a bunch of stuff, I'll pass on more information from this end too.

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I think you were thinking of www.merzapothecary.com I have not yet made it out to them. I should since I work not too far from there.

If you head out there before I get a chance I would love to know what there stock looks like.

-Jeremy