Thread: My first straight...

I couldn't wait for the razors I ordered and decided to buy the pictured one when I saw it in a razor shop today.

It was cheaper than one I already ordered, but I bought good blades.

I thought it would give me a bit of experience for when I get my real first straight. At first, I tried it on my arm, without then with lathe. So now I don't have any hair left on my left arm, including the top of my hand...

And I cut myself in only a small place, just because I couldn't pull on the skin with any fingers.

I couldn't stop there because I felt it was going too well to not try it on my face, even if I didn't really need a shave. So I used it on the sides of my face, and only WTG for a real test. I loved it, and even if it is not as soft as if I had gone ATG after that for a closer shave. It was just to get familiar with a straight razor shave and I will do more tomorrow on another part of my face. But the parts I shaved would look good enough for an acceptable shave, except that I would have to shave again the day after instead of 2 days as when I shave real close.

I hope I am not mistaken, but I feel it will be easier to learn than I thought.

More news later when I try more.

Gilles

That bare left arm is common among new shavers and honers. It is called razor mange. So if that is one of those razors that you use a replacement blade in it an ideal way to practice is to manipulate the razor on your face.... making the passes .... without a blade in the razor. Just going through the motions. Do it while watching TV or at the computer. That is how I learned to use my non-dominant hand to shave thanks to forum member danny wonderful for the tip. Getting more hand/razor time than you would get just shaving for the short time we do daily. Muscle memory and all of that.

I know the feeling, Gilles. It's almost like an addiction.

It's funny how our perspective on shaving changes. When I was a little boy watching my father shave with his ancient DE, I thought to myself, "Gee, I can't wait until I'm big enough to shave!" Later when I was 14 or so and actually needed to shave every three days or so to look presentable, I thought to myself "Damn! I can't wait until I have to shave EVERY DAY -- then I'll know I'm a MAN!"

Fast forward to age 24 -- I'm tooling along on a U.S. ballistic missile submarine somewhere in the Arctic Ocean, keeping the bull's eye firmly centered on Moscow. In the military, you HAVE to shave EVERY SINGLE DAY! (Muttering to myself) "G-D it, but it SUCKS having to shave every day! (Days on a submarine are 18 hours long!) "Man, but I wish I could have inherited peach fuzz! Dang!"

Now here I am today. I've discovered shaving with a straight and I've recaptured that sense of wonderment and anticipation that captivated me 52 years ago when I was a five-year-old watching my father do his thing. ("Man it's going to be great when I can finally get a BBS shave with my Wade & Butcher!") My beard now just does not grow fast enough. I'd love to be able to shave twice a day!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Both of you are so true.

First, thanks for passing me the trick of the empty razor Jimmy, I'll use it for memory muscle. I tried using my left hand a bit and it wasn't so bad that I would have to use only my right hand, which is a good thing. But still, it will need some practice. But right at the beginning is the right time to start using it.

I also play guitar and used to play while watching TV for the same reason, for the muscle memory.

So I'll do like those guys in TV ads where they shave fast and hard without even a small nick...

And Morty, I also had the same evolution in my shaving life. I had to shave early though because I had hair in my face quite early. And when I worked on the road for a few years, I had to shave every morning to go see some customers. I hated having to shave that often and that eraly.

Now that I retired last year, but being still young at 60... I can shave when I want, and I even shaved only once a week sometimes, just because I didn't have to. Now that I discovered the pleasure of a straight, it will be part of my new routine of taking a bath and taking the time to relax in it, and shaving with a nice relaxing music. I am slowly rediscovering these pleasures, or should I say just DISCOVERING them, because that's how life is.

Thanks for the comments,

Gilles

After finishing my first SR shave last night I sent Obie a message in which I said: "If only I could bottle the euphoria I feel to use on drearier days... Wait... facial hair regrows and I get to do this again and again and again!!!"

Definitely a change from my teen years of using an electric that basically pulled hairs out by the root and years of mediocre safety razor shaves. When Lynn talks about baby butt smooth, I didn't figure this would apply to a guy like me as I have sparse facial hair but OMG - I can't keep my hands off my face it is so incredibly smooth!

Grow, whiskers, grow - NOW!

Originally Posted by Morty

I know the feeling, Gilles. It's almost like an addiction.

It's funny how our perspective on shaving changes. When I was a little boy watching my father shave with his ancient DE, I thought to myself, "Gee, I can't wait until I'm big enough to shave!" Later when I was 14 or so and actually needed to shave every three days or so to look presentable, I thought to myself "Damn! I can't wait until I have to shave EVERY DAY -- then I'll know I'm a MAN!"

Fast forward to age 24 -- I'm tooling along on a U.S. ballistic missile submarine somewhere in the Arctic Ocean, keeping the bull's eye firmly centered on Moscow. In the military, you HAVE to shave EVERY SINGLE DAY! (Muttering to myself) "G-D it, but it SUCKS having to shave every day! (Days on a submarine are 18 hours long!) "Man, but I wish I could have inherited peach fuzz! Dang!"

Now here I am today. I've discovered shaving with a straight and I've recaptured that sense of wonderment and anticipation that captivated me 52 years ago when I was a five-year-old watching my father do his thing. ("Man it's going to be great when I can finally get a BBS shave with my Wade & Butcher!") My beard now just does not grow fast enough. I'd love to be able to shave twice a day!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

I think we should collectively ask Obie to write a treatise on this addiction.

That would be great. Lord knows I alone have given him enough insight into the inner workings of my mind regarding straight razor shaving to create an entire character for one of his novels

Originally Posted by Alembic

I think we should collectively ask Obie to write a treatise on this addiction.

Congratulations !!! Best of luck.

Chris

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

That bare left arm is common among new shavers and honers. It is called razor mange.

Yep

I see... At first, I thought I was crazy... So... I'm not. At least, not that much.

Btw, here are right-left arms pictures.

Today, I did a full shave, head included, and it went better than I thought. But I only did the WTG pass, except in a few spots, and I didn't see that much blood.

Funny thing is, me and my wife don't live together these days, just taking a break for now, so we don't see each other every day, and today I gave her a lift to work because it was raining. And she told me my skin looked different, kind of better and more healthy, with smaller and cleaner pores. I already told her I was trying a new pre-shave soap, but never told her about the straight razors...

Imagine when I find and begin to use an after shave my skin can tolerate... She will think I am dating someone else, especially since I began playing guitar again in front of people...

Added: this evening, I found some Proraso AS



I tried it back home (well... also a little bit in the store...) and I love it, and it's the first time I like an AS in a while.

It's funny, but deciding to shave with a straight changed the way I see it, and it wouldn't be complete now without the pre and after shave...

Gilles