First Straigh Razor Shave

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10-04-2010, 02:45 AM
certifiedbodyman

First Straight Razor Shave

Good Morning All...at least, it's morning where I am...lol. Newbie here...as the title suggests, I did my first str8 shave today. If y'all will indulge me, here goes:
I get up at my usual time of day like I'd be going to the gym, except today is my "weekend" away from the Gym. We work 7 days a week and I work out 5 days a week, Wednesday thru Sunday. I know the dynamics of the Gym as a personal Trainer and I know that Monday and Tuesday are the busiest days so I just call that my weekend. Plus, for my fist time with the straight, I'd rather have full coordination and not be struggling to lift my arms...lol. Anyway...I get up at 0400hrs like it's a normal day with the intention of beating the crowd to the shower facility. We have "common/public shower" trailers and facilities out here so...I'm hoping to beat the crowds there too. No sense trying to wield a stright razor for the first time while joslting for sink/counter/mirror space.
I got my shower and kept my face wet then proceeded to the sink to shave. My pre-shave routine with the DE is usually to wet the face, apply baby oil to my wet face, make the lather with my bowl and brush and then shave, so...I kept those variables the same except I substituted the Dovo Best Quality courtesy of Lynn at SRD. Was I nervous...yep...you betchurass I was. I remember reading somewhere about one must have a healthy respect for shaving with a tool that could turn into a weapon and take your head clean off...so yeah, the nerves had to settle. Thankfully, I had the sink to my left and right unoccupied so I had more wiggle room. I had read ALOT on this forum and knew to keep my expectations low, even with Lynn's outstanding post about the First Shave. I did, however, decide to jump in feet first and shave the whole face. Was it a mistake...I don't think so. I've been rather fortunate in having some degree of proficiency with tools and blades in the past so I decided to up the ante against Lynn's recommendations. My father did instill a high degree of respect in knives and guns and my Grandaddy drilled it into me about respect for tools so I approached this as such. This "tool" is there to serve me, I am the master but MUST respect it. Same as with golf...the clubs are there to do your bidding but you must know how to use them to acheive that result.
So...the shave went well...just one small nick under the base of the jaw where it rounds near the ear. As I was shaving, I almost broke into a grin when folks were coming in and watching me out of the corners of thier eyes. Trust me, I do what I do because I like doing it but it sure was neat to see guys working at not gawking at me with the str8. The actual shave went ok. Certainly not as close as my DE BUT...given that this is a profoundly new experience and different skill set, that is totally to be expected and I had to remain realistic. I actually experience less difficulty moving from dominant to non-domininat hands to shave than I expected, although finding the grip was interesting. I keep a goatee and the area on the sides actually were more challenging than under my chin...go figure huh. Anyway...my focus right now is in learing the process, finding the stroke, working the strop and all of that. I know the results will come...again, same as golf and weightlifting...you have to become proficient in the fundamentals and accept that the results will come later. As the proficiency rises, often the results don't just move in a straight line correlation but often move in a parabolic, exponential fashion. I found out that I have to work at keeping the blade at the proper angle. I tend to get flat with the blade and the spine sits too low. I think I read last night to consider using the last finger joint as a guide but didn't remember that tip until just now...lol.
All in all it was a real treat to be able to do the str8 razor shave. I'm nowhere near close to being "proficient" and I'll keep a DE with me for now in case things aren't working that day. When I finished and got back to my room, the Carribean Bay Run came out with a few splashes on my face and it was an invigorating finish to the whole shave. It certainly instilled me with a higher sense of being able to take on the world. Funny how something as simple and "old fashioned" as str8 razor shaving (or other "old school" processes) can get you charged up ready to meet the day. Cerainly start the day off feeling like a bad-a$$...lol.
Thanks to all of you for "listening" and letting me share this. Thanks go out to Lynn as well. The dvd is SO informative (I'll have to watch it quite a few times to digest it all) and the strop/razor set is spot on the mark. I've just been "palming" it whenever I go by it and have managed to get a few leather slivers so I know that my stropping technique needs work too. One question for anyone...do you have to do the linen AND leather and if so, do you HAVE to paste the linen? Y'all have a good day and a great str8 shave. Rich.
10-04-2010, 02:55 AM
jeffegg2

Great post! Welcome to SRP!!

Sounds like you are off to a great start!!
10-04-2010, 03:11 AM
life2short1971

Great job on the first shave.
10-04-2010, 03:34 AM
Shoki

Quote:

Originally Posted by certifiedbodyman

...It certainly instilled me with a higher sense of being able to take on the world. Funny how something as simple and "old fashioned" as str8 razor shaving (or other "old school" processes) can get you charged up ready to meet the day. Cerainly start the day off feeling like a bad-a$$...lol.

It's so true. I feel so much more put together after a straight razor shave. It really gives my whole day a boost!

Congrats on your shave!

--Shoki
10-04-2010, 04:19 AM
Utopian

Quote:

Originally Posted by certifiedbodyman

...do you have to do the linen AND leather and if so, do you HAVE to paste the linen? Y'all have a good day and a great str8 shave. Rich.

You do not need to use the linen every time. Some believe that the linen is unnecessary. If you do choose to use linen, do not paste it. Then again, if you do paste your linen, then do not use it every day.

I'll clarify.

You use leather before every shave. If you choose, and I recommend it, you use linen before the leather before every shave. If you do choose to use the linen strop daily, then you cannot paste it. Pasted strops are for the occasional touch up of a razor that is no longer performing adequately.
10-04-2010, 05:08 AM
markevens

I love reading about people's first shaves. Great job man, you will be getting amazing shaves before you know it, and with the manliest of methods as well.
10-04-2010, 07:28 AM
certifiedbodyman

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by markevens

I love reading about people's first shaves. Great job man, you will be getting amazing shaves before you know it, and with the manliest of methods as well.

I've read some of your posts too and they've been both informative and helpful. Thanks for the encouragement.
10-04-2010, 07:32 AM
certifiedbodyman

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

You do not need to use the linen every time. Some believe that the linen is unnecessary. If you do choose to use linen, do not paste it. Then again, if you do paste your linen, then do not use it every day.

I'll clarify.

You use leather before every shave. If you choose, and I recommend it, you use linen before the leather before every shave. If you do choose to use the linen strop daily, then you cannot paste it. Pasted strops are for the occasional touch up of a razor that is no longer performing adequately.

Leather before every shave...got it...and if I DO use linen, do so before the leather and without paste...cool...thanks again for everyone's encouragement
10-04-2010, 06:36 PM
amt

@ Utopian:

Thanks. I have a SRD Red Latigo 3" strop with the standard webbing. Your advice on pasting / linen was helpful. I was considering doing it but will hold off, I use the fabric prior to the leather. Will maybe make a pasted balsa strop (saw a post on this somewhere, need to look it up again). Being an architecture student I have a CRAP TON of balsa around for models.

@ Certified:

Glad to here you are having successful first shaves, man! I have recently started myself and am loving it. Good post.
10-04-2010, 06:58 PM
Bnick

paste

Quote:

Originally Posted by amt

@ Utopian:

Thanks. I have a SRD Red Latigo 3" strop with the standard webbing. Your advice on pasting / linen was helpful. I was considering doing it but will hold off, I use the fabric prior to the leather. Will maybe make a pasted balsa strop (saw a post on this somewhere, need to look it up again). Being an architecture student I have a CRAP TON of balsa around for models.

@ Certified:

Glad to here you are having successful first shaves, man! I have recently started myself and am loving it. Good post.

If you are looking for a strop to paste I would recommend the SRD modified paddle strop. you can get extra felt pads to add whatever pastes or sprays you want to it. I have 3 felt pads with 1.0 .5 and .25 diamond spray on them. Plus the rough leather that comes with it can be used with crox if you want to or stand alone. The smooth leather that also comes with the strop is so butter smooth when you strop and is real nice.

Just my suggestion as I love mine.
10-04-2010, 07:04 PM
mhailey

Great job!! You need to remember that just once you think you have this straight razor shaving down, and you let your guard down a little, that is when the razor up and bites you in the backside. continue to respect the edge of that blade, no matter how much you think you have got this shaving thing mastered.
10-05-2010, 02:08 AM
certifiedbodyman

and from one Eagle Scout to another (1982) we should know about respecting a cutting blade...thanks for the reminder...lol...almost got bit today...
10-05-2010, 03:30 AM
certifiedbodyman

Second Shave

Good Morning All;
Since my beard grows fast I usually have to shave every day. The growth may be sparse in places but it grows rather quickly. So with that having been said, I'll usually shave daily...especially now that it's fun again...lol.
The second st8 razor shave went much as the first, which is to say, still learning the strokes and working at maintaining respect for the blade. Today I was rewarded with a clean, neat, small (1/8") little cut on the pointed area of the cheekbone under the eye...left side...non-dominant hand. Got a bit distracted when some jacka$$ walked up to the sink next to me looking at me using the straight razor. :mad: His exact comment was "f*** that, better you than me", to which I could only grin even after nicking myself. The wonderful thing is, with such a clean cut, it sealed right back up with a tiny bit of pressure and little to no blood to speak of and no need for the syptic pencil. Can't even tell it's there now. Maintaining the spine angle while shaving became easier too. I went with and across the grain and honestly, the same trouble spots I had with the Merkur (the sides/hollows between the windpipe and neck muscles) look to be the same future trouble areas with the straight. The sides of the jaw are smooth when rubbing with the grain but not quite as smooth against the grain. Like I said in the first post, right now, my focus is learning the processes involved. Be it maintaining the angle, finding the stroke, learning to keep the skin tight, proper stropping, etc the process and the learning must occur before the results appear. Again...alot like golf. Focus on the process, get good coaching (this forum) and work on perfect practice.
Again, to me, doing the str8 razor shave sets my day off on a more positve and relaxed feel with a touch of already having accomplished something. Already took on the word and acheived a small victory today...lol. Thanks y'all. Have a great shave and a great day. Rich.
10-06-2010, 06:07 PM
markevens

Yeah, having other people around can be dangerous. It simply takes away from your attention. It does for me anyway, maybe not so much other.

Whenever I've shaved while someone was sitting there watching, I get a bit self conscious and no longer have 100% attention on the shave. I found this especially true when I was shaving as a demonstration. Sometimes swmbo will watch me shave, and its a little distracting, but not too bad, but when I shaved in front of my Dad because he wanted to watch, I ended up with a very sub par shave.
10-07-2010, 11:36 AM
certifiedbodyman

Fourth Shave

I'll try to be quick and to the point with my post today as it's been real busy...shaves getting incrementally better. Stropping seems to be getting better too. The whole experience is getting better bit by bit. Funny thing...one of my co-workers came in while I was shaving and took notice of me with the str8. It should be noted that in his day, I'd bet he was likely a rough and tumble hard a$$...retired Army 1stSgt when that was a tough job...been retired 20-25 years now...an ex trucker after he retired...probably a hard dude back when. Anyway...he's walking past me and does a double take and a loud "woah man" while I was shaving. Then he said "I've always been too scared to even TRY (his emphasis) that"...it was all I could do from not cutting him...lol. He has a deep, radio broadcaster voice that can really get attention but...in the end, I maintained control of the str8 (literally and figuratively...lol) and kept shaving as he and my boss watched.
I'm really digging the str8 razor shave since it's a real throwback for me to do what my grand daddy did until he got too old to control the blade. I remember him showing me his mismatched set (he was real proud of them) but by then, he was too unsteady to use them and had gone to a DE safety razor..."don't like it as much as my blades but I hate the plastic crap" was what he'd say even back in the early 80's. His daddy showed him how to shave before the accident that put him out of work (long story) and put my granddaddy in the orphanage. He spoke fondly of his dad and the memories of watching him shave with HIS straight razor before going to work in the rail yard. So, this really kind of ties me to my granddaddy to some degree.
Anyway...so much for the quickie...not that I've ever been too quick anyway :w. Thanks for the encouragement, the support and letting me bend your ear. Rich.
10-07-2010, 11:54 AM
Alembic

I love your first experience stories.

Tell us a little more about your job. Military?
10-09-2010, 07:42 AM
certifiedbodyman

Better and Better

Hi y'all. Good morning. The shave this morning went exceedingly well. The only minor "bump in the road" was that the lather dried out on my left cheek when I was doing my XTG shave but it was a bit "runny" at the same time...go figure. Not quite the "whipped cream/beaten egg white" consistency that I strive to attain. Nothing that a quick dab won't take care of though huh. Do I dare say that I came very close to a BBS on my cheeks and jaw? I wear a goatee so the chin and lip are a moot point right now. Can't get complacent for sure though...gotta maintain respect for the blade. The same trouble spots are proving themselves with the str8 as with the DE however. The areas between the windpipe and neck muscles are a bit of a trick since 1. the whiskers are in that "hollow" and 2. the whiskers grow in more of a downward orientation from front to back at close to a 45 degree angle. Right now, ATG on this area is beyond my scope of ability but...not for long. This is the most fun I've ever had with shaving and like I've seen, heard and posted, it seems to set the day off on a more relaxed note, with a definite positive feeling of accomplishment. Then again, I'd guess that shaving with an exposed balde that could just as easily lop off your head and coming out unscathed is always a positive...lol. Once again though, I had some bonehead come in and almost cause me to do something stoopid - misspelling intentional to emphasize the point. He comes in and says "it's like de ja vu, we're even at the same sinks again today" then goes "oops" while feigning almost bumping into me, kind of like grab a$$ing except that I have an exposed blade in my hand. What IS it with these clowns? It was all I could do was keep a steady hand and remind him that "this straight razor can cut me or you just as easily"...kind of put a chill in the air. I had a funny feeling right before he did it and it seemed to happen in slow motion too so I was a bit lucky and able to keep steady. THIS is one big aspect of being stateside that I miss the most...my privacy...that and being able to cook my own supper in my own kitchen. The point though is that I'm having a blast learing to use the srt8 and at the same time (when I have stuff like this happens) come out sometimes thinking the lyrics to that old Rolling Stones song..."hey, you, get offa my cloud"...some folks seem to work real hard at being a buzzkill or a killjoy but I cannot and will not be swayed. This is the coolest thing I've started since I began my weightlifting days many, many years ago...lol. That plus the obvious connections I've alluded to in previous posts just adds to the sense and feeling of really doing something unique, something special that not too may preple have the balls to try, much less actually follow through with. We should embrace our uniqueness and this is one way I do so...no sense trying to fit in the "plastic mold" of disposable razor shavers for sure. The DE is a trusted friend that I will continue to keep for "quickie shaves" or on those days when the str8 just aint workin but...certainly, definitely, the plastic is gone. Like I've said, "plastic is for toys for boys, steel is for men and their tools" and the str8 is an ultimate manly tool. aaahhhhhrrrrrrrr aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... lol. Have a great day and start it with a great str8 shave. Rich.
10-09-2010, 10:05 PM
markevens

Nice tale. :)

Personally, whenever anyone gets close to me when I'm shaving, I just pull the razor away. My bathroom is cramped, and I dont' need any kind of bumping when I have such a sharp tool over my jugular.

That said, at the very least you are learning to concentrate better. Its just too bad you ahve people who dont' seem to get that you need to concentrate, and feel like they need to mess with you.
10-10-2010, 03:42 AM
certifiedbodyman

Better and Better Still

Quote:

Originally Posted by markevens

Nice tale. :)

Personally, whenever anyone gets close to me when I'm shaving, I just pull the razor away. My bathroom is cramped, and I dont' need any kind of bumping when I have such a sharp tool over my jugular.

That said, at the very least you are learning to concentrate better. Its just too bad you ahve people who dont' seem to get that you need to concentrate, and feel like they need to mess with you.

...yeah, it IS a pain to have to deal with folks like that but...to find a positive in a situation, I agree that the "learnig to concentrate" is a positive benefit. The negative in it would be cutting myself or the "offending party"...lol. But realistically, I just try to block it out and keep trucking. Today's shave was even better. The results seem to be taking a hyperbolic slope upwards along with the enjoyment factor. My shaving and stropping technique is getting better it seems as is my comfort level with the blade. With the shaving, I'm learing how much pressure that I "can" apply and with the stropping, I'm learing that less is more. The respect FOR the blade will only increase too. The more proficient I get with it, the more I realize the respect that should be extended. The only part that I seem to be having any issue/difficulty with is the area between the trachea and neck muscles...as I've already covered. Even that is getting a bit easier to manage. I figured out why my lather is drying out...I'm taking a wee bit of a long time shaving...lol. I'd rather take longer and get it right than to hurry and get sloppy. Besides, I can always re-lather. Anyway...I don't dare say that I'm getting the BBS so...I'll just say that the results are rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllll
...ssssssssssmmmmmmmmmmmmoooooooooooootttttttthhhh hhh. I'm digging this process that at one time was like credit...a necessary evil. Now, shaving is fun...go figure that huh. Thanks y'all. Have a great day and start it off with a great shave. Rich.
10-10-2010, 04:17 AM
Shoki

Quote:

Originally Posted by markevens

I dont' need any kind of bumping when I have such a sharp tool over my jugular.

Really how hard would you have to cut to open up your jugular? It seems like you would need to seriously be trying to cut into your neck to kill yourself. Most nicks and cuts seem to be superficial.
10-10-2010, 05:11 AM
certifiedbodyman

Actually...

Quote:

Originally Posted by markevens

Nice tale. :)

Personally, whenever anyone gets close to me when I'm shaving, I just pull the razor away. My bathroom is cramped, and I dont' need any kind of bumping when I have such a sharp tool over my jugular.

That said, at the very least you are learning to concentrate better. Its just too bad you ahve people who dont' seem to get that you need to concentrate, and feel like they need to mess with you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoki

Really how hard would you have to cut to open up your jugular? It seems like you would need to seriously be trying to cut into your neck to kill yourself. Most nicks and cuts seem to be superficial.

...to cut the jugular wouldn't be all that difficult with the correct knowledge, which I won't address. Very little pressure is used when making an incision during surgery in order to keep the edges of the incision clean and facilitate the proper healing with minimal scarring. A dull bade or crappy steel will tear as well as cut and results in more scarring as well. Therefore, the scalpel must be sharp and the steel must be of high quality. That's why so many doctors specify no Pakistani medical instruments...especially scalpel blades. As this relates to our str8's...the steel that comprises our razors is a high quality steel, much akin to the scalpel, and as such, shouldn't need much pressure to make an incision if the desire is there. The difficulty comes in from the fact that to get to the jugular, most people think "across" and in doing that you have to go across and through both the neck muscles and the trachea to hit the jugular vein. Same as when someone goes across the wrist trying to slash the wrist...they have to get through the tendons first, which is more problematic because it is much tougher and dense tissue. Not to cause a fight here but this is my take...
10-10-2010, 06:24 AM
markevens

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoki

Really how hard would you have to cut to open up your jugular? It seems like you would need to seriously be trying to cut into your neck to kill yourself. Most nicks and cuts seem to be superficial.

There are actually 2 jugulars per side, and internal and an external one. The internal is a massive pipe and deep down, the external is quite close to the surface though.

If someone hit your hand/elbow at just the right time, you could conceivably cut into that vein. Likely? No, not really. But I don't want to risk the nicks or shallower cuts either.
10-14-2010, 03:32 AM
certifiedbodyman

BBS a Possibility

Good Morning Everyone. Not much time so I'll (try to) be brief...lol. The goal of BBS is a wee bit closer. Certainly the previously mentioned trouble spots still rear their ugly head but...getting closer the the "golden chalice" so to speak. I've noticed twice that when I'm first starting out the shave, I have gotten a bit hurried to start and guess what...a nice little cut. I generally start off WTG from the top of the cheekbone and proceed downward from there to the jawline. All it takes is a bump with the razor or starting move that is too quick at the wrong angle of approach...no slicing motion at all. I knew it immediately...didn't hurt but I felt it. Lesson here: start off even slower. To add insult to injury, it was with my right (dominanat) hand. I remember commenting on another thread about this very same topic. Seems that overconfidence with the dominant hand is a possibly valid phenomenon. Gotta ssssssssllllllllllllloooooooooooowwwwwww it down a nothc and remember to respect the blade. Stropping technique seems to be getting better incrementally too. Another thing that I've noticed that as the shaves get closer, the Bay Rum has correspondingly more sting...:dropjaw: ...go figure huh...lol. Funny thing, one of the same guys that has commented before (the retired Army guy) came in and was wanting to talk and asked "is that thing sharp? :hmmm:...I told him "sharp enough to shave with" and then proceeded to demostrate...WOW...seriously?!?! Then he starts asking about if I had a strop and all that. :banghead:. Talk about "Clueless in Seattle" huh. Anyway...gotta run folks. Hope you have a great day that starts off with a gr8 str8 shave. Rich.
10-17-2010, 04:39 AM
certifiedbodyman

Getting Closer...

...to the mythical BBS experience. Same trouble areas but getting better with that. Re-discovered this morning that getting the soap "not too thin, not too thick nut jjuuuuuuusssssttttt rrrrriiiiggghhhhtttttttt" is not a given. Otherwise, not much else to report.
10-17-2010, 11:03 AM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by certifiedbodyman

...to the mythical BBS experience. Same trouble areas but getting better with that. Re-discovered this morning that getting the soap "not too thin, not too thick nut jjuuuuuuusssssttttt rrrrriiiiggghhhhtttttttt" is not a given. Otherwise, not much else to report.

I'm here to tell you, BBS is not mythical. Elusive maybe, but not mythical.:)
10-18-2010, 11:04 AM
certifiedbodyman

cheeks almost there...neck and "problem areas" still a work in progres...
10-19-2010, 11:39 AM
certifiedbodyman

Getting Closer

The "elusive" (not mythical...lol) BBS is coming closer to fruition. As I stated in an earlier response, the cheeks ahd jaw are getting closer and closer to achieving the BBS that we seek. I actually managed to get the "problem areas" a bit closer to the BBS as well. Funny thing that I've noticed too...the smoother the shave I achieve, the longer it stays smooth. In the morning, it's still about the same...must be growing fast at night. Getting the str8 in that area between the neck muscles and trachea was a bit interesting, knowing that this is so much the opposite of what my shaving experience is to this point. What I've learned too is that with the str8, there is an almost infinite variety of options as far as how to hold the blade and approach the whiskers to get that shave. Having said that, holding the blade perpindicular to my windpipe and shaving upwards and to the front was a first for me. I still want to do the cold water rinse in between passes in the guise of maybe tightening the skin in preparation for the second pass going ATG. I generally do a WTG and ATG for a total of two passes but rarely do I get the XTG shave . Today I did what I call 2 1/2 passes, where I did my usual then went back to the problem areas and focused strictly on those areas. That seems to be the difference. Maybe tomorrow I'll remember the cold water rinse in between the first and second passes. Have a great start to the day with a gr8 str8 shave.
10-20-2010, 04:55 AM
certifiedbodyman

alll-mmmmoooosssstttt...ttttthhhhheeeeeerrrreeeee

Getting better results almost daily with the cheeks and jawline...neck area getting better too...trouble spots getting closer too. Getting better with the blade (still respectful though of course) as far as manipulating the positioning and grip in the trouble areas. Perhaps the BBS will prove to be less elusive than I am anticipating. :needcoffee:
10-23-2010, 08:42 AM
certifiedbodyman

So close I can almost taste it...

oops...wrong thread...lol. Btw...does anyone know how to edit the title of the thread so I can put the "t" in "straight?". Anyway, on to business. Today was even better. Got up at 0400hrs to go to the gym...took my "Jacked" and surfed the net while I was waiting for the time to pass and the supplement to get into my system. Got a darn decent workout...so much so that my first thought was "uh oh, I may have to use the DE safety razor" since my chest, delts and tri's were HEAVY from the work. Took the DE, the str8 and all of the other things that are now part of my ritual. Of course, the sink area was one sink short full and I had squeeze into the one that was open...goodie. I then proceeded to wash my face, oil up with baby oil, make my lather in the bowl and started shaving. The oceans nearly parted as the whiskers jumped into the blade and submitted to the demands it made. Respecting the blade as I try to always think of doing, the str8 was all too willing to shave the pesky whiskers. Three full passes and my face was about 90% BBS...with the same problem areas getting better and ironinc thing, the left side of my face on the jaw line not quite as smooth as I'd like. However, the ease at which all of this transpired was almost surreal...especially with the crowd at the sink. I finally did the cold water rinse in between the first and second pass and this seemd to have a positive effect. Now if I can only remember to incorporate it every time I shave, it may even help me get the BBS. The following routine seems to be working well and getting better:

Rinse face with hot water - can't do the hot towel thing and shaving
after the shower just isn't my style usually due to time constraints...
Oil up face with baby oil with 3 drops on each jawline area, 3 drops on
the neck under the lawline and 3 drops on the front of the neck...I've
thought about oiling up between each pass before lathering...we'll see
Make lather with bowl and brush to a creamy, whipped egg white
consistency and apply...
Shave WTG/down the jawline and neck...Rinse with cold water...
Re-lather and shave XTG - which for my beard seems to be from the
bottom up...
Rinse with cold water...
Re-lather and shave ATG - which for me seems to be at a 45 degree angle
from back to front
Strop immediately after shaving when I get to the room - 25 strokes
on the linen and 100 strokes on the leather...
Ensure that the razor has no water on it or in the pivot point...leave it out
to air dry

...and I've previewed this to look at it but the post doesn't line up with the indentations and such on the description to mym routine...so...I hope it's not too hard to read...the point is, I'm finding what works and it seems to be working well. Still having all sorts of fun with the srt8 and I'm gaining the aptitude to "almost" be getting confortable witht he blade...won't always be totally comfortble since I don't want to get all complacent with the blade and pay the price. I'd rather pay for respecting the blade with humilty rather than my blood and/or a piece of flesh. :gaah: ...anyway...thanks for humoring me and reading the post. Have a great shave and a great day. Rich.