It's been a month now... Lessons learned

Well, it's been a month since I started this new addiction and it looks like I'm going to stay. I can honestly say that this has been a learning experience and I am looking forward to participating on this site and feeding my addiction. My wife just bought me the Boker Edelweiss as a secondary razor for my birthday, so I know she's on board with this - for now anyway... ;)

Lessons learned:

Do not rush! It's is pretty rare for me to bleed if I am not rushing and the quaility of the shave is always much better.

Create a routine: Lather, strop, shave, strop.

Don't immerse the blade in water! Carbon steel discolors/rusts very easily and it's a bit of a challenge to get all of the water out of the pin and inside the scales. It's not a disposable that goes in the trash at the end of the week!

Angle of the blade is the key to success! Too much or little = irritated skin/poor shave/blood.

Be prepared to hone or send out to be honed - stropping alone will not keep the edge forever.

When in doubt, ask. The people on SRP forum are awesome, have shared the same experiences and are willing to discuss. The users have already helped me make a decision on my next razor and honing set.

Be prepared to make mistakes. My goatee has taken a couple of hits that were quite noticable and more than once, I've walked into work with blood on my collar. It happens. Learn from it.

Enjoy the process.

This isn't a complete list, just what I've picked up over the last month. Who knows what will be on the list 6 months for now?


Haakon

Yes to all the above but I am only 3 shave in. Personaly I need better razor control and how to move around my features. It's a bit akward form the disposable handle to a str8. Glad the wife is on board mine is as well (at least till she finds out what it really has cost the past few weeks) hones, razors, soaps, strops.....more razors............more razors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by knightwolf

Yes to all the above but I am only 3 shave in. Personaly I need better razor control and how to move around my features. It's a bit akward form the disposable handle to a str8. Glad the wife is on board mine is as well (at least till she finds out what it really has cost the past few weeks) hones, razors, soaps, strops.....more razors............more razors.

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At three shaves in, you are right at the point where you really start to get better at it. At ten shaves in, you are definitely over the hump. Keep at it!

First of all, congratulations to Haakon for his perseverence and for
giving the craft of straight razor shaving the attention it deserves.
Obviously, he is now enjoying the benefits and rewards of his efforts.

I might add one additional comment, which could be of benefit to
those who are just beginning the journey: you will progress faster,
with fewer mishaps and disappointments, if you begin with good tools.

Starting with a quality shaving soap or cream, a decent brush, a well-
made strop, and a truly shave-ready razor will pay dividends in the
long run.

You don't need alot of "stuff", but having "good" stuff makes the
whole learning process so much easier. Becoming familiar with using
a basic set of good gear is both economical and educational.

After that period of apprenticeship, one is then better equipped to
avoid the hazards of "acquisition disorder"....an incurable affliction
that many of us suffer from.

Good luck!