First SR experiences

My first SR shave experience.



I spent several weeks of spare time reviewing the Wiki and forums on StraightRazorPlace, as well as links to related sites. I finally decided on on a Gold Dollar from Ruprazor. It came with a nice basic strop, with the fuzzy side with a bit of green paste on it. The razor came shave ready (with a honing warranty). The only down side was when I noticed the “China” on the base of the blade. I typically avoid made in China when I can.
I checked the blade with a few of the techniques from the Wiki and looked at it under a 10x loop. Man does that look sharp!


Viewed some youtube on shaving, and soaped up with hot water. I started on my right side just below the sideburns. Could not get the angle right at first, but did shave a few square inches of my face before I got nervous and decided to do the other 85% with a safety razor. 3 days later, hot soap again, and shaved both sides. Very awkward to do left side. Shaved about 60 of my face and decided to finish up with safety. 5 days later same process, This time I was more comfortable with the left side and angle of blade. Decided to try a few hard areas. Did most of the area between my nose and upper lip. Next on to the side of my lips. Started with the blade on the edge of my left lip and shaved out. Ouch! The razor dug in. Stopped shaving and had about ¼’ wide cut and about 1/8 deep. It took 3 weeks for the scab to go away. Maybe I used bacitracin longer than I should. 1 more week later I’m ready to try again. This time my wife went by a store called “art of shaving” and picked up a few free samples. Oiled my face, shaving cream, and shaved 95%, including neck & chin. Went easy, the hair just slid off. Washed up and cleaned up a few missed spots (hard to see under the shave cream). This time I seemed to be more comfortable shaving my left side than right. Maybe because I’m left eye dominant? I also shaved both sides with my right hand. Yesterday was my 5th shave, and just used soap and it went well. One thing I also learned, is the soap has to be hot, and if it gets cool during the shave, the razor pulls rather than cuts. New layer of hot soap fixes that right up. I laughed when my razor scale hit the mirror on the second shave, after hearing others. Very slight razor burn on skin, will go back to oil, better quality soap, and try after shave next time (all thing I may get tomorrow, as it’s my birthday).


I’ll be looking for a vintage name brand razor at antique stores next, and a Norton 8k/4k stone. Actually I picked up a deal on a C12k. So with 30 laps after each shave on the strop, and a touch up on the C12k after about 25 shaves, how long can I go before I need to work back to 8k or 4k. 100 shaves?



I was wondering, could I buy one of those really cheap razors at Amazon.com to practice honing, or is it not worth that approach?


Thanks

You would never need to go lower in grit for the rest of your life, assuming you know what you're doing. No cheap razors for honing practice.

Sounds like you are having fun and progressing well. A lot of variables. When you do your thing with the c12K, stropping, and the razor doesn't feel right to you, then you will know. I think I had in 70 shaves with a razor one time and all I used it to keep the edge going was a pasted strop. If I had a 12K at the time, who knows how long I could have kept the razor performing, but I am guessing years.

Enjoy!

Pabster