Thread: 1st REAL Shave.

Nothing kills fire ants better than a straight razor! +1 for the post, Jim. Glad to hear that you're seeing such improvement!

Just an update: Last night I pulled down shave #3, same score as the nights before. So far (knock on wood) I haven't screwed the razor up with my stropping.

I took after my neck last night looking for that same smooth feeling I get on my cheeks and trying some techniques discussed in another thread. It was less happy with me after that. I think tonight I'll go a little easier on it, but still doing MUCH better than I ever experienced with cartridge razors.

I'll keep the Mama Bear soap in mind for the future. I've heard plenty of good things about it.

Peace,

Originally Posted by BigJim

but still doing MUCH better than I ever experienced with cartridge razors.

It's funny you say this, I was thinking about this the other day. I'm shaving with the straight pretty much every day now, and when I have gotten irritation or razor burn it has been because I did something wrong or tried too hard. The last time it happened I felt a little frustrated, but then I remembered that using cartrige razors, they irritated my face so much that I could only shave with them 3 days a week! The difference is astounding.

Good to see progress. Before you get more razors you should get yourself a decent badger brush. Mine is a Tweezerman ($15).

Originally Posted by AxelH

Good to see progress. Before you get more razors you should get yourself a decent badger brush. Mine is a Tweezerman ($15).

I've seen the Tweezerman for sale, but was suspect of the low price, and it seems to me (though I can't remember specific examples) that I didn't hear the best regard for it as I sifted through the threads. I take it you enjoy yours? Have you used the VDH boar?

I DO have a horse hair brush coming in from a member here. He's ordered several and once he gets them in, will be sending mine along. I'm excited to compare it to the VDH boar hair brush.

FWIW: Pulled down shave #4 with the Genco last night. Went a little easier on the neck and got my best shave there so far. Still no razor burn. Still 40 laps on my textured Shumate strop. Neck is continuing to improve. Got done with my third pass and had a sudden feeling of disappointment. It was over. I wanted to shave more, but I knew if I got nit-picky with my neck it'd make me regret it. Never ever thought I'd be disappointed to be done shaving!

I used to begrudge the fact that I couldn't go more than a day without shaving (or suffer serious ingrown hairs and general discomfort from scratchy whiskers), now I'm glad I get to shave each night. This is all just a little nuts.

Peace,

Gah! There's blood everywhere!

Here comes the meat wagon! Old guy steps out, "Oh my G...New guy's in the back puking his guts out. And all because..."

...I nicked my ear lobe. It was crazy. When it was all said and done the nick wasn't a cut, just a hole, a tiny little puncture the size of a pinprick. But on my second stroke the square point on my Genco bit my ear lobe and the dang thing bled like the Mississippi. Then I managed to nick my right cheek about two inches from my ear. I don't know what happened.

Not my best shave...did not help an evening that was already filling with frustrations...maybe should have opted for the DE. Still though, got to use the styptic for the first time with a straight, and got first hand experience of why so many guys are afraid of square points.

P.S.>>>Kudos to anybody who can identify the movie quote.

Ouch!

Movie is Tommy Boy.

Ouch, and I can relate. Got to love the stypic pencil, but luckly I have not had to use it in a while. Right now I only have one shave ready square point in my rotation. The nice thing about it is it will let me know when my technique is lacking with a tell tale hint of red. I once just barely caught the edge of my nostril...oh how the blood did flow. Square points keep you on your toes.

Grats! And a bit off topic but i really enjoyed your images. Good composition and a nice looking razor too.

Originally Posted by holeHeartless

Grats! And a bit off topic but i really enjoyed your images. Good composition and a nice looking razor too.

Thanks Hole. That's a moving box with the sides cut out and giant presentation notepad paper lining the inside of the box. Drop in something for background and point and shoot. I don't have a fancy camera and the box and paper were essentially free, but I do strive for decent pics and appreciate the compliments!

Pulled down shave #6 last night...going one day at a time. Don't know if this kind of record gives any help to anybody, but again FWIW:
Still running the same setup: Genco, Williams, VDH Brush, 40 Laps on the strop, though I have added in some Nivea sensitive skin. I'd used it in the past, but blamed it for my ingrown hair problems. It may have contributed, but I've since discovered it was just that I was using a crappy cartridge (regardless of how expensive it was).

Last night I stropped with a smoother hanging strop than the Shumate I'd been using. It was much more natural to me to use the hanging strop than the one laid out on the table. I think the Shumate is better quality (textured and with more of a grip to it AKA draw) but I can't hang it right now. Will have to work something out.

Still: I'm focusing on short light strokes and find that whiskers are removed better that way than with long or pressured strokes. It's counterintuitive but it works. Loving my Genco, and hoping the edge lasts a good long time before I have to try and figure out touch up honing...but I'm also really anxious to try my other razors.

Peace,