Thread: A Year in Review.. from Beginner to Beginner

Well it has been a year since I started straight shaving and though I have a full 12 months under my belt I am still learning more every time I shave and still consider myself a beginner. I will give an abbreviated background to the past year.

I started with a Fromm Hair Shaper found at the local Sally Beauty Products store and used that for about a month while I was in the process of learning to hone the razors I found at a local antique store. So I did not follow one of the basic tenants preached here about started with a shave ready blade ( for a traditional straight ). Prior to straights I had never honed anything in my life so it was definitely a learning experience. I also acquired a very nasty ( according to my wife ) case of RAD and had over 20 razors at one time in various points of restoration within the first 3 months of starting my journey.

Fast forward to 6 months into my journey and the RAD has settled down more do to financial concerns that anything else and I have 20 razors completed and shaving with about 1 a day to keep them ( and my wife ) happy that I purchased them. I am able to get BBS on everyplace but my chin and shaving is now a joy instead of a tedious task brought on by request of SWMBO.

Skip forward to around Christmas and I find my "holy grail" razor ( for now ) a Filarmonica DT 14. I use only that razor and a Joseph Holler worked spine razor I have and all other razors fall out of my rotation. I had been slowly selling off razors on ebay up until this point to clear up space but decide to sell everything but the 2 that I use since I am not really a collector. This is also around the time I receive a puck of L'Occitane Cade soap and a challenge to use only that soap until it is gone.

Today I am still using the Cade soap almost 4 months later and still have about 4 to 6 months worth left before it will disappear. I still have some minor issues with technique around my chin ( stupid cleft chin anyways ) but am happy with the way my face feels after every shave. SWMBO is impressed as well since she did not think I would continue to shave this way due to how much time it was taking me initially. I can now complete a "speed" shave in under 5 minutes ( single pass ) but do like to take the time for a proper shave for special occasions. My RAD has been cured for now though I do have a couple of razors on my wish list. I have also converted my wife and to a lesser extent my daughter to use a DE and they are now enjoying their shaves with less irritation.

I still frequent a few shaving forums more to check in and help where I can and learn new techniques and products available. With Summer on it's way I am getting my C.O. Bigelow Cream ready to mix with my Cade to stay cool.

Lastly I would just like to thank everyone on this board for your assistance and guidance in my journey. Also for showing that there are still places on the internet that can show gentlemanly restraint and courtesy in discussions that normally would melt down on other boards I have been a part of.

Andy