Thread: One Year with Straight Razors

This week marks a full year since I got serious about going to the straight. For the first six months or so, I actually shaved twice a day just for extra practice. The evening shave was just a one-pass.

I can sincerely say I'm very happy with my shaves. It seems like each day I have a little "aha!" and something gets just a tad better.

I wish I could think of advice to give those who are starting out, but the advice is really all here already, especially the Wiki on starting out in straight shaving.

Some things I'm glad I did:

• I'm glad I learned to hone. Learning to hone made me much happier with my shaving experience. Learning to hone makes you understand what goes into a sharp, smooth edge that is a pleasure to use.
  
• I'm glad I started with a nice razor, professionally honed (after a catastrophic first effort with less!)
  
• I'm glad I've worked on using both hands. Saves on view angles, even wear on the blade, and it just feels right (now!)
  
• I'm glad I spent lots of time on this site READING and not just talking, though I talk a lot too. But I read posts ferociously, read the wiki devotedly, and it helped.
  
• I'm glad that I made the change "all the way." Threw away the canned cream and disposables, only straights, until recently. I now also have a nice Double Edge that I use on mornings when I need to shave quickly. Straights are fine wines. You don't guzzle them. But a nice DE with a good blade is still a fun step back into our fathers' times.
  
• I'm glad I got the encouragement I needed from this site. Thanks to all who advised and encouraged-you know who you are, and I know you'd be embarrassed to be singled out. That's what real men are like.
  
• I'm glad…I did it.