Thread: The Noob Chronicles

Today I received my very first straight razor. One word: Thrilled. Being as I have to be up for PT at 0530, (because it had nothing to do with being anxious to lather up) I decided to shave tonight.
So I open the case of the Dovo Grey Bone from SRD, and smile, again. Then I do what I think most noobs with a pro-honed razor from SRD do, albeit secretly, I try the HHT. No luck. Tinge of frustration. I think one of two things: either the great Army Postal Service (MPS) has beaten the blade to death (shake fist), or I know very little, and the people at SRD have mountains of experience where I have... ummm a Youtube video or two worth. I chalk it up to the second. [I am aware that the HHT doesn't always work with all hair types]
So I strop. First on the Dovo less expensive strop I have had hanging around the bathroom for a week, taunting me no doubt. Confidence fades. Despite my practice with a butter knife I have yet to tune in the 'X' form of stropping. I keep asking myself; is it slide the razor on its spine, or do only one leg of the 'X'? So I do what every Noob shoudln't and I reach for the SRD Strop (Type IV, 3") that came with my Dovo. No 'X', so much better. I take each stroke with good pace, but a lingering pause at the top and bottom because I am terrified to hack it to pieces. (By the way, I win, no nicks).
Hot towel steams over a sandwich of my face, whiskers, and shaving cream. I take the moment to wonder how in the world someone wears a hot towel and strops their razor at the same time, because I can only see too much gravity here. Then I lather up again. Here it comes.
My angle is all wrong, I know this from the first stroke. It is by no means bad sliding the razor across my face, but not skilled. Wanting to be perfect at everything is not a crime, as long as you realize its more a fun thought than reality. I forge on.
Did I say no nicks earlier, I should have said the strop was luckier than me. Here I am, watching razor, watching edge of blade, paying attention... oww! Yes, there is a point on this bad boy, my ear has fully informed me. I fold blade in its scales, set it down, grab the magic pencil, quell the blood. I know your all thinking the same thing I did; this is why you switch hands when you shave. Lesson learned.
I did two WTG passes. Nothing to post on a billboard. Not yet anyway. Still the feeling of accomplishment is rank among the smell of suds, aftershave, and face cream. I learned a lot. I see the long winding road. I am excited.
Celebrated with a glass of Riesling, and the smooth pull of Cavendish in the German night air.
Now if I could just get this angle, switch hands, strop, lather, hone, paste, BSS thing down I will be set.
~Lefty

take it easy on that stropping Ranger, that is the fastest way a noob can ruin a razor...You gotta treat the first shave like a fine cigar, a little bit at a time and slows steady stokes....If not you will get burnt...Okay, maybe not like a cigar..But that is the best I can come up with at work..

well the one thing i'll say is you did the right thing when you nicked yourself. stopped and reassesed instead of forging ahead. takes a smart person to do that.

Congrats on the ear nick by the way, thats a badge of honour with noobs

i still have my scar

Like a good book the best part of that story was the end. While you know that you had trouble, made mistakes, nicked yourself, whatever; you learned something and that is awesome.
It is the person who has a bad shave and comes away complaining about how bad it was, they are the ones who don't learn. With your attitude I think that you'll learn quicker, than the alternate approach.

I agree that you should have held back from stropping and possibly even shaving one whole pass, but in the process you came away with more than you went in with.
Thank you for sharing.

So honestly, what does everyone say to their wives in this situation:
"Where are you going?"
"To shave"
"With a camera?!"
(Yes, see photo's at the end of todays post)

Day 2 of straight razor ummm school, learning curve, soon to be bliss... take your pick.

Lesson of the day; no two soaps are equal. Shaving soap specifically. I am saying, what an incredible difference! I almost wanted to immediately throw the other soap in the trash, though I will wait. I'm waiting mostly because I am willing to bet when I get some lathering under my belt I might find it to be a completely different shaving soap in the end. Still soap No. 2 (Tabac Original, stick form) made my day/shave.
Took it lighter on the stropping today. Focus on position and stroke. I feel that the fear is that slow stropping is worse than no stropping, but no stropping is horrible. Though I don't feel my stropping technique is horrible. No strop nicks *w00t*. Did find out that horrible noise of lifting the spine off the strop and riding the blade. Deep breath. Watch wrist and blade. Return to normal sound and draw. Baby steps.
Hot towel again, cause even if it didn't do a thing it feels blissful. Still don't understand how people manage to have a hot towel on and strop at the same time (or I am misunderstanding their posts). Lather felt better, face felt ready.
Shaved the whole thing again. Chin is no joke. I don't force it, I will learn in time, and till I get it perfect I will just make sure I don't see the 1SG till 5 O'clock shadow time. Noticed that my stroke is full and confident on the side of my face, under my sideburns. It's almost as if the sureness in stroke makes the blade, well swing comes to mind. Beard melts from face, and reattaches to a white cloud on metal blade. It's freshly baked chocolate chip cookie gooey good. Rest of the face is going to take some time, and I am alright with that.
My nick pencil is making money for me. 3 nicks (so glad my ears remain safe on this clash of flesh and steel). I keep repeating someones signature from here, that says something like 'A wise old barber told me that if the razor pulls don't force it..."
As for this guy, I am enjoying the ride.
~Lefty


This is my Father's Day gift from my incredible wife. 2nd Father's Day as a father, 1st Father's Day at home.
Consider this my semi-first Shave of the Day pic.

That signiture line you refer to is from JimmyHAD. And a great hep it was to me too and still is. I remind myself of that one just before each shave and I've been at it for sometime now.


Mick

Shave 3: Something clicks

Long day at the hanger. Was worried that I wouldn't have enough time to focus on a straight razor shave, and would have to pull my cartridge razor back out. Then something clicked.
Today the shave seemed worlds different. Smooth, decent paced, easy(er). Strokes seemed more natural, hand switch was less cumbersome. One pass, and I'm just about on par with my cartridge. This shave felt like more of an accomplishment than it was work. Enjoyable to the fullest. Still a ways to go, but I feel like I'm rising on that learning curve.
A great shave needed at the end of a long day.
~Lefty

congrats and nice picture spot! natural light from the window will look great! I'm jealous of your window in the head...

Shave 4:

First morning shave. Woke up while the house was still quiet and took a nice long hot shower. Stole away to my mini-shave den and got to lathering.
Stropping feels a lot better. Still taking it slow though. Wish my second razor would arrive so that I could have something to compare to during this learning curve.
Played around with lathering more today, seemed like a nice way to burn a little of the early Saturday morning dawn. Needless to say I was definitely a good stand in for Santa Claus this morning.
The melding of mind and razor continues. I feel as though I am really getting the hang of this. I'm really enjoying every part of the learning/shaving process. I mean seriously, when is the last time a soldier shaved on his day off, right? I might have gotten a little carried away and went with a XTG second pass. My face is now super smooth and very happy. Even got a couple extra kisses from the wife, though she made it quite clear that I am a nerd.
What a great start to a weekend. Thanks for all the comments and help (here and other posts). I have been wanting to shave straight razor style ever since I saw my first boss do it, just never even knew where to start. Have to say it's mainly due to SRP that I feel well on my way.
Excited about shaving, lol, who would have thought.
~Lefty

Great going Lefty. Your thread is an encouragement for me.

I will shave with a straight for the first time tomorrow, hopefully won't need an ambulance.