Hey all, so I thought I would post about my first shave ever!

I just got my kit from vintageblade in the mail, as my 18th birthday gift to myself. It included everything, badger brush, basic hanging strop basic dovo razor, and their col conk bay rum soap I figured this was a good place to start, with a reputable brand razor and some other goodies. It was quite an experience!

I started out laying out everything, investigating a little. I was really impressed with the razor, I couldn't appreciate just how fine and delicate the edge actually is until I held it. It is quite a tool! So I set to it, I ran the sink as hot as my face could take it, and gave myself a good scrub down, letting everything soften up. Then I filled and dumped out my mug with the soap in it, wet my brush and shook it out, and tried as best as I could to whip up a lather. I think this was where I struggled most actually, I really didn't know if it was too wet (I have a hunch it was, it got better as I went along and some of the water was pulled out of the mix) or if it was too dry. I did notice how quickly it dried out on my face though, and the difference was quickly apparent between a wet slippery lather and a dry, sticky coating.

The actual shaving was not to bad! I didn't get nearly as close a shave as I was getting with my cartridge razor, but I did get the easy sections to be nice and smooth. Trouble is most of my facial hair grows along my jawline under my ear and my chin/below. The right side is better than the left, as I am primarily right handed and the left hand was a little less coordinated.

I also only drew blood once, and not from a cut, rather from a bunch of little dots on my lower jaw. I didn't even realize they were bleeding, there was no pain, but I assume it was because of an incorrect angle of my blade in combination partly with a poor lather, causing the razor to pull the hairs out and dig into the skin slightly rather than cut the hairs off cleanly. I also tried to keep reminding myself not to put any pressure behind the blade, and just let it do its thing.

From what I read it is a process and a learning curve to even get back to the kind of shaves I was getting before, but there really is something therapeutic and nice about taking the time only for yourself, focusing completely on one thing. It is kind of an auto pilot, even the first time, and you cant think of anything else besides the blade in your hand. It filters out all the junk of busy schedules and stressful lives.

Any tips or help with my lathering skills would be appreciated! This place has been an invaluable resource and I think i'm hooked for the long haul!