Thread: The Noob Chronicle - My Straight Razor Experience

Gentlemen, meet Nicolas.

Ahhhh! Congratulations Dad! What a beautiful child, and hopefully future member. All the best Jack, you must be really excited! Hope all are well and resting.
Best Regards,
Joe

Congratulations! Beautiful Baby. May God bless him for the rest of his life! Double O

Congratulation! All the best to your ladies too. Hope mom is getting some rest.

Congrats. You have your hands full..

Happy Birthday Nicolas
Congrats Jack to you and your missus
Take care.,
Mike

Congratulations!!!!!!!
Great looking kid with a great name
Nick.

Happy Birthday Nicolas!
Congratulations for Dad!
Best wishes to lady!

Congrats all around!

The Straight Road - Anniversary

As the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada progresses, I'm feeling somewhat contemplative (and quite full right now after a huge Thanksgiving lunch with family). A year ago on Friday, I put the first ever straight razor blade to my face. I had read a bunch of great advice from many people on this site, not the least of which was Lynn himself. I had watched many videos and, finally, I went for it. Twelve months, a bunch of razors, brushes, strops and shaving products later, here I am. As far as technique goes, I've come a long way on the Straight Road, but I still have a lot to learn. Every time I shave, my confidence gets a bit better and I'm still discovering little new tricks to get a closer and more comfortable shave from the straight. I've also learned that, no matter how much gear you buy and how much you love this activity, it's still just shaving. You can still only do it just so often. The basics are still very simple - a sharp blade, some lather for lubrication and a bunch of water.

Along the way, I've met a lot of great people and have thoroughly enjoyed becoming a part of this great community. It's about more than just shaving around here, it's about brotherhood (and sisterhood), camaraderie and sharing. There is a truly generous and helpful spirit in the wet-shaving community, as the many PiFs, free help and advice and countless other gestures I've witnessed over the past year prove in spades. The local guys from the Toronto meet-ups have become familiar faces, faces that light up with shaving talk (unlike SWMBO, who usually nods absently or rolls her eyes). I'm very happy to have made some good friends and shared some good times with these guys, people with whom I would never have interacted without this community. I'd like to give a special shout out to Nathan (Maxi here at SRP), who has been a very good teacher, allowed me hours and hours of shop time and opened his home to me for hanging out, having a beer and geeking out on razors. On top of that, somewhere along the way, he became a darn good friend. Dllandry stands out for his organizing the meets at the Scarborough legion hall, not to mention his great stories about his time in the desert. EPD's forging lessons the other day were another treat! All in all, there are too many guys to name you all, but thanks for making this a good time and something more than just a grooming habit.

Of course, I have to thank the guys who run SRP and who make this thing happen on a daily basis. Then there's Lynn, the guy who started it all! You guys rock!

Anyway, what way to celebrate my one-year shaving anniversary? Well, I took a razor that I had restored thanks to the guidance of Maxi and the generosity of Dllandry, who polished it for me in his tumbler. Then EPD donated the wedge material and I put it all together at his place during the http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...-workshop.html. Of course, it was only fitting that, as he did me the favour of pinning the razor, Maxi took advantage of the situation to give a lesson to some of the new guys, showing them the ins and outs of pinning a straight.

The shave itself was very nice, as I am getting the technique down to three passes, mostly BBS, with a bit of touching up. I used my RazoRock King Louis Lavender lineup of products because, well, they rock! I've tried a good number of shaving products and razors and this equipment just seems great for me. The Omega Pro 49 is still the cheapest brush I own and competes to be the best in my rotation.



Today, to start my second year's worth of straight shaves, I decided to go with another favourite setup of mine, my Nagamasa Kamisori and DR Harris Marlborough products. The Semogue Owner's Club brush is another great product, though I'm finding it getting a touch floppy now that it's breaking in. Maybe I'm just more of a fan of the stiff boar brushes like the Omega.



So, what does one learn after a year of shaving? What advice would I have for other noobs just getting started down The Straight Road?

Here are a few tips from someone who still considers himself a noob.

1) Do what I say, not what I did!

I've probably bought and sold more than a dozen razors while I've tried this hobby out. I finally have come to the conclusion that I like my blades in the 6/8+ range, hollow ground. The heavier wedgy blades just didn't do it for me. It's probably best to get your technique and the feel for this down before you try everything under the sun because, as I found out to the detriment of my wallet, it's your shaving technique first, your equipment second.

2) Go slow!

Go slow when you shave. Go slow when you buy razors. Go slow when you buy shaving products. Go slow when you buy hones. There is plenty of time. Shaving is something you're going to be doing for the rest of your life. Razors and stones are going to be out there. Shaving products are going to be out there. Get the technique down first. Learn to strop (slowly!), learn to shave. Learn to slow it down and enjoy the moment. Then, when you feel you've got the hang of it (and no, after a week you do NOT), then branch out a bit. Of course, if you're up for a rollicking roller coaster ride like mine, I can't say it wasn't fun!

3) Listen to the experienced members of the community

Some of them are crusty. Some of them are crotchety. Some of them are just plain weird. That said, the vast majority are very helpful and will give you their best advice at all times. They've probably learned a thing or two, so it behooves you to give their advice a close read. They've been around the block.

4) Don't get discouraged

It can be tough sometimes. There were days where I almost put my entire straight collection up for sale. I figured, eff this, I'll just use a DE! But I didn't. Now, my technique with a DE is horrid compared to what I can do with a straight.

5) Get yourself a mentor

Someone near you who is willing to meet up from time to time and show you the ropes. Someone who might help with restoration or honing advice. You never know, you might end up with a new friend! At worst, you'll have someone to give you invaluable in-person advice.

Anyway, there are advice threads all over these forums with better tips than what I could give you, so I'll end this with the best advice I've seen on these forums. It's what Lynn uses to sign off on his posts:

HAVE FUN!


Still having fun after a year on The Straight Road!

Cheers,

Jack