Thread: First run!

After practicing with a butter knife over a week waiting on my package - I finally shaved!

I have been reading every inch, over and over, going over every small detail I might run into.

1:30 my package arrives - dammit, no time to get a shave in - have to leave this side of town by 2 to get the kids. Opening the package, pacing back and forth wanting to start but knowing better. Get the bathroom set up.

6:30 arrive home with the kids, call for pizza and leave money with daughter for pizza man, grab my son and head to the bathroom (looks horrible, but oh well). OH SHOOT, mad hunt for something to attach the strop to - house is a rental so I do not want to modify anything. Improvise and hang the strop a little high (real bad form). I need to figure out HOW to strop properly, might just have to do it at the table for a while. Rolling the blade is harder than it looks.....

The lather, I read somewhere about using conditioner in the beard first - so I conditioned it a little. I moistened the brush and got my lather on - nice and thick.

Now I look at my razor, much smaller than I expected - grab my side burn with my left hand look at my son and say - "here goes nothing," (BTW his first shave was a straight razor shave at Electric Haven Tattoo/Barber Shop - he is no stranger to the blade). I take it nice and slow, short strokes - real nice, rinsing every time I take the razor away from my face. Thankfully I am more or less ambidextrous so I put the razor in my left hand and do the same to my left side, etc. Under the nose took some work and manipulation - but I got it pretty good (the Mrs is whacking the goatee when I get moved in with her - 6 inches long and BUSHY). The throat was not as bad as I thought it would be.

I cleaned up the razor and attempted the strop again (I need to work on this weak point bad). No cuts or anything.

I only shaved WTG, I want to get a lot more proficient with the razor before doing too many stunts.

My son asked - "can I try?" I lathered him up and handed him the butter knife and watched him. Told him to slow down. He needs to work more on his weak hand - all in all maybe next visit if he can show me with the butter knife he is good I will let him take a swing at it (I was disappointed not to get a cut so he could see how to use the styptic pencil).

Off to the Stropping section and time to beat myself up

well done and well done to bring the little one along for the ride into madness! Sounds like you are well on your way!

All in all it sounds as if it went fairly good. Congratulations and welcome to SRP!

Congrats and welcome. I use a handcercheif run thru the ring on my stroptie it around the door knob on the bathroom door. Works for me.

Originally Posted by poppy926

Congrats and welcome. I use a handcercheif run thru the ring on my stroptie it around the door knob on the bathroom door. Works for me.

Too easy...... Now I am laughing at myself HAHAHAHAHHAHA THANK YOU, I am driving myself crazy with the dynamics of this operation.

I have a tendency to try to over think things too. I discovered this while visiting family. It works great.

A couple of nicks to the strop but the stropping is becoming easier - now I have to remember to count. This morning was my second shave (helping a friend all weekend then too dead to think of anything else but laying down), FINALLY I see a couple of drops of blood under my nose.

To explain this, I have told my children when they were little and I was strictly on my motorcycle. There are two types of motorcyclists - those who have been in an accident and those who will be in an accident (I have seen my share). I am happy I have my first cut (hopefully last) out of the way. It was all me, I was adjusting the angle of the blade too close to my face, blade jumped.

You must be the first person I've seen who was HOPING to get cut with a straight razor

Glad your first (and hopefully only) was a small one. And it sounds like you're well on your way! Keep going like this and you'll be a pro in no time!

As for conditioner, check out the label. Some conditioners actually strengthen hair and make it harder to cut, so make sure that this step won't be making things harder for you.

Well, it has been over five months and now I have my son shaving as well. He is a bit disappointed because his nick will not be a scar (we are not right in my family ).

I just picked up my second razor (ss this time). Next phase is honing then restoring!

Sorry I have not written much, just got back to working and it takes a toll out in the Phoenix sun.

Congrats on a great first shave!