Day 1 - back to basics

I'm new to the forum - only posted an intro yesterday. I worked out a plan to wean myself off the disposable and canned foam thru Safety and ultimately back to Straight (where I started as a teenager).

This morning I started implementing my plan. I used a Safety Razor for the first time in about 20 years.

I attempted to use a brushed lather as well, even though my plan was to hold off and stick with the canned foam until I got the feel for the safety razor again and bought some real shaving soap/cream. As I didn't have any shaving soap/cream I used regular bar soap. I just couldn't get a real lather working, but it felt great. Much better than just spreading foam across my face.

I also ran my SR across my face just to start re-developing a feel and as practice against any fear of cutting myself.

Results:

• It was a lot more work and required more time than I usually allot for my regular go-into-the-office morning routine.
• It took a little work getting the correct blade "angle of approach".
• I usually do 2 passes with the disposal (down / up) and had to do three with the Safety to get the same cut, but that might be due to being out of practice with the "angle of approach".
• My skin feels a lot better, not bumpy or rashy.
• I didn’t get as close a shave as I usually do, also probably due to being out of practice with the "angle of approach".

I didn’t have anything handy for an after conditioning so I smeared some canned foam on my face and then wiped it off. I guess it wasn’t so easy to just walk away for what I’ve been doing for so many years.

Day 2 - Results Already

Big changes in one day.

I bought soap yesterday - major difference, lathering was simple.

I missed some spots around my chin yesterday so I concentrated on that area more this morning. Results = 3 nicks (I ordered some products yesterday that should take care of this).

Overall Results: My face feels different in only two days of shaving - much smoother.

You'll find familiarity, speed and comfort come with each successive shave, like learning to drive a car. It's hard to cut yourself driving a car, although I've done it.

Welcome back to the fold. Glad to hear you're quickly improving...and I'm sure after reading the forums you'll learn a ton more then when you first started. Keep us posted.

Day 3 - usually I wouldn't have shaved today because I didn't have to go into the office but I figured I needed to get my hand back and work on my "angle of attack".

Having said that, I gave myself a gliding slice/nick under my right nostril across my upper lip.

I didn’t take a shower beforehand and tried the hot towel method. The smallest hand towel I had was too large and thick – I’ll have to find a better one.

So, besides that lip error the rest of my face feels great - better and better each day.

Cool! The fun is in the learning curve!

Welcome back? Why do you leave the time traffeling whit a Straight?

I am not sure I understand your questions. I left straight back when I was a teenager in 1968 for a Safety. I just thought it took too much effort and I couldn't keep it sharp. I was probably just scared of the straight.

Day 4 - 2 nicks

Once again, another day that I wouldn't have shaved because I do not have to go into the office.

I used the hot towel method this morning - washed my face first, then applied the hot towel.

I still don't have a cup or bowel so I am using the lather-on-the-face method.

All of my down-strokes were perfect and my upstrokes were good until I got to the right and left side of my mouth. That's where I nicked myself.

I did some good mental pre-concentration resulting in a really good job with my upstrokes on my chin.

I am still having some issue with upstrokes on my upper lip.

I've wanted to add an Alum-block application to my post shave routine but it hasn't arrived from the internet marketplace sales order I placed, so in the meantime I picked up a small container of L’Oreal Men's Expert Comfort Max Anti-Irritation After Shave Balm at the local CVS store.

Day 5 - Zero nicks - first Straight

So, yet another day that I normally wouldn't shave because I didn't have to go into the office but shave I did.

I followed Lynn's advise and partially shaved with a Straight Razor, finishing off with my Safety. So basically I am 5 days into the switch from a disposable back to my 40 year old Safety razor and now, on this fifth day, I have started the switch to the Straight razor I briefly used over 40 years ago. FYI, it was already old then - a hand-me-down.

Today's experience: all downstrokes were performed utilizing the Straight Razor. As were some upstrokes on the neck. Then I finished the rest of my upstrokes with my Safety razor.

I skipped a day so Day 6 shave is really Day 7

I was in a big rush - kids/grandkids over for the holidays - house overfull - people pounding on the door for their turn in the bathroom - so all I did was downstrokes with SR and then finshed up (upstrokes etc) with the Safety. No nicks/great shave.

Great to hear the progress. I am still really just learning in my mind as I am just starting to dabble in multiple passes.

Day 8

My wife and I are in our cabin, but I left my stone(s) back in the house, and I wanted to touch up my razor, so I only used the SR for downstrokes and then did everything else with the Safety.

I still need to work on my technique around my chin and on my upper lip.