I got ready for my first straight razor shave the other day. I've done a fair amount of research, (much of it here, thanks to all), and figured I was following all the steps I should be:

No distractions: Check

No alcohol: No brainer

Shave ready razor: Said to be, and I have no reason to doubt it. Nice vintage Swedish, hollow grind, round tip, from a dealer.

Hot shower: Yup, hot towel to face as well.

Proroso pre-shave: Yipes! That stuff made my eyes water and skin burn! It's easy to believe it softens whiskers, but I'm not sure it's for me.

Proroso shave cream: No burn, but that smell is not for me.

Nice brush: Not really. Dime store cheap. I've been using it for a few years shaving with my Sensor. A new one is on my list.

OK, so here goes. I'm not too intimidated, because tested restored chisels and plane blades on my forearms for years. No, I didn't try that with my razor. I read not to. But putting straight steel to skin is not too scary for me. OK, maybe some apprehension because it's my throat.

I decided to follow Lynn's advice and just go for a couple easy passes from the burns down to jaw line. There I was, anticipating the sweet surgical whick of whiskers being shorn by a quality tool in competent hands. Stretched my skin, checked the angle of the blade and started in. Well, I think I got about a 1/4" along when the blade just came to a screeching halt. Oh yeah, that was a little scary. I was really wondering if it had halted because it was meeting resistance after entering my cheek, but fortunately I wasn't even nicked. What the heck! Tried again, and got a little farther, but still not feeling the joy!

Well, I quit while I was ahead, and decided to go back to the drawing board. In this case, more research. Truth be told the whole thing had felt pretty shakey. I never felt right about my grip on the razor. Not natural, and not really too secure. I had read about hand positions and blades angles....etc., but being on a dial-up Internet connection I hadn't looked at any videos of people shaving. I headed to the library and viewed a few videos there. Man, I really had it wrong! You guys would have been laughing! Holding the razor the right way feels tons better.

I'm ready to try again. Maybe no Proroso this time!