Hello from a 'new shaver'!
Hello. I am known as The Count (I think that's what they called me!).
I am now from England and I love the country (and the rest of Britain - Hello to anyone from the Llyn Peninsula in Wales!)
To put no finer point on it - I am old (ish) and have been shaving for many a long year. I am a writer and dabble in magic (about which maybe more later) and an actor of many, many years experience.
Sadly, I followed the same old route for many years. Shaving with a nasty piece of plastic with several dozen blunt and inferior blades. To be fair, it was quick and easy but the price! I checked the other day and some packs of cartridges are over 20 GBP! I also read an article (on the esteemed BBC but taken from a 'reputable' newspaper) that Gillette have increased the price of their cartridges over the past three years by 90%! One of the tricks is cutting the pack quantity from 5 to 4 and still upping the price - work it out! I used to work in marketing - I know the tricks and am very cynical.
A few years ago, I had had enough and, being on stage often requires a very close shave to help the makeup. I searched around (I also worked extensively in internet research for years) and switch to an adjustable Mercur DE with Feather Blades. It was scary! What I read told me that my face would look like a hamburger until I got perfect technique. Nonsense! I had the best shave ever. OK, a few nicks for the first few days but nothing painful or serious. Mostly this was due to bumps caused by the nasty plastic gadgets. I bought Feathers in bulk and they were great. And so much cheaper!
And then - I ran out! I found the price has risen from 2.00 GBP per 10 to 3.50 GBP. Now, I can afford that but it seemed such a waste. I was also wasting money on expensive cream from chain stores when good old fashioned dome soap is far better and cheaper. I confess that I invested in an expensive badger brush and another travel version in a natty case.
But I thought - straight razor? I have appeared in Sweeney Todd! They aren't that scary! And no blades to buy. I also like wood-carving and needed a strop so - justification made!
I bought the strop first from eBay. Cheap and awful! But good leather! Underneath the nasty black lacquer was good quality, thick, smooth leather. So... I scraped it off with the edge of a very sharp knife (having loosened it with nail polish remover pads). It was brilliant but so dry! So off to a falconer's web site to but a small quantity of neatsfoot oil. It lapped it up over several applications but then was incredible...smooth and supple and looking like it would last forever. Next to remove the bent nail used as a swivel (I joke not! Zoom into those images!) This was replaced with a strong split ring and a swivel catch from a very strong dog lead for what must be a fearsome dog!
Finally, for my wood carving knives, I have Flexcut Gold compound. Great but I'm told a little coarse. So back to eBay for some Chromium III Oxide (I do my research). This was applied as a paste to the linen(ish) part of the strop and very, very, very sparingly to the leather which had now dried.
And then, the big moment! The purchase of the vintage straight razor. Sensibly, I hope, I bought a renovated, shave ready. A vintage Kropp, polished, honed and stropped to perfection. It had new walnut scales and, all credit to the seller, it is beautifully done.
So first tentative shave to be followed by a light strop. Would I bleed like a scarlet waterfall? Not at all. Not a nick or scratch (although I do have a goatee that perhaps helped the difficult bits - it may have to go). And the smoothest most perfect shave ever. A quick strop (as told) and put away dry. I have now made a lovely leather case for it. I will use it always and without fear - except that I have spotted some lovely other vintage examples! I'm told this is called RAD but I don't care!
And now a question from this neophyte but enthusiastic old man. There are some wonderful skilled artists and craftsmen out there but I want to do everything myself. Some say that proper stropping with a good quality Chromium Oxide means never having to hone (except in the case of a nasty 'dropping or knocking' accident. Is this true?
I don't want to spend a fortune on stones and I have been to the Inigo Jones factory in Wales. The quality of their work is excellent and I am thinking that a well lapped Dragon's Tongue slate hone would give me all I need.
I guess that it's down to preference and what you have (having lurked for months!) but I would rally appreciate some honest advice. As someone said on another forum "It's just a shave, guys!" It seems that it is so much more to the enthusiast and, at the moment, my nick-free face feels like a BBS could skate on it! Any advice more than welcome.
Sorry for the excessively rambling introduction. Please forgive me - I am old, a writer, an actor and English! If I can help anyone else in any way, I will always be willing.
Thank you for inviting The Count.
