SR Shaving Success in Tennessee
I have been reading the advice and forums on SRP for the last year, but only recently joined. I was gifted an L. Lowe Co. razor by my brother-in-law, who got the razor on the cheap at an antique store. Upon receiving the razor I kept it in a drawer for about three months as I contemplated my commitment to the idea of SR shaving. What convinced me to take the plunge was the last time I bought a pack of disposable razors. I did the math in my head and realized that if I bought everything I would ever need to care for this razor it would only cost me the next couple of years worth of disposable razors and then my only recurring cost would be shave soap.
I researched what tools at minimum I would need to maintain my razor, and I figured out the balance between price and quality on items I could get on amazon. I ended up purchasing a set of Norton waterstones and the waterstone flattener, a fromm strop, a tweezerman shaving brush, and the same brother-in-law gave me a shave mug and some soap last Christmas. By all accounts I was ready to go.
While it may not be recommended to hone your first razor yourself for your first shave, I trusted my years as a Boy Scout had prepped me and I honed my razor in January. I knew on that first shave I couldn't handle my chin or jaw line so I just shaved my sideburns and cheeks, and finished of with my disposable razor. That first moment when I put the blade to my face was invigorating. I walked out of the bathroom with my face still intact and felt great. As I managed to shave more and more of my face with the SR each time I shaved the experience began to be calming, relaxing, and just a nice treat. The gradual increase of shave area was something I did intuitively, and later I read on here that it is what you recommend first timers do.
By the time my razor needed rehoning after that first month I was just getting the hang of my chin and Adam's apple. I honed the razor again and continued improving my strop technique, and by beginning of April had figured out how to handle all of my face. I was free of the further cost of disposables. I honed my razor the third time, and this time I reset the bevel to fix some spots on the blade that never really sharpened up from day one.
Up to that point I had only done WTG single passes, and so I started to do my second pass XTG. A post or wiki article on here opened my mind to the differences in angle needed for the different types of passes, and I found that that information allowed me to perform an effect ATG pass. I generally reserve that third pass for special occasions and stick with just two passes most days.
I rehoned my razor just last week and don't anticipate needing to rehone again until April. The closeness of a SR shave is exceptional, and I no longer get razor burn or as many ingrown hairs. My 1 year old son loves to watch me lather up and always asks to smell the freshly lathered soap. My wife appreciates the closer shave, I was always still bristly after a disposal razor shave, and now my face is smooth for at least a few hours.
