Thread: Hi Gentlemen's from Montreal

Sounds like you're off to a good start!

My promise is kept. I now proudly wear the 'stache. I shaved my cheeks Saturday morning, the result was not bad. If you consider a not bad shaving in the case of a second attempt, to be cut free! The sides were fun to trim, the chin a bit less.

Watch out, my big face is coming!


Before, with my "perpetual 1 week" beard.






After, with a, not quite sure what moustache.





I read a bit more yesterday night on the pre-shaving products and methods. I read that the use of a pre-shaving oil/Balm can help a lot the beginners straight shaver. So this morning I dropped to my local drugstore and went to the small shaving aisle. I grabbed a jar of Proraso green pre-shave cream, as it was the only pre-shave product available. Oh yeah I also grabbed an Omega badger 11137... Is it really that addictive?

So tonight I decided to try the balm and I did this routine:

1. Face washing
2. Hot towel ±1 min
3. Proraso green Pre-shave
4. Triumph and Disaster shaving cream

I started with the left cheek and felt it was a bit more sensitive than the eve. I Switched to the right cheek and it was a bit better.

After, I just put the blade under my left cheek to try a WTG pass on the throat. It was quite uncomfortable, my skin was burning a bit and I felt the whiskers pulled. It felt like the blade was not able to cut the whiskers. So I stopped there for tonight.

Maybe I didn't had the good angle, maybe my skin was a bit harmed since I didn't fully shaved for several months, maybe the Proraso, maybe all this together.

So I think I will let my skin rest for a few days and after, alternate between my electric shaver and wet shaving for some time and do new tests.

Also, do you think It would be a good idea to send my razor to be honed and have it shave ready. I read some saying the factory honing is ok and just the strop is needed, others said it's a good idea to have a new razor honed. What do you think?

Thanks guys,

As a newbie you need a proper benchmark for sharpness. It is difficult for anyone to say whether your razor is truly shave ready unless they actually inspect it.

In addition, even if your dovo factory edge was impeccable, there is always a chance that poor stropping technique may have dulled the edge.

I followed your advice and watched the Lynn's video on stropping.

I tested first my razor on my arm (before stropping), and it cutted some hairs but that's it. I took my time and stropped slowly following Lynn's advices. I redid the test on my arm, now I have a weird hairless spot... So yes I might take my time stropping next time.

Btw I shaved tonight and well it was not bad at all. A little rough spots under the left ear and on the throat.
The feel on the cheeks is awesome, I didn't had a close shave like this in a long time now.

Again, thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by Datsun

I followed your advice and watched the Lynn's video on stropping.

I tested first my razor on my arm (before stropping), and it cutted some hairs but that's it. I took my time and stropped slowly following Lynn's advices. I redid the test on my arm, now I have a weird hairless spot... So yes I might take my time stropping next time.

Btw I shaved tonight and well it was not bad at all. A little rough spots under the left ear and on the throat.
The feel on the cheeks is awesome, I didn't had a close shave like this in a long time now.

Again, thanks for the advice.

Congratulations on your first case of honing mange!

It is a sure-fire way to spot a honer: patches of extremely smoothly shaved arms and (in serious cases...) legs. Great to hear it is turning out well for you.