Hi Gentlemen's from Montreal

Hi Gentlemen's (and ladies!?)

I'm Damien, from Montréal, Canada. I'm 28, working as a professional mechanical engineer.
I love to work on old Japanese cars from the 70s and 80S, watch a good movie or listening a LP while drinking a glass of Porto and smoking a cigar. So yeah, that's it, you know me pretty well now!

My regular weapon for my morning shave is Philishave electric shaver... Since I'm not really a morning person, I didn't allowed the time my shave deserved. So the quick (poor) shaving from the Philishave was a compromise. But after a few years, I'm not pleased anymore by this quick shaving. From time to time I used my cartridge Mach 3, but my skin doesn't seems to enjoy it that much.

So few months ago I decided to educate myself and to learn on the art of shaving. I found this forum and read a lot.

So I decided to jump last week and bought my first SR. Maybe the transition is a bit steep... But when I find a new hobbies I try to do it the best I can. However, I'm planning to get a DE razor for the week days at first, just to don't put pressure on myself and to take the time to learn the handling of the SR.

I learned to shave with a DE razor but switched to cartridge after few months, I really don't know why. Maybe because no one was using it when I was younger...

So I ordered a 5/8" Black star razor from Dovo, a 40 x 480 mm Dovo strop, an after-shave balm from Baxter and a tube of old fashioned shave cream from Triumph & Disaster. I also purchased a mug and a brush from Vie-Long.

So that's it for now, I wait for my razor to knock on my door. Now I must continue my reading to find an appropriate DE razor.

Cheers,

Hi and welcome. Be warned Sr shaving is addictive. Have fun

Hi Damien - welcome to SRP!

I think you have a great approach to starting out: a patient one! Giving yourself plenty of time when you're learning is a very good idea and will likely prevent a bit of bloodshed along the way. :)

There are a TON of choices when it comes to DE razors, including both new and vintage, so good luck with your search. I don't have all that much experience with them as I use a straight 95% of the time, but if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive new option, I really like my MR20 from Maggard Razors. Brad is a member here and a good guy, and I've always had excellent service from him and Casie. Anyway, buying a DE is probably just as personal a choice as a straight, so it may not be for you, but they might be worth checking out.

Bonne chance, et bienvenue!

:tu

Merci beaucoup!

I will check it out for sure. :)

Looks like you have it covered.
Take your time, enjoy the journey, and welcome to SRP.

pfries

Welcome to SRP Datsun! Interestingly since your a fan of old japanese cars i was just reading a few days ago that Nissan (Datsun) will revive the Datsun name for an economy car for Indian market and perhaps branch to more markets.

Welcome to the 'hood, from a fellow Montréal engineer.

Cheers.

Welcome, remember that you can shave the night before, a well executed straight shave will (depending on your beard) leave you pretty smooth for 24 hours, and don't be scared of using what you already are to fill in on days where speed is of the essence.
All the best ed.

Welcome fellow Montrealer, we are many from this great city.

Welcome - was just in Montreal a couple of weeks ago visiting my daughter in University!

Also purchased an outstanding blade from Badgister, a fellow Montrealer, it has become one of my favorites!

Enjoy!

Hit me up next time your in town Phrank, we can grab a coffee and talk shop near McGill campus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Welcome - was just in Montreal a couple of weeks ago visiting my daughter in University!

Also purchased an outstanding blade from Badgister, a fellow Montrealer, it has become one of my favorites!

Enjoy!

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Thank you everybody for the warm Welcomes!

I'm glade to find other fellow Montréaler here, even others engineer!
I think I will love to contribute to this forum.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Welcome to SRP Datsun! Interestingly since your a fan of old japanese cars i was just reading a few days ago that Nissan (Datsun) will revive the Datsun name for an economy car for Indian market and perhaps branch to more markets.

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Yes! I read about it earlier this year, I don't know where the project is up to right now. I like to see Nissan selling affordable cars again, it was the idea back in the 70s. Simple and affordable cars, and that is what I like.

Now, Nissan make massively boring and fat cars... The "youngest" I have ever owned was a '98, and I already saw a decline in quality of design ( independent suspension to solid rear axle beam suspension ) and choice of materials (from metal to plastic parts) with previous generations. But I guess this is the price to pay to stay competitive in the market. For the record we currently have a '10 Jeep and a '13 Volks, so I'm not a blindfolded fanboy, I just love old nissan, haha.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Welcome, remember that you can shave the night before, a well executed straight shave will (depending on your beard) leave you pretty smooth for 24 hours, and don't be scared of using what you already are to fill in on days where speed is of the essence.
All the best ed.

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I'm so glad you get into this subject. I was wondering if this could work. I had the intention to try my first shaving on evening to see if It would be smooth on the morning. Thank you to give me some hope! and yes I will keep my other shaving gears close. The idea is not to force shaving every day with the SR, but to enjoy the moments that allows it.


On another note, I'm looking for a DE razor and I think I will try my luck with a vintage item. I looked some Gillette examples. I was flabbergasted to see how many nice item we can still found from the 50s or 60s... I guess they are relics of a time when we valued the quality of what we manufactured. I don't want to spend big buck on this, so I look often online and hope to find something interesting.

Yup, Ed's absolutely right. Plenty of us (myself included) shave at night with a straight. I find it a very relaxing way to end the day and also a way to enjoy the ritual without feeling any need to rush. Give it a shot - you might like it

Sr4s in the vendors corner had a few D/E's for under $10.00. They might still be available, the thread was called trick or treat

Excellent I will look at it!

So, It looks like I received my stuff... :D

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...ps4fd31a30.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...psf0de2894.jpg

Enough reading, time for shaving I think.

Good luck, and ENJOY!!

:tu

I Just did the throat, as I keep my beard for Movember, but everything went better then expected.

Some spots aren't as close shaved that they might be, but not bad for a first try.
The most important part, my skin was not harmed and I don't feel a burning feeling like the Mach3!

Can't wait to shave tomorrow! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Datsun

I Just did the throat, as I keep my beard for Movember, but everything went better then expected.

Some spots aren't as close shaved that they might be, but not bad for a first try.
The most important part, my skin was not harmed and I don't feel a burning feeling like the Mach3!

Can't wait to shave tomorrow! :D

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A BEARD! It's not called beardvember :). Seriously though, that breaches the movember rules, unless you shave in such a way that your mo is seperate from the rest. Still as long as it's raising money and or awareness it's all good :)

Hehe Yes I know, I cheated a bit this year. I waited to receive my SR to unleash the mo'. So tomorrow I will rock the moustache!

I started to raise money 2 years ago a the office, I convinced all the guys to let grown the 'stache. We collected near 900$.

Sounds like you're off to a good start!

My promise is kept. I now proudly wear the 'stache. :D 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.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...psb72e78e4.jpg




After, with a, not quite sure what moustache.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...pse2ba267c.jpg



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.

Quote:

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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.

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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. :tu