Thread: Hello from Long Island

Thanks to this site I got a nice but basic kit about a month ago.

I decided to actually listen to the advice offered here. Even go a little slower.

So I just used the brush and the soap with cartridge razor for a week.

When I was watching the videos, I thought, no way can I control this implement of death with my left hand. I'll just use my right hand. Then I thought, experts are advising you here - listen to them.

So I did the NS sideburn shave with the correct hand on each side. Amazingly, my left hand is much steadier than my right - dominant hand. Did a little more each day, still using the cartridge for the tough spots.

Tonight was my first all over shave with a straight razor. First time under the nose which scared me a bit because I have a schnoz. Mrs. sublime went gaga although she was initially skeptical of another anachronistic hobby. Gaga. And it is the best shave I have ever had. By far.

I have read enough shave journals here that I know hitting one out of the park is not uncommon and will be followed by lesser efforts.

Some thoughts. I read go North South when learning, but south north was easier on the neck.

I am much better at this at night, not being a morning person. Against the grain is a tough angle on my neck as my beard grows from left ear to right ear.

Anyway, I am hooked.

How do you stop touching your face after nailing a shave? People at work will notice and make fun.

Congrats on the shave. Touching yourself that way is called faceterbating. Yes people will notice if you keep it up so try just at home although the wife will probably tell you to leave it alone. Mine did

Whenever people at work stare at me I just start mumbling about cleansing the Unbelievers and they go away.

You've already tumbled to two ideas that will have a positive impact as you learn wet shaving; take your time, and take advantage of the knowledge of others. Both will prove equally fruitful

Good to hear things are going well for you, Sublime.

Which direction do the whiskers on your neck grow? South to North growth on the neck is common which would explain why S to N was easier on the neck.
Anyways...welcome to SRP. Happy Shaving.

Sublime,
Welcome there are plenty of us from Long Island on here that are more than willing to help you with any questions you may have.. Honing etc.. And we frequently have meet ups where you can pick up a wealth of knowledge. Feel free to pm me with any questions .. And if u need a straight honed to shave ready feel,free to contact me I'll do it for free, to get you started ..

Hello, and welcome to SRP!!

Hello and welcome to the Brotherhood!

a very, very, very slippery slope,........

Wow,

Thank you everyone for the nice warm welcomes. I have been a member of quite a few forums, not shave related, over the years and this is the most civil, friendly and helpful forum on any topic I have ever seen.

Eddy, thanks for my first reply. Shaving at night cuts down on the faceturbation at work. Though even the next morning the shave is better than one I could achieve with a cartridge used that same morning.

Entropy, good advice. I definitely take my time. Takes me 1/2 hour+ to do three passes. Then another 5-7 minutes of equipment maintenance. Night shaving is going to be the norm for a while. I do not want to feel the pressure to get to work and hurry the shave.

Leatherstockings. My beard under the neck grows primarily east west - east being the right ear. I think the problem is my face. I have a prominent chin and there is a ridge under my chin where the chin ends and the neck begins. Because I was going north south and starting my neck, after I navigated the chin with the razor in the ridge, it tended to skip. If I start a little lower I can go NS fine. Then come back SN to get that little strip.

Airportcopper,

Thank you for the very generous offer. I got a basic Dovo 5/8 from SRD and it seems to shave pretty well. I will definitely PM you about the meets. I live on the North Shore - North Fork actually - Wading River. I will have plenty of questions. Some will be coming up lower in the post.

Walter and Raol, thank you for the welcome.

OK, some questions. Is their an acronym decoder for the past time? I have figured out about 60-70%of them from context, but some continue to puzzle - just can't remember which ones to ask.

I hear a lot about alum or an alum block. That is not part of my basic kit which has razor, soap, brush, mug, strop, stand and after shave + DVD. Do I need it? Can I buy such a thing in a brick and mortar store? Anything else missing?

When do I need a second razor to not have any down time? Should paste be an intermediate step for a beginner before sending out for a hone? Should a separate different strop be used? I don't plan on doing my own hones for a while. Looks like one of those tasks that looks simple but has to be done perfectly. Plus, that is a lot of gear to buy and I can get caught up in gear lust.

Provided I take my time, every straight razor shave seems to be better than anything I could ever achieve with a cartridge, though to be fair, I never tried any skin pulling with the modern razor. I wear glasses to read and use the computer, but not otherwise. The mirror is about computer monitor distance away, put glasses were a pain. Working on the sides of my face, I was looking half through the lens and have through air. I took them off and that seems to be best.

I still need to concentrate completely, and like many have said, one seems to reach a very beneficial state of calm. Meditation with an edge, forgive the pun.

That's enough for now and thanks again. This is fun!

The acronym list is in the library. A pasted strop could see you shaving for a considerable time before needing to re hone. Don't paste your daily strop. There are many choices quite cheap for pasting. For cheap alam check the deodorant section in the shop for crystal deodorant. You need the one made of potassium alum. Hth

Thanks Ed,

Found the acronyms. Last two shaves have not gone as well. Stropped very carefully. End result was good, but more pulling and tugging and pain than before. Getting some bumps on the neck. I might need to get to the paste thing pronto.