Thread: G'day, fresh to the straight

...17...18...19...20...ready
Working my honemeisters's instructions to the letter my straight was ready for the shave. So here we go....oh, yeah, sorry, of course what straight? what strop? Hmmm, so here's the morning's shave



So my first, and I'm hoping 'only' (oh jeez who am I kidding?) straight is the George Butler 5/8 KEEN and the strop is an extra wide roo (tail) and linen custom....I really like the crocodile trim on loops. Warmed the roo leather with some laps of the palm and slowly went to work. After the third stroke - which I think I counted about eight times, such were my nerves sent to distraction - the lapping of the strop stroke felt more natural. Very slow. Very deliberate. Very meditative.
...17...18...19...20...ready

Thought to make this first shave special that I'd use all my favourite stuff. So MdC built an exquisite lather on the face and the original scent filled the room with the smells of a European garden. The 1305 is now where it should be, great backbone and flow, soft tips, just excellent. So lathers built and the deliberate act of shaving begins. What a buzz to be new again. It reminded me of my first wet shave with a DE. The magic of the ritual was back and I was very much in the moment. I held the straight as I'd seen during the 13 and a 1/2 hours of youtubes I'd watched in preparation. Three fingers forward, pinkie on the tang and thumb underneath. Starting on the right sideburn area, pull skin taut with the left hand and....I can't see a thing. OK start again, hold razor, three forward, one back, skin taut and...nope blind - nothing but hands and elbows in the way of the mirror. Hmmm...do I need another 8 hours of videos to resea....oh f&*k it. Grip, check angles, pull skin taut and off we go....First stroke, complete and the lather gone. I look no blood, no pain, no...well anything, it just felt like nothing. Resume and continue with small strokes. Visibility was granted after the first stroke and I was getting into it. Was weird pulling the skin tight, as it's not something I do with the DE, so I had to keep reminding myself. Remember angles, grip, tighten skin and...oh so much to remember....anyway got through the right sideburns and cheeks and now left hand. Oh boy! Felt so odd. But after the first few strokes it came together. I'm committed to continue practicing with the left hand as I'm convinced getting the muscle memory right (for the left) from the get-go is a smart idea. So left side done. That's it. Not great, not bad. Had a feel of the face without the lather and there was still stubble - not sure what I expected but.... So finished the rest of the first pass with the DE. Rinse and relather. That's it for the straight. Put it down on the towel and then relathered.

....yeah right.

...still buzzing I went in for another go with the straight across the grain on the sideburns and cheeks....and neck. I couldn't help it I had to try. The straight in hand just felt so natural, but why did it feel so different from the first pass? Then I looked down and noticed I'd unconsciously altered my grip. I was now two in front with ring finger and pinkie on the tang and it was like I'd been doing this for a while. Not sure if this is Bad Habit #1 but that grip felt better. Post XTG pass was smooth with the pass but there was still some stubble ATG. But less than with the DE - I know because the ATG DE pass was cutting through micromillimetres.

So in summary.
This sh*t is good.
Funny how natural it felt having a straight in hand and on the face. I assume prior wet shaving experience helped here. Knowing my face, understanding angles. But, weirdly, it felt more natural with the straight in hand - after I adopted the two front/two back grip - than did the DE. Very weird. Maybe I used a straight in my previous life.
I will struggle with not using my right hand.
I will struggle with remembering to hold my skin taut
I will struggle with the lather clean off (it doesn't come off being whisked (super-carefully) in a basin full of water - will try either running water or a towel next time - what do you guys do?
I will struggle with the goatee area
I will not struggle with wanting to keep on this straight path.

Big thanks for those who helped ease me (with gentle prods and rough pushes) to get here. I feel doomed and yet resigned and with a smile as wide as my shoulders.

...and so were my first steps on my journey on the straight path.