Hello SRP, and Oh, PLEASE wish me luck!
Hello SRP'ers! GREAT resource, thank you SO much to all of you who have generously shared your experience here.
I'm from Michigan, 56, and have NEVER shaved with a straight. In fact, I switched to Electrics about 30 years ago. Always in a hurry, at last moment notice, and I could shave in the car on my way with them. It's what worked. Now, I'm semi-retired, and have a lot of time on my hands, and this just seems SO luxurious. I've TRULY enjoyed the few hot lather straight blade shaves I've gotten after lux haircuts.
I have read SO much here, and watched SO many videos (Thanks @Lynn Abrams!) that my EYES bled. Once I felt comfortable that I new what to expect, what I wanted, and what seemed like reasonably good stuff, I made my purchases.
For whatever reason, stropping seems the most intimidating to me. So while I waited to choose, and waited for shipment, I broke out some pen knives, sharped em up on an old Hard Arkansas Surgical Black and Translucent I used as an apprentice wood model maker. Then I stropped the DAYLIGHT outta them on denim and then an old belt. Cowabunga, I've never HAD such sharp knives! No hair left on the back of my hands, from testing. Been practicing the turn without wrist flip to get the muscle memory. No point in developing bad habits I'll want to break later.
I do some stuff slow, I do some fast, but I do nothing half fast. If I'm in for a dime, I'm in for a dollar. Well, the last things I absolutely need arrived today. As much as I'm chomping at the BIT to start, I'm going to wait until after my morning shower to give it a go.
So tomorrow is the day. BIG thanks to a mentor, @WVLoony who intercepted me on a forum for a different hobby. Saw me talking about getting into this, and messaged a LOT of very good advice to me. With his help, and yours, I've chosen the following equipment. I know, I'm in pretty deep for someone who has never tried it. But between WVLoony's advice, and all of yours, I feel good about my chances. Here's the inventory:
Dovo Pearlex 5/8 full hollow from SRD, shave ready
Dovo Renaissance 6/8 1/4 hollow from Ebay. Factory new. Probably as close as I want to try to get to a wedge.
USB Microscope 300x capable. I want to study the hone from SRD, take pics, and do it myself on the Renaissance.
2 English Bridle strops with Hard Pressed wool back strops (I travel, need spares)
Set of Ninawa 3/8/12k Specialty stones and holder (thanks for this tip, WVLoony!)
1 Dovo Futur silvertip badger brush (travel)
1 Dovo Vision silvertip badger brush
1 Muhle Sophist silvertip brush
A couple sweeet lathering cups (Merkur frosted Futur and C.O. Bigelow's silver rimmed porcelain)
A Dovo Z stand and a nickel plated display stand, both hold blade, and brush and the nickel holds a cup too.
Penhaligon's Endymion and C.O. Bigelow's shaving cream. Props to Loony on the C.O., SUPER sale at B&BW! Stocked!
Various styptic pencil, alum block, balm..
Am I forgetting anything?! I hope not.
Got a haircut yesterday, so I can see where my 'burns end. I'm going to take my brushes in the shower with me tomorrow, shampoo and condition them first. Sink of hot water while I shower to warm my bowl, and for lack of a better descriptor, give it a rip.
I've read other noobs advice, about just starting with the easy part of the face. Hellz to that, in for a dollar. Going to do my WHOLE darn face. Good advice, that I just didn't take and all.
I still have a zillion questions, some I will get the answers to myself tomorrow. But this one, THIS one, is driving me nuts. I need pretty strong cheaters at 56. Kinda skeered about shaving without em? Buzzed the tower with my blade for practice tonight, and the vision thing... LeSigh.. Thinking I'll get under my sideburns first and the tops of my cheeks on both sides, then put the glasses on?
So, uh, HOWDY! Anything I've not thought through? Any last minute Wisdoms? Can ya at least wish me good luck? Who the hell wasn't a lil nervous their first time? ;)
