Thread: Never looking back...

Exactly what I'm talking about! The subtleties.

I am in my 5th month of shaving and love it. If anything, I am more excited today than I was when I started. In addition to the excellent advice you have already been given, I suggest you keep a Shaving Diary for the first year. I have been doing this and I find it helpful and also a good learning tool. I keep mine on my iPad just because it is simpler but you could use a hard copy with a format. In addition to listing the equipment, I give a quick evaluation and then list anything new I have learned about shaving that day. Some days will have very brief entries and others very long.

For my daily entry I list the following:
[example entries shown]
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DATE: 5/11/2011
RAZOR: 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot. A+++
BRUSH: Dovo Silvertip
SHAVING CREAM: Truefit & Hill Grafton SC & Balm
AFTERSHAVE/COLOGNE: Royal Copenhagen AS & Cologne

NOTES: The TI LG has proven to be my very best razor. In comparison to my other "A" razors, it has to be rated an "A+++". It shaves 90% of a BBS on the first WTG pass and feels as smooth as velvet on my face. It also fits my hand well and seems like an extension of my hand and arm. Very natural. This is my second shave with T&H Grafton sample. It is pleasant smelling and creates a nice lather. The balm is excellent like all the T&H balms I have tried - long lasting and comfortable. However, it is not one that I would purchase for myself.

HINTS/KNOWLEDGE: Today, I did a Google search and learned that dubl duck razors were distributed in the US but made in both the US and Germany. I found a Pearlduck Satinedge that was marked "reg. US" and a Bresduck Satinedge that was marked "Solingen, Germany". While not conclusive for all dubl ducks, if a marking of origin is on a dubl duck, I will place in the country of origin in my collection. So I will have dubl ducks in both German and USA categories. On SRP, I learned that the same model of certain dubl ducks were available either from Germany or the US at the same time.

I have a 6/8 J. R. Torrey that looks a lot like my two Swedish Heljestrand Eskilstuna razors. I discovered that Torrey first imported Swedish and English razors and then later manufactured their own. Mine is an American made that has "US" with an arrow through the letters indicating it was made for the armed forces. Now I want to know if it was WWI or WWII.
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Forgive me for the long answer but I did want to show you a complete sample entry. Some days I have nothing to enter on the notes and hints/knowledge. I do rate each shave A, B, C, D, F following the razor entry.

Happy Shaving!

Wow, thanks.

The best part of straight razor shaving to me is the pre shave prep. I love it...very luxurious and calming. Kind of ZEN.

Then the actual shave itself with a sharp stropped razor. The intense concentration itself helps me prepare for the day. All other thoughts are gone except the shave. For me...stress comes off with the whiskers.

Afterwards the post shave balm and aftershave. Smooth soft skin. BBS! Now I feel manly, renewed, and ready to face the day.