Thread: Hello from Scotland

Hi everyone,

Just figured I'd sign up and introduce myself

I recently received my first ever straight razor, pre-sharpened by Lynn I believe, and I'm definitely starting to get the hang of shaving with it now. Had my third shave with it today and it's getting better and better.

First shave I was being so careful that while I may have got away with only a slight nick in a more awkward area I didn't actually remove very much facial hair at all
Second shave was another tiny nick but I actually gave myself a fairly decent shave and today I managed to shave fairly well in the more tricky areas and the easier areas were lovely and smooth. Had a much better lather today, used a shaving cream instead of a shaving soap, still need a bit of practice with the soap.

Not sure about my stropping but I've not blunted the razor yet

Anyway; hello all!

Hello, and welcome. Feel free to ask questions, they'll get answered. Also, check the wiki. All the best from DC-J

Thanks, I had to signup; I think everyone I know is getting fed up of me talking about how the shaving is going!

At the moment I've got a tube of Geo F Trumper sandalwood shaving cream and a thing of their rose shaving soap. Also got a tiny wee free sample of Edwin Jagger sandalwood aftershave lotion that I got when I bought the cream, soap and a brush. I quite like it but I've probably only got enough for another 3 or 4 shaves. I'm sure I've got some Nivea aftershave balm that I can use but I might either get some of the aftershave lotion since I'm liking it. Either that or I'm considering the GFT skin food because it seems to be praised by quite a lot of people.

I've had a fair browse of the wiki already (as well as a lot of threads here on the forum) but I have no doubt I'll have plenty of questions soon enough

where abouts in scotland are you?

welcome! i see you've read the wiki, keep reading, it's invaluable

Simon

I'm in East Fife, just near St Andrews.
Spent a fair few years living in Edinburgh, one of my favourite cities actually.

well, there's a bunch of stuff to be had here shaving wise:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...your-area.html

thread i did a while ago that never really took off, also recently discovered that the jenners barber shop in rose street does straight and DE razors, althought the straights are cyril salter so stay away from them, but they have strops and bits and pieces too.

Samwise, Welcome, and congrats! 3rd shave w/ a str8. Anyone who doesn't remember it being intimidating has a short memory or they're lying. 'Grats on choosing quality.

From the sounds of it, you're off to a much better start than I had, and its true - it'll keep getting better. A year and a half later, and the enjoyment shows no sign of letting up.

'Hope to see more of you 'round here.

Originally Posted by tekbow

well, there's a bunch of stuff to be had here shaving wise:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...your-area.html

thread i did a while ago that never really took off, also recently discovered that the jenners barber shop in rose street does straight and DE razors, althought the straights are cyril salter so stay away from them, but they have strops and bits and pieces too.

Ah, I didn't realise there was anywhere in Edinburgh that did that kind of thing, I may have to pop in and have a look sometime. Through in Edinburgh tomorrow to see a friend actually but don't think I'll be getting round to looking then.
One of the things I do feel I could do with is a cheaper, spare razor that I can use to practice honing on before I have to try it on my razor I'm shaving with. I know I shouldn't have to do any honing for a month or two hopefully but it's the thing that could most likely end in disaster

Originally Posted by pinklather

Samwise, Welcome, and congrats! 3rd shave w/ a str8. Anyone who doesn't remember it being intimidating has a short memory or they're lying. 'Grats on choosing quality.

From the sounds of it, you're off to a much better start than I had, and its true - it'll keep getting better. A year and a half later, and the enjoyment shows no sign of letting up.

'Hope to see more of you 'round here.

Haha, yeh it was slightly intimidating the first time. I'd read plenty about how to do it and had watched several videos but it doesn't quite prepare you for taking a sharp cutthroat razor to your face! It's going pretty well though, very pleased so far. The worst moment for the thinking about the sharpness I find is as it approaches my throat.
Having the most trouble at the moment with the upper lip and the chin, the more awkward areas but even they're getting better. Will see how it goes tomorrow

Speaking of which, I'd really better get to bed; catching the train just before 9.
Shall see you around and good night all!

Hi there from Stirling.Welcome to SRP.

Hi, quite a few Scottish members on here it turns out. Not sure why but I had assumed there would be hardly any for some reason.

Getting a better lather with my soap recently after deciding not to try to lather up in the wooden bowl with the soap but to get some on the brush and then lather up in a ceramic bowl from the kitchen for just now. I could definitely see myself purchasing a nice shaving bowl just for that purpose in the future. The cream on the other hand is realy easy to get a good lather with, and is also easier in the bowl compared to the first time I did in a smallish cup.

However, I'm still having issues with shaving the chin. The rest of the face I've got going pretty good now, no nicks or cuts and as smooth as a snooker ball (sooooo smooth, love it!) but the chin is still offering up challenges.
Its right on the curve at the bottom of my face that's the problem - the neck below the chin is fine and even to the sides of the chin aren't too bad but when I try to shave the one hardest bit the razor just doesn't want to move and it feels like if I try to shave with it as it is I'm going to remove half the skin from the area as well (or possibly more than half!). Have watched a few videos of people shaving the chin on youtube and the one that is on the DVD that came with my razor+strop and I don't see anything that others are doing that is that different from what I'm trying to do.
Any hints/tips more than welcome