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A Hello w/ several pictures
Greetings everyone, I'm a medium-term lurker who finally decided to take the plunge thanks to some well-timed gifts from family. I converted from electric razors to DE Safety razors about 1-2 years ago. The improvement in my quality of shaves has been at least a full 100%. My entire shaving life I had constant irritation and ingrown hairs on my neck and that has been a thing of the past since switching to wet-shaving with both new and vintage DE razors. Even with that success I had an interest in straight razors for some time and I recently had a birthday and some wonderful family provided me with some start-up equipment which I wanted to share with the community for feedback. :)
First up, to show you what I'm coming from, here are a couple of images of my DE collection.
First, my 'dry' (non-used and thus less humid) bathroom display rack for some of my everyday shavers
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Second, my current daily rotation:
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Finally, the gifts I received last week. The scuttle is actually mine- a dirty bird 1.5 which I love... Then a paddle strop from Straight Razor Designs and a Boker 5/8, half-hollow, stainless with olive wood scales also from SRD. Also, family sent along a 'new' used once or twice Dovo 6/8, full-hollow, stainless with ebony wood scales- not sure where the Dovo was purchased as it is newish (bought 5-7 years ago) and never used by the family member who bought it. The Boker obviously came ready to shave from SRD. The Dovo was supposedly 'shave-ready' at one point but I'm not so sure about its current state.
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So anyways, today I used the Boker to shave the flat areas of my face mostly from my sideburns down to the edge of my jaw. Managed to get a fairly close shave through multiple days of growth with no cuts or nicks...granted over a small and very simple area of my face. I did manage to use both my right and left hands but it was slow and not so steady.... I figure until I can get smooth, comfortable, and confident with the easiest parts of my face there is no reason to turn my chin and neck into hamburger so I finished them up with one of my DE razors.
So finally a few comments and questions for the very generous community here at SRP: First, I have to say, I was impressed that I was able to shave anything successfully...as I hadn't been very hopeful, plus I had a good deal of facial hair growth. Despite the fact that I'm sure the Boker came very very sharp I felt that the razor did pull a bit or it simply wasn't as smooth of a feel as my DE razors... I'll assume my timid/beginners form plus the possibility that even my very slow, gentle, careful stropping might have some how dulled the edge. Finally, a question, with the Boker being stainless, do I need to oil between daily uses if it is thoroughly dried? or is that only for storage or the daily care of non-stainless blades?
Ok...I know that's a ton of writing...thanks for bearing with me!
P.S. Family also sent along the DVD from Lynn which I have watched...and found very helpful.
