Greetings folks,

My name is Brian, I'm 35, have been active duty military for 17 years and counting, and I just got in to straight razor shaving.

I've been quietly stalking these forums, youtube, and other resources researching this topic, and I owe a big 'thank you' to everyone. A big thank you to Mr. Abrams, everyone here at Straight Razor Place, 'geofatboy' at ShaveNation, and the folks at Vintage Blades LLC. so far.

Personally, my thought on straight razor shaving is about skill, satisfaction, a better shave, saving money over time, and honestly... some 'me' time. For now, I'm learning, and I still have my cartridge shaving method as my primary shave (hopefully soon to be backup) for times where I cannot dedicate the time to straight razor shaving while I learn.

I've been going to the barber shop for most of my life. Being in the military, I much prefer to get my 'high and tight' hair cut from a barber, they know exactly what to do unlike most stylists (nothing against stylists, that's just my experience). There's a certain sense of 'home' with the sights and smells, tools of the trade, and conversation that you only get at the barber shop. You actually get to know people a little, and interact, which sometimes feels like a foreign concept today with 24/7 overload of information and electronic distractions that seem to make human to human contact a thing of the past or unnecessary to some.

After much reading I snagged the Lynn Abrams DVD "World of Straight Razor Shaving" as a place to start, and after watching it, it's certainly much more than a starting place for me. I think I got myself a pretty respectable straight razor shaving kit, along with everything to hone, strop, and take care of the blade. My first straight razor: Dovo Ebony 5/8" Stainless Steel Straight Razor - professionally honed by Lynn Abrams from Vintage Blades LLC.

In the long run, I plan to save money by not having to purchase disposable cartridges, and getting a better shave and sense of satisfaction in the process. At the same time I'm not known to buy the cheapest products, I tend to go for the best quality and value that I know to get at the time.

I'll likely read much more than I post until I feel that I really have something new to say, I'm sure whatever questions I have as a newbie have been answered time and time again in these forums.

I hope to be a part of the community! Thanks for reading.