Bonjour from the greater Quebec City area in Canada!
As a teen, I started shaving with an electrical razor. One day, as my blades were dull, I decided to try a wet shave, like my friend. Like him, I tried the Schick Tracer's flexible double blade (remember the ad with the bowling ball: you're face is not square...). After a few days of learning, I loved it! In fact, if they still made blades for those, I would still love it! What I like about it is the control I have on the blade, unlike all the newer models where the head pivots too much or, worse, which need to be "pulled like a brush". I understand that shaving is an art, but I don't want to paint my face, I want to shave it!!! :)
A few years ago, after reading a few articles about it, I decided to buy a few straight razors on eBay to spice up my routine and develop and interest in a hobby. I bought three and got one given to me by someone who had inherited it from a old man who had passed away. I bought a strop and a few honing stones. To make a long story short, the razors were not "shave ready" and I was not "straight razor ready"... I don't think I ever managed to make these razors sharp enough to shave with. Getting some info online didn't cut it for me. :p After a while, trying on and off, I quit trying and ended up selling my stuff to make a few bucks and some room in the house, to my wife's greatest pleasure!
Over a year ago, I bought an old Gillette safety razor. I tried it and it didn't do the trick for me. I tried to sell it back, but didn't manage to. After reading on shaving with a safety razor, I decided to give it another try on my days off. After a while, I got the hang of it and am now using it most of the time.
This week, I came across a website where some guy in Quebec City is selling straight razors and other manly shaving supplies. On his site, he put a link to someone else's shop who sharpens and hones knives and straight razors! My dream of successfully trying a straight edge is still alive, I've known that all along. With all due respect for the devoted people on this forum, I also knew that my dream would only happen having a "real person" to help me "live". The help over the net will also help, but I need some face to face practical instructions first.
So I don't have a straight edge yet, but I'm back in the quest for a fun way to get a good shave! My work requires me to do a lot of thinking and I find that shaving is a great time to slow down my thoughts and make room for great ideas. I am really looking forward to learning and interacting with the guys on this forum. Thank you beforehand for sharing and bearing with me!
