Hello all,

I am new to straight razor shaving. I've known for quite a while, over a year, that I wanted to go the straight razor route but kept putting it off, continuing to use my Merkur DE. A little over a week ago I joined SRP and started lurking. A short time after that I started asking questions. I fairly quickly decided that I needed to start at Straight Razor Designs (SRD). I posed a couple of questions to Don at SRD and he steered me to the Ralf Aust 5/8" for a little over $100. I kept suggesting more expensive razors and he kept coming back with the Ralf Aust 5/8". Well, long story short, I ordered the Ralf Aust 5/8", with bridle leather strop, Monday evening and it arrived today.

I excitedly opened the box and have to say that I was a little shocked, not disappointed, but shocked. I don't know why but I was expecting the razor to be larger/longer/heavier. After shaving with it within the last hour I am very glad that it is exactly as is.

I am a knucklehead but learn pretty quickly from my mistakes. I jumped right in this evening. No shower before shaving. No facial prep before shaving. I just jumped....right....in! Mistake. Not the worse thing in the world but I have no doubt that had I completed the pre-shave prep not only would my beard have come off easier but the entire experience would have been better. I was eager to try my new razor out. I put soap on a small portion of the right side of my face, favoring the fact that I am right handed. I touched the razor to my face and gently pulled it through the soap. Dang! I was removing whiskers! Excitedly, I soaped the rest of my face and repeated the procedure. I WAS SHAVING WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR!!! And...I was doing a pretty good job! Taking my time, I moved around my face, applying more soap when/where necessary. When all was said and done it turned out pretty darn good. A couple of nicks under the nose and one place that I had to touch up with my Merkur but, overall, very happy not only with my new Ralf Aust but also with my ability to use it appropriately. I don't know why I waited so long to do this.

Here are a couple of photos:

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