My wife said, "So how does it feel to shave your face with a weapon?" That pretty much describes her perspective of the ritual. I told her it is NOT a weapon when in the right hands and it takes time to master the use.

I have assembled an ensemble of different razors from different manufacturers that were acquired thru several means (antique dealers, flea markets, eBay and such). I have been following various forums here for the proper way to clean, hone, strop and prepare each razor.

I am building the arsenal of sharpening equipment based on feedback here.

However, the most important part about the entire process is learning the proper shaving technique for my face using a straight. My father started me on a safety razor years ago and I am now reminded of how careful one must be with the straight shaving technique. Slooooow down and pay attention!

Everything comes down to the touch and the approach: sharp ready shave razor with as straight a blade as possible, face prep, good lighting, use both hands, get the angle right and shave. Then learn from that experience, write down the mechanics afterward and evaluate this shave. I have shaved 8 times now using different blade weights and designs. I am finding what works and what doesn't work on my face. I have a very long way to go before I can give any advice to anyone else but patience is at the top of the list.

After shave #1 & #2 I was wondering if this was the right way to go. After #7 & #8, I look forward to each experience (except for the CHIN)!