Well boys, if I die tomorrow I can go knowing that I'm of the few people I know who has officially shaved with a str8 razor. I got home and my Dovo Special 6/8 was waiting for me with the 3" red strap (Thank you Lynn from SRD). I got home and watched a couple youtube shaves again (I'm starting to feel like I know the guys shaving personally .... wonder what they're having for supper.... I'm hungry!!). I took a hot bath (that's right.... I'm a bath man. Longggggggg and Hottttttttt!!!) I got the equipment out and got to work. I learned something "immediately". I shouldn't have had the rough, course, tough 3 day growth to start with. Not sure what I thought it would be like but it didn't just "slice" through like I thought it would (I'm sure bad technique since the razor is supposed to be shave ready from Lynn). I had some areas that went smooth and nice and some didn't . I tried to maintain a 30° as best I could. I was originally only going to shave a couple inches but thought "what the heck". The only area I "chickened out" on was the very edge of my chin. Just didn't feel right each time I attempted it so I didn't push it. I saw that some of my shave was nice and close and actually BBS but some wasn't very good even though I could tell I had shaved it so I decided to make try XTG for another shave. WOW. What a difference it makes when you're not trying to cut through the Amazon Jungle on your first attempt!!! The 2nd shave the razor basically just glide nice and smooth through "MOST" of it. I ended up with a shave that "looks" nice and smooth and "most" of my face is bbs. My favorite part is that my confidence is 10 fold. I had one tiny nick (wasn't really sure it was a nick at first) on my chin. I could barely see the speck of blood. I wiped it away and never saw it again so it couldn't have been much. Now for the "post-shave" I splashed on cold water (did I mention well water with the weather the way it's been?). My pores snapped shut so fast that it drawed my toes up and caused a cramp lol. I splashed on some after shave and it wasn't too bad considering. I put on some Nivea Sensative Post Shave Balm and all is good. It's not burning or irritated although I can tell that I shaved. I'm so glad that all went so well considering it's my very first shave with something besides a Mach III. Like I said, at least it gives me confidence to know I " CAN" shave without killing myself.
Well .... the journeys begun and now it's just a matter of practice and enjoying the ride. Thanks so much for all your help through you posts and encouragement. Woooooooo-Hoooooooo.
