Another Newbie Story

I an 48 years old and I took my first shave ever as a young teenager with my Grandad's Gillette DE. Shortly thereafter, I began shaving with a trac II and canned shave foam (yuck). Skip to present. I went back to DE shaving shortly before this past Christmas and have a 1939 Gillette Tech which I use regularly. I even turned my best friend on to DE shaving and gave him a ball end tech and a few packs of blades for it. Well, then we started looking at straights. He surprised me about 3 weeks ago by telling me that he was going to buy me a straight. Well, it came in the mail today. It is a DOVO Ebony in 5/8 and it's a thing of beauty. What a wonderful gift! And SHARP!! Couldn't wait to try it out, but I must admit to being somewhat apprehensive (trembling). When getting ready for work this evening I gave my whiskers a good long soak with HOT water for about 5 minutes, then whipped up a really nice lather using VDH puck with an extra shot of glycerin and my pure badger brush. I keep my soap in my great grandad's shaving mug which I use regularly. So, after slathering my mug with nice hot lather I began the process of shaving. By the way, there was some added pressure on me as my wife insisted on not only watching my first straight shave, but videoing it and taking some still pics as well. I found that getting the right angles to approach each part of my face with the blade will be the major thing but all went very well. No nicks, no burn, and only one slight weeper which didn't even require styptic. I wound up with a very good shave which is at least as good if not better than what I get with my Gillette Tech. Total time for this shave from starting to make my lather until completion of the shave was right at 18 minutes. I finished off with some shave balm from Lotions and Potions and my face feels great. I have watched a LOT of videos in preparation for this day and I must say a heart felt thank you for the great instruction and demos posted by our friends on the net. I ordered a strop this evening and it should be here in about a week. i'm already looking forward to my next shave. Thank you Gents for letting me share my story. And lastly, for any other newbies out there thinking of trying a cut throat.......jump right on in, the water's fine. Just take your time and be careful with the light sabre.

Firstly, congrats on a very successful first shave!

Secondly, welcome to SRP and a new addiction!

welcome srp and congratultion with your first shave.it is rare to have successfull first shave but it does happen.i think you have done your homework very well. Please enjoy with straight shaving and have a lot fun.gl

Welcome! Make us another video in a few months when you've got it all down.

Excellent story especially having a friend to give a gift of that quality .. nice!! Gratz on the shave and the turnout of your experience its a wonderful journey so enjoy :)

Welcome to SRP :)

Great first experience. Welcome!

Pabster

Welcome to our world :) And thanks for sharing!

Welcome to the straight razor world!

Oh, and dont fight those aquisition disorders, they're good for you..! :D