Thread: First straight shave

Tuesday, 4.20.10

I'm stoked about today's shave...

Kell's Original Pre Shave Soap
Semogue #830
Real Shaving Company Sensitive SC
6 drops of pure Glycerine
Genco Master Barber straight razor
Dickinson's Witch Hazel
A healthy splash of Pinaud's Lilac Vegetal in honor of the occasion


Well, this morning was the long anticipated first straight razor shave... and it went off (nearly) without a hitch!
The Genco Master Barber Straight came in the mail yesterday. Another find that cost me all of $10.50. I spent a few hours yesterday scrubbing and polishing, honing and stropping. It was reasonably sharp as it came, but I spent some time with it on the 8K and 12K Naniwa SuperStones. It subsequently felt "sticky" on the thumb, and passed a HHT (still not sure if these tests are really conclusive, but i'm learning).
So.. today was to be the day. I added 6 drops of glycerine to the SC for safety's sake, and had at it! It went perfectly smoothly... and I was amazed by how well it all came together. I've been preparing and adding pieces of the puzzle in preparation for some time, and it all came together for me!
I can honestly say that i got as close a shave as I ever got with a DE, and some spots a little closer, but (we knew there had to be a "but") the spike point did catch me under my right ear, and i knew it immediately, but there was nearly no blood.
I used the trick of wiping the soap off the razor on a sponge that I picked up from "Chinensh" on another forum.

So, all in all, I'm still stoked. I used a razor cleaned, honed and stropped by myself. And at the moment, I'm pretty pleased with myself... I'm on my way to self sufficient shaving.

Congrats! It sounds like you're off to a very successful start..!

Its very satisfying to hone a razor and then shave with it, so well done! Dont worry about the nicks, we all get them from time to time. Thats just what happens when you put the sharpest steel known to mankind on your face..! It may be worth investing in a styptic pencil, just to stop any weepers or nicks you may get.

Heres to many more honings and shavings!

Thank you,

And I must say that I owe it to all the fine members here that I've picked up tips from.
Not just Lynn, who's info and videos I've pored over, but many other members also, in all their videos and posts. A great idea I picked up was the sponge trick from Chimensch... I think I'll use that all the time.. It just seems like a natural.

So, thanks to all the members here for a very successful "first shave!" I've still got very much to learn, but I feel that I'm off to a good start..

Blackntan,

I can't congratulate you enough. That first shave has all of the elements of a good novel:

A Cast of Characters
Anticipation
Suspense
Fear
Intrigue
A Love Affair
And, Finally Blood

Oh yeah, and a Hero that always wins!

David

Hi blackntan'
+1 on above -congrats on your first shave!
It's great when it all comes together- the honing -the shave etc.
Seems you have done your homework well before diving in- as well as putting together a nice pre/after shave set.
Nice photo!!
I have a square point and did the same thing first time - cut the lobe on both my ears!! -ouch! Boy you do have to respect this blade!
Once again well done - and may you have many more successful shaves.
Kind regards,
Noggs

Whoot good job

Smoother than my first attempts at self sufficient shaving haha. I think the only razor I ever got honed by someone else was from one I bought from Bill Ellis in my early days, a Gold Bug .

It's very satisfying to do it all your self, for me at least

Again Congrats

Congratulations BnT! You are off to a great start. Wait until you feel fluent with achieving BBS results

Pabster

Thanks to all for the encouragement!

I'm just taking my first baby steps... I've still got alot to learn and need to work on my new skills every day. I'm ready for the inevitable days wherte things will not go quite accoeding to plan also, but I'm in it for the long haul.

Thanks again to everyone here for the help and support!

Congrats B&T , Ain't it just great, especially when you do it all start to finish. [buy, clean, hone ,polish , shave].

Wow. Congrats to your first shave!

Amazing that you did all that on your first shave!