Quote Originally Posted by AndyPic View Post
Hello All,
Not one ever to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have completed Shave Four of my Straight Razor career - without incident. So, the purpose of this post is to ask whether my beginners luck is just that, or is the worst yet to come.
Yes. The Force is strong in this one.

Quote Originally Posted by AndyPic
Before commenting, here are some background details:
To give you a feel for my beard, I can last approximately two days without shaving if necessary; never a five o'clock shadow. For business appearances however, I would shave every day.
Slow growth rate or flimsy, thin facial hairs?

Quote Originally Posted by AndyPic
Now, after stropping, I can shave with and against the grain with no issues. My only problem is the chin and jaw line that require a safety razor pass as I have yet to find harmony in these areas with the straight razor.
You need to describe your beard growth pattern along the jaw line. Some people pull the skin up or down to avoid shaving along the jaw (harder to do with the difficult to stretch chin area) and seem to do fine. I personally do much shaving along the jaw and find a very sharp edge that cuts cleanly without incident to be important (I'm doing mostly along, not strokes upwards or downwards, for my WTG strokes I'll pull the skin up, then catch the ones under the jaw by pulling my chin in and pulling the skin down and use upward strokes for a pseudo-ATG on those pesky jawline hairs).

Quote Originally Posted by AndyPic
I had minor burn after my first shave, none since. No ingrown hairs, no blood during the shave. My shaves are like none I have ever experienced - close, smooth and very satisfying.

The only thing that comes to mind is the time I now spend shaving - from strop to final wash is about twenty minutes - give or take. Previous to this, I was shaved, showered and perfumed in fifteen minutes.

So, those are the clues. Should I call for transfusions for future shaves? Am I on a solid path to straight razor nirvana? Is the worst yet to come?
[consulting magic shave ball] No. Yes. Most likely, but all signs indicate only minor problems or setbacks.

Quote Originally Posted by AndyPic
Andy
Get yourself a shaman or other qualified metaphysician to protect you from the scores of jealous open razor newbies who may curse your success. You know there's even more of them this time of year with the gifts and resolutions...