Thread: One year anniversary!

Hello all!

I have been into straight shaving excactly one year now, and I guess I can't call myself a newbee anymore. I thought I would post some lines on how my journey so far has been:

The start: Moved Mach 3 to DE (a Merkur Progress) in a search for alternatives to boring shaves. Then started to read Badger & Blade and this forum, and got an interest in straight shaving. Ordered a straight and a poor man's strop at whippeddog.com.

Shaving technique: Too high expectations led to a lot of frustration the first week. Considered giving up the whole thing, but hung in there and results became better after 2-3 weeks. Fairly soon settled into a routine WTG, XTG and ATG on the cheeks. Can go ATG overall, but seldom bother. Shaving has become a joy. I guess doing a 3-pass shave with a Mach 3 will give an equal (or closer) shave, but who wants to do that?

Lathering: Used a lot of energy at first to lather in a bowl, perfect water ratio, etc. Now I don't bother any more, just whirl the brush in soap or mash some cream in my face with my fingers and than face lather. Good enough.

Stropping: I have really appriciated the value of proper stropping. After my stropping technique has improved and I invested in a quality strop, my razors are kept sharp as my wife's tongue.

RAD: After my initial purchase from Larry, I soon bought a beautiful wedge at the Classified. After that, the collection was quickly expanded with ebay straights (surprise). A lot of them was crap with rust near the edge etc, but some where ok that I have sanded and honed. Now I feel I am off the RAD hook, but occationally pick up a straight from ebay.

Honing: Fairly soon bought a set of Norton 220/1K, 4K/8K, and Naniwa 12K. After some trial and error, I am able to set a bevel and polish the edge to shave ready in most cases. It's really not that hard, but of course I use much longer time than the honing pros. I now have a rotation of 12 shave ready razors that I mostly have honed myself - that is a very pleasant feeling. And by that I have found my level - I think...

Soaps and creams: Yes. Too bad they last so long, as I really feel I don't need any more as I have enough for 10 years already. Buy more shelves maybe...

Use of this forum: Althoug I am not a frequent contributor on the forum, I swipe into the forum at a daily basis and enjoy reading the threads and occationaly post a comment. I like the style in a gentlemen's forum like this.

Conclusion: Like many others have stated before me, straight shaving has turned a boring have-to activity into a enjoyable hobby. I find a lot of aspects with this obsession appealing to me: The history associated with the razors, the feeling of occationally doing a good deal on the e-bay, the satisfaction with making a blade shave ready and the relaxing and classy shaving ritual itself. SWMBO approves my hobby, and benefits from a BBS each night (I am mostly an evening shaver). I am very happy that I found this site and discovered straight shaving. Thanks to all for valuable tips and inspiration along the way!

congrads todays my 2 yr anniversery as a srp member its been a fun jurney and i am looking forward to another great yr.

Great post, you should post more

Seriously though, it is always great to hear about the progress and enjoyment of the traditional shaves from the members on here.
As a side-note, I'm amazed at how many Norwegians have joined this forum, must be something in our cultural heritage

A couple words in jibberish:
Artig å lese din historie og erfaring i denne hobbyen, hvis du har tid, lyst og mulighet, har vi en stor samling på gang i Oslo.
Sjekk ut posten i forumet som omhandler møter og sammenkomster