Don't Give Up!

[VanHelsing]

I first committed to traditional shaving a year and a half ago. Although I'd started the journey with a DE razor (then several), it had always been my intention to eventually end up using a straight. It was something about the tradition along with the art and skill needed to use this refined shaving tool that drew me. After a relatively brief time of DE shaving, I bought my first straights, a rescaled NOS Wapienica from a fellow DE shaver and a vintage Seehund. It didn't go well, I lost patience very quickly and I shelved them, resigning myself to the fact I didn't have the necessary skill to take up this gentlemanly art. Months went by and those straights sat in their rack on my book case. Every so often, I'd look at them, then pick up one of my DE's and enter the bathroom. Eventually, I mastered the DE and got to the point where I could get a smooth irritation free shave with three passes quite quickly but without having to rush. It wasn't enough...The whole point of me taking up the brush and bowl was so I could call myself a straight razor shaver. I liked the thought of using tradition shaving equipment but I loved the idea of using a straight and so I began again, this time taking on board the advice given to me by some of the wonderful gentleman of this forum.

The best piece of advice I was given? Patience, pure and simple. That was a few months ago now.

The results I'm getting? A comfortable two pass straight razor shave and a feeling of achievement.

None of this would've been possible without this kindest of forums and the gentle encouragement from it's members. I don't post much as I don't feel as though I have the authority or knowledge to do so, but I always visit and read.

So...to the SRP veterans who give their knowledge and time so freely...

Thank you.

To any newbies like myself...well...

...Patience.