After-Action Report: I cannot remember a more terrifying -- initially and ongoing -- experience, as my first straight-razor shave, which I finished, scant minutes ago.

A Red Imp #133 (Solingen, for Morrison Mfg, somewhere between 5/8-6/8), recently honed by someone referred-to on the pages of the SRP Forums (don't ask) -- the edge passed the thumb/nail tests, but what little hair remains on my head is #2-clipper short, and there's no Missus in my life (three were enough -- don't ask).

I showered, I prepped, I lathered... and I was scared. I don't know which sucks more -- mirrors, or not being ambidextrous. So many different angles and face paths!

After the first tentative downward strokes on my right side, I let myself make longer ones. Buttah! But then the left side, and how to contort my body? Should the tip face my left ear, or the heel? "Fear Factor"? Let 'em eat worms.

Shaving down my neck was, surprisingly easy; shaving down my chin was... interesting. Shaving my upper lip, which I wanted to keep, became an exercise in turning my right hand backwards, and also going from left-to-right.

Only one little nick, on Phase I.

Re-prepped my face, lathered a second time (yeah, I'd been cleaning off the razor... gave me time to get my nerve back). Shaving up, against the grain (mostly). Much easier! But I wasn't going to mess with my chin or upper lip.

Only two little nicks, on Phase 2.

Re-prepped my face, lathered a third time. Shaving across the grain, along my jawline and chin. I just couldn't get the angle right, and I heard it. Enough.

No nicks on Phase 3.

Rinsed the razor's blade and set it aside, on top of a folded-up hand-towel.

Re-prepped my face, lathered a fourth time. Finished with my used Winn-Dixie two-blade disposable.

Two nicks on Phase 4, but it was the fifth time I'd used the disposable (yeah, I just disposed of it).

Hot rinse, cold rinse, styptic pencil. Rinsed-and-dried the razor, wrapped it in a paper towel, then back into the small-cell bubble-wrap pouch. Cleaned-up the counter top, rinsed-out and hung-up the brush, drained the soap-bowl.

Conclusions: I hadn't shaved since Tuesday evening (I work-out at the gym between 1600-1800, so I shave after I return and shower). Perhaps the almost-four-day wait was too long? Maybe the water from the bathroom tap just isn't hot enough, and I need to adjust the temperature to a higher setting? I might need to re-evaluate how I prep/re-prep my face -- I ordered some shaving towels from ClassicShaving, and with hotter water and more time with the hot-towel, things might improve. I use Emily's "Outdoor" glycerin-based shaving soap, with a very nice badger shaving brush from the ShavingShop (Shameless Plug: only two of the Andreas Silvertip's left). The lather was thick-and-rich (like Ragu spaghetti sauce), but not hot-hot. Again, the water temperature. Should I have stropped the blade before using it, this first time?

OK, story-time's over. I'll appreciate feedback, and "Yes, I've read lots of the postings on the site's many forums," so I won't be offended it folks post links to past threads, rather than repeating them here.

In terms of "sphincter-tightening" and just plain "rush", this was on a par with doing a free rappel off the skids of a UH-1D, from 200 feet above the Polar Ice Cap (but that was 33 years ago, so this was, maybe, even cooler).