Thread: Lurker stepping out of the closet...

Hi guys!

As is customary, I thought I should spend my first post on introducing myself.

I'm a 35yo guy from Norway. My occupation is with software development, mostly doing 3D graphics visualization systems targeting the oil sector. I've been a computer geek since I was 11-12. Of late interests (the last couple of years), I have been studying up on peak oil (peak everything actually) and the global credit crunch, and have as a consequence been pondering about how a more low-energy / sustainable lifestyle would have to affect me. One of the more pleasant ideas that has come out of that ongoing exercise is the idea that I should probably learn how to shave with a straight-razor

Straight-razors have fascinated me since I saw them as a young boy in the movies. I'm a movie buff. Thank gosh it wasn't smoking that caught my fascination, and no - it was not because of the movie Reservoir Dogs. Straight-razors just seemed so classy. Since they're not for sale at supermarkets I never got around to acquire one though. I've therefore been a Gillette safety-razor junkie all my life (I've also had electric shavers but never been satisfied with the results). But a month or so ago, standing there with a new vibrating fusion turbo in my hand, feeling a bit ridiculous, I finally woke up. Things weren't meant to be this way!

A few weeks ago I had to go to Pittsburgh on a business trip, and while there I decided to really keep my eyes open. Checking out the strip district, I finally found a shop that actually had some, and I ended up with a $15 made in China "American Master Cutlery" stainless steel straight-razor, and later that day a brush, soap and bowl set from a CVS pharmacy. I read up on technique, went to the bathroom, lathered up, and set myself up for a pretty big disappointment. Back to the internet and some reading later I found out there was such a concept as a "shave-ready" razor, which my straight-razor definitely was not. Also, the fact that it was stainless steel was also probably not such a good thing - it might even be one of the brands listed here as no good, although I can not be sure.

Some studying later and I ordered amongst other things a shave-ready "Dovo Ebony Spike Point, 5/8" Carbon Steel Straight Razor" from Vintage Blades and received it at my hotel a few days later. I postponed shaving with it until I was back home, but I continued lathering with the soap and brush.

So this monday, I started the process of switching teams. The stock market seems to be reacting favorably, so this must clearly be the way to go Monday I did mainly the cheeks WTG and tried one stroke on the neck, and used the safety razor for the rest. Having just flown over the Atlantic and not shaving since the morning before the flight, I more or less had two-day beard-stubs that morning. Weird experience - felt like I could hear every hair being cut. No stropping beforehand (as Lynn intended) since this was the first shave. After he shave, I put some gun-oil on the blade before storing it in the box it came in. Today I started with stropping 15 times on the leather side only. I did the whole face, neck and all, except the chin where I still had to pull out the safety razor. The cheeks I also did ATG. I'd say it was a definite improvement over the usual Gillette treatment, but putting the care to stretch the skin in various directions can also be done with a safety-razor to get a better shave with them as well. I currently have a mustache and a soul patch, so I have been staying clear of those areas for now. Can't wait to get rid of the safety-razor clutter around the sink though, so I will probably tackle the chin problem tomorrow I guess, and if that goes well, it is bye-bye safety-razor. So that's my beginnings. No cuts so far. And it clearly does something with the morning routine, and I like it.

Still lacking in technique and confidence, one of the things I struggle a bit with is that I feel I shouldn't use as much pressure as I do, but trying to relax the pressure, I sometimes make the blade start skipping (jumping off and connecting a bit too sudden some millimeters later), particularly in the less trivial parts of the face where I don't stretch the skin as good. Things went definitely better today than yesterday, so I guess I will get a better hang of it with each shave. I don't know if beard strength would affect this, in which case I would say mine is pretty strong. Or holding angle? Or maybe it's the razor sharpness? Or all... The other thing I struggle a bit with is how to hold the razor when on the left side of my face. This should also become easier with more practice I guess, so nothing to worry about.

As for the stainless steel razor, I haven't given up on it. I'll hone it when I get around to it and see how it fares. The scales on it seems way too heavy though, now that I have used the Dovo, so it might end up just being for show (it matches the brushed stainless steel bathroom-accessories I already have), or if it becomes a good shaver, I might use it as a traveling kit razor or maybe even try to rescale it myself. Time will tell.

Now, this place is a gold mine of good information. The fact that it exists was really helpful in taking the necessary steps to start the switch, and I hope to be able to contribute to it in my own way. There won't be any guru-advice from me though for some years...

See you around,

Larsarus

Hey there Larsarus!

Welcome aboard! If you had removed an "r" from your moniker you could've entitled this thread "Stepping out of the grave!"

Another Norwegian?? <g>

Welcome aboard. Sounds like you're off to a great start, and that you've got patience. A very important trait in learning.

For your 'other side of the face' might I suggest holding your razor with your opposite hand. IMO it's not very difficult, and you really only need it along your cheek, since the rest of that side should be visible holding it in your stronger hand.

OT: I love Trondheim. One of my favorite cities in the world. My aunt lives in Levanger, and teaches at the university. My cousin, Stine Pettersen lives in Trondheim and works in the tech field.

Oh and GO Rosenborg!

Welcome Larsrus, good to have you. I am new to straight razor shaving as well but what I can tell you is that technique and confidence goes a LONG way. I too had a hard time grasping the required technique - this is not to say that I currently have a flawless technique, as I do not - and because confidence goes hand in hand with technique, it is a matter of time and patience. What helped me in the aforementioned areas was to go slow and build up to the more difficult areas. I tried to "push" the limits of what I had done before. Within a month's time, I was shaving my entire face without much of a problem - I have never cut myself, which I attribute to patience. In all honesty, I find I have a harder time stropping the razor then I do with the actual shaves...haha.

Best of luck Larsrus,

Jay

Originally Posted by bpave777

For your 'other side of the face' might I suggest holding your razor with your opposite hand. IMO it's not very difficult, and you really only need it along your cheek, since the rest of that side should be visible holding it in your stronger hand.

Hmm, that's an idea, at least as more confidence kicks in Will go for that solution...

Originally Posted by bpave777

OT: I love Trondheim. One of my favorite cities in the world. My aunt lives in Levanger, and teaches at the university. My cousin, Stine Pettersen lives in Trondheim and works in the tech field.

Oh and GO Rosenborg!

Cool. I'm a big Rosenborg-fan, season ticket and all When the autumn weather starts getting bad, and Rosenborg starts getting good, and they qualify for UEFA cup or CL, autumn in Trondheim becomes very livable indeed

Don't know your cousin, but I am sure she is very nice

Larsarus

Nice to see another "Norskie" onboard.

Welcome!
The Dovo sounds great but watch your ears with the spike point!

As bpave777 said, switching hands is worth a go. I'm very right handed & would not have dared use the left before it was recommended to me, but if you start slow till you get used to it, it's easy.

Very impressed & slightly in awe of your grasp of a second language!

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Welcome!
The Dovo sounds great but watch your ears with the spike point!

Yes. My sideburns are disappearing fast at the moment - I pray I get the situation under control before I get to the ears...

Today I didn't achieve any progress as far as technique goes - the neck and chin is still really difficult. Attemptet to use my left hand on my left cheek, but got scared and had to use my right instead - not enough confidence yet. I'll just have to be patient for now. On a positive note, I got a feeling of warm/hot lathering today which I though "hey! this was nice" during, and then I read about there being special mugs for this in one of the forums, so that sounds really interesting...

Larsarus

What a great start! I like that you see the disposable items as clutter now. My wet shaving gear must be installation art.

X

Originally Posted by xman

What a great start! I like that you see the disposable items as clutter now. My wet shaving gear must be installation art.

X

Exactly!

Today, I had my first complete shave without touching the disposable gear I'll stow it away now to try to eliminate the possibility of falling back. The left-hand-for-left-cheek trick also worked this morning - "easy peasy" - don't know what the problem was yesterday, and the result on the left cheek was almost as good as my BBS-shaved right cheek. Didn't achieve a BBS neck and chin, nor did I expect to, and I even got a small red spot on my neck (my first nick) but I ended up totally presentable. Stropping today was 20 on the linen side and 20 on the leather side (from 15 and 10 the two days before), and I'll probably increase that to 30 each now that I feel confident that I'm not destroying the edge. Hopefully I can keep that routine going for a month before I need to try sharpening it on my DMT (or a Norton 4K/8K if my local sword-shop Walhalla.no can get hold of some by then).

This experiment has gone way beyond my expectations...

Larsarus