Thread: An Odyssey

Okay, next question:

How do you dry your razor? As I understand it, you always want to minimize contact with the edge, as it is malleable and fragile. So it seems to me like any sort of toweling or wiping is out of the question. Hot air would oxidize it...really pure alcohol? It's flummoxing me, and I couldn't find anything in the Wiki.

(BTW, As far as Meyers-Briggs tests go, I'm as INTJ as they come...so I always, ALWAYS have a plan, and backups, and backups...so that it always (haha) goes well....prepare to see this manifest in SR shaving! Lot of queries!)

Wiping, keeping the edge away from the towel. Then do 10 rounds on the strop.

I saw excitedly in my SPO today after class a box from Classic Shaving; I nearly soiled myself with joy. *cough*

So I ran back to my dorm, boiled up a towel and some scaldingly hot water, and softened my beard, lathered up with my new, GIGANTIC Vulfix silvertip brush...and shaved with my Gillette Fusion.

But it was amazing. My skin feels so much softer and moister, without the 'slimy' feeling the canned foams leave behind. It just feels...smooth. And the feeling of building lather on the face with a brush is unreal! I'm never, EVER rubbing viscous foam from a can on my face again!


I can't WAIT to get my hands on a straight razor....1.5 weeks until payday...

After learning how to make a really nice lather I too will never go back to anything in a can. I just started out about 3 weeks ago and I'm sure once I get my technique and more experience I'll never go back to a electric razor or a store bought blade again. I always bought the top of the line Nerelco so the price of one of those is equivalent to the price of a really good straight. I bought a Thiers-Issard Sheffield Silver Steel Fully Hollowed "Singing" 5/8 Round Point and am very happy with it. Stay within your budget. I went a little overboard and probably didn't need to as a beginner.

Next question:
How do you clean your brush? Is there any hard, fast rule? I've been gentle 'milking' out the lather under hot running water, then gently turning the brush and shaking it lightly under slow, hot water. When no more lather comes out, I vigorously shake it until no more water flicks out, then put it in a stand hanging knot-up.
I ask because I'm a little paranoid about hurting my $90 baby, and for the first week it lost no hairs, but today it lost one while building the lather on my face. Am I doing something that damages the knot?

Thanks!

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything that could harm it. I'm a bit more vigorous getting the lather out of mine, but it sounds like you just have more patience & take the time to be a little more gentle. Keep an eye on the shedding, but it's probably just settling in.

Youre doing fine, its not unusual to lose a few hairs when the brush is new.

Glad to hear it! I LOVE this brush and soap- even thought I know they aren't the very best, they're so much better than anything I'd used before! Even with my Fusion razor I can get a super-close, comfortable shave...I get a lot of razor bumps on my neck, especially where I hold my viola, but...I've found the only thing more uncomfortable on the neck than razor burn is anything less than smooth skin!


I can't WAIT to get a strop and a straight!

This is a constant debate, but I prefer to store my brushes brush down. Now before anyone gets defensive I'll just say that for years I only used cheap boar brushes and stored them knot up by just standing them up on the handle. None of these lasted more than a couple years before losing most of their bristles. Then I rigged up a stand to hang the brush knot down and that brush lasted 6 years. I believe the difference was the change in brush storage orientation.
After switching to badger brushes, I don't believe badger brushes care which way they are stored. Their capillary action is such that the brushes dry out much more rapidly than boar brushes and that likely prevents degradation of the knot.

Brush Care- Rinse it in warm water, shake it vigorously exactly fifteen times and sit it down on its handle to dry. Stop Brush anxiety.

Razor- One Dovo Special Imitation Tortoise Shell 6/8 prehoned from Strait Razor designs. $114 you'll get the razor delivered swiftly, works fine, is ready out of box, brand new, nice looking, .Can't ask for more.

Strop- Tony Miller 3" Latiqo Heirloom WITH practice strop- use the practice strop UNTIL you can strop without nicking or cutting your strop to pieces.I'm not there yet. Strop works, is beautiful and regarded as the best.

Now sir your problems are solved. One newbie to another good luck , so far to me its too much fun .