Blue Pill/Red Pill, or: Down the rabbit hole I go! (my shave journal)

[Stubblefield]

I have no idea how I started thinking about this, as I told myself I would grow a beard before I shaved with a straight. I spent two weeks thinking about trying a straight. I spent another week talking myself out of it.

I finally just gave in. Something in me is tired of trying to find the best DE blade and d*cking around with DE razors. Spend next two weeks looking at razors. New? Vintage? Almost pulled trigger several times on a new Dovo or Thiers, but keep reading and decide against it. Order first razors from Buca and Xillion. While I'm waiting, spend lots of time here and at SRP. Watch too many shaving videos.

Gold Dollar arrives. Without thinking, I practice my stropping. Bad idea.

First day shaving: I bowl lather as usual using the Napa Soap Co. soap, apply lather, then attempt cheek shaving. Crap, razor feels like a cheese grater. Manage to shave cheeks, working on angle. Opposite hand shaving feels weird. Really weird. Finish up shave with Ikon OSS. no cuts, face feels ok, but I'm bummed because of who the razor feels. Instinctively know something is wrong.

Three hours later, I absentmindedly rub one of my cheeks and realize that I have never had a shave this close. My cheek feels like a baby's you-know-what. Hmm, I must have done something right. This can't be all bad.

Next day, I doubt I have enough stubble to shave my cheeks, as yesterday's shave was so close. Shave anyway, paying careful attention to angle. This time I go with MWF. Feels better, but something still isn't right. Still, not a bad shave.

Watch another one of Lynn's videos. In it, he is face lathering. Decide to try that. Also watch a stropping video and it is then that I realized that when I initially stropped my razor I did not have the right angle and put way too much pressure on the blade. Blade will not cut arm hair. So I actually dulled my blade before I shaved with it. Makes sense now.

 

[buca3152]

For shipping I will rehone it for you. Send it asap as you don't want to try to learn to shave with a dull razor. PM me for address. It happens but we will try to avoid this going forward. You can strop very taught or you can use your strop on a flat surface to avoid rolling the edge. I will get it out asap for you.

 

[rockviper]

This is one of the reasons why many have (at least) two straights; so they can keep shaving while one is out for honing (or waiting to be honed once you pick up some stones). I think most of us have killed an edge by stropping, so there's nothing to feel bad about at all.

 

[AndroiDad75]

buca, that's a great offer. Dex, take him up on that offer quickly.

rockviper is right. All of us have done it. The good thing is you recognized it quickly and didn't get too many shaves on a dull blade and give it up.

 

[Stubblefield]

For shipping I will rehone it for you. Send it asap as you don't want to try to learn to shave with a dull razor. PM me for address. It happens but we will try to avoid this going forward. You can strop very taught or you can use your strop on a flat surface to avoid rolling the edge. I will get it out asap for you.

You are the best! It is my fault that I dulled it, not yours, and I would expect to pay you to rehone it. I was going to PM you to get your opinion on what I should do, plus I figured you could have a look at the edge and tell me what I did wrong. As it turns out, I happen to have picked up two other shave ready razors from members here so I am not stuck at this point. I'll PM you later, and thank you for your kind offer--the razor you sent me is absolutely beautiful!

 

[buca3152]

Glad you like it and the offer stand whenever. Good luck, it doesn't happen in a week or a month but a little every day.

 

[Stubblefield]

This is one of the reasons why many have (at least) two straights; so they can keep shaving while one is out for honing (or waiting to be honed once you pick up some stones). I think most of us have killed an edge by stropping, so there's nothing to feel bad about at all.

I may have gone overboard a bit--I might have picked up one or two (or more) blades in the meantime. Pix to follow.

I also picked up a set of stones from another member here, and have a few straights to practice on.

Comments are much appreciated, I feel better already!

 

[buca3152]

The honing forum is a great place to get advice on your stones use and lapping etc. Put a few pics up, we love hone porn!Lol

 

[Stubblefield]

The honing forum is a great place to get advice on your stones use and lapping etc. Put a few pics up, we love hone porn!Lol

Thanks, will do! I picked up a set of Norton combo stones, figured that would be a good set to start with as any. Also have a Henkels to practice on.

 

[Stubblefield]

DAY 2

I still didn't have another razor, soI tried using the pasted balsa and strop to touch up the Gold Dollar. Felt sharper, but still not sharp. Only attempted to shave cheeks, as I knew now I had a dulled razor. Finished up shave with Ikon OSS and a 3 shave old Gillette Super Stainless. Thanksfully, I can get a BBS shave with the Ikon.

Two razors arrive in the mail: a 13/16 Perfect Temper FW Engels and a 11/16 Monopol. Neither is shave ready. The Monopol will go to Buca when I send him my poor GD.


DAY 3

Luckily, another few packages arrived in the mail today. One was from NoahPictures, which contained two shave ready straights. I went with the R. Defosse since it looked a bit more friendly than the Filarmonica.

Still had a pretty close shave from yesterday but went ahead and shaved since I wanted to try a known sharp razor. Really worked on my prep today. I must have washed my face six times in the shower, and I spent a good long time face lathering with Vitos. I have been having good results with MWF, but am not convinced it is the soap to use right now. Today I felt like I got the blade angle right on my cheeks but still don't have it right on my neck. Have to remember to stretch the skin as well.

Even with a sharp blade, I feel like I am pulling the whiskers out of my cheeks. Skritchy is the term, I think. Whisker cutting with a straight feels nothing like the cutting you get with a DE blade. But todays shave feels much better, so much so that make a second pass on cheeks and neck, and finish with the DE. I probably should not have gone for the second pass, left side of face feels slick, almost too slick, tho there is no stinging with ASB and the shave feels great. I have a tiny bit of irritation on the neck but that is gone in a few hours.

Overall great results, so I'm happy.

 

[Stubblefield]

DAY 4

Took the day off. Perhaps it will be easier with two days growth?

Day 5

Razor: Filarmonica 13 Doble Temple Jose Monserrat Pou, 13/16
Stropping: None
Prep: Wash face in shower, Spent a bit of time face lathering with Vitos. Beard feels pretty soft.

Spent a bit of time on pre-shave prep today. Am convinced that the tugging I feel is related to my tough beard plus lack of adequate prep. I had received the Fili from NoahPictures at the same time the Defosse came in, but wanted to hold off on using it. I'm too new to be switching razors everyday, so 'm probably going to stick with the Fili for the next few days and keep everything else constant.

First pass: Still some tugging, but I seen to have the angle right. Tugging more pronounced on neck so I stop and make sure I'm stretching enough. Multiple re-lathers. I do a pretty good job on shaving my cheeks on first pass, but neck is a bit rougher. Second pass on neck goes well, as do cheeks. Try shaving around chin and do ok.

Touch up with DE: I went over the areas that I had shaved and barely pulled up anything in the way of leftover stubble. So I'm getting a great shave--it just feels weird and tuggy. I did not apply andy post shave balm. No cuts or nicks, tho I did inadvertently nick my finger with the blade. Blade is def sharp, thanks Noah. I don't think that taking a day off between shaves is the answer.

Three hours later? I would have to say this is my best shave ever. Skin is smooth, non-irritated, and I'm not thinking about my shave.

 

[Lmarkow]

That's a nice fili. The 13s are a great size. Also sounds like you're off to a great start. Stretching and keeping the spine very very close to your face will go a long way towards keeping your shave comfortable.

 

[Stubblefield]

That's a nice fili. The 13s are a great size. Also sounds like you're off to a great start. Stretching and keeping the spine very very close to your face will go a long way towards keeping your shave comfortable.

I really have to work on the stretch.

Funny thing, I always assumed my prep was pretty good, but going to a straight has forced me to re-evaluate my whole process. Also looking at different soaps and paying much closer attention to how they feel on my face. My best soap so far is Vitos, followed by Napa Soap.

I like the size of the Fili, it feels about right. I'm sure as I get better I'll be able to wield something a little smaller, but for now bigger seems to work well.

 

[pejay66]

Thx for the journal input. I just ordered a second razor and the Norton hone set from Whipped Dog. I've been using Bucca's strop on balsa board. Once I realized I was stropping incorrectly (was not rolling on the spline). It was better today, but will go MWF starting this week.

 

[Stubblefield]

Thx for the journal input. I just ordered a second razor and the Norton hone set from Whipped Dog. I've been using Bucca's strop on balsa board. Once I realized I was stropping incorrectly (was not rolling on the spline). It was better today, but will go MWF starting this week.

I also have one of Buca's stops and chromox impregnated balsa boards. Glad I went that route to start.

Day 6:

Shaved again with the Fili. It is getting easier to handle, no doubt. Stropped 50 passes beforehand, no linen stropping. Blade still feels very sharp. Today's shave was again with Vitos, I am loving how this soap performs at the moment. I tried a pre-face wash in the shower with a glob of Vitos, but my face felt draggy. Hmm.

Today made one pass on the cheeks and neck. Went pretty smoothly. Also tried around the chin and lip. Now I know why goatees were invented. Hard to get all the areas with the larger blade, I guess that will change as I become more experienced.

Still got a great shave.

 

[TheVez2]

Blue Pill/Red Pill... LOL,

Check this out: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/185325-The-Shav-trix

 

[AndroiDad75]

Dex,

That's a beautiful Fili

Keep the angle shallow, about a spines width from the skin, and if the blade is sharp the tugging will lessen. It's most like the angle/stretching that needs some work.

KJ, thanks for that link. That's great.

 

[Stubblefield]

Dex,

That's a beautiful Fili

Keep the angle shallow, about a spines width from the skin, and if the blade is sharp the tugging will lessen. It's most like the angle/stretching that needs some work.

KJ, thanks for that link. That's great.

Thank you for the comment, and KJ, I will check out that link. I have been experimenting with my angle, and feel like I am getting it more dialed in. I can feel when the angle is just right, But can't see it in the mirror just yet. Tugging seems less of an issue as each day passes.

Update: KJ, that link is exactly what I feel I have been going through! Funny, I didn't feel the same thing when I switched over to DE's.

Rob, wait till you see what I have inbound.

 

[Stubblefield]

Day 7

Shaved with the R. Defosse today. Stropped beforehand--10 fabric, 50 linen. Vitos soap.

Checks are getting much easier to shave, neck still needs some work. I was able to shave round the chin a bit, ended up with a few small nicks but they cleared up right away. Only went one pass today and cleaned up with a DE. Shave felt very close, no irritation. Third day on a NOS Wilkinson which I tossed.

Now that I have been shaving a week, I have to wonder: how is it that people can get 10 or more shaves from a DE blade? I can feel a huge difference now in the blade quality when going from shave #1 to shave #2 with a DE. Has straight shaving realigned my perception of what sharp means?

Day 8 (today)

In a huge rush this morning so had to use the DE. Tried a Personna Hospital in the OSS. I remember this blade being much sharper before, now it seems so-so. Broke out a new container of Santa Maria Novella, The stuff lathers almost as good and easily as Tabac, and performs as well. Eight hours later, and I have a full 5 o'clock shadow. It may have been a fast shave, but not a comfortable one.


Some goodies arrived for me today, the office manager wanted to know who was sending me Christmas Presents. New strop, soaps, and another razor.



Taking a gamble with a later model phili--will see how it turns out.

 

[AndroiDad75]

Oh man, someone got a Filarmonica. Did you grab it from the B/S/T or the bay? I'm hoping to get lucky and find one in an antique store, but I highly doubt it Plus if I did find one in my local antique stores, it would be priced as much as the bay anyhow - they are really expensive around here for shaving stuff, half of which has broken blades, etc...

You'll love the performance of the Tabac, and hopefully the scent works for you - it does for me.

What type of strop is that?