Hey there all, been a lurker on B&B for quite a while but first time poster...
Began shaving as a teen with cartridge razors. Always had issues with razor burn and bumps after shaving. Always hated shaving do to the irritation and general pain associated with it. about 4 years ago I got intrigues by an art of shaving store in the local mall after seeing a man getting a straight razor shave in the window of the store.
I started researching and decided to give a Safety razor a try., WOW, what a difference it made. I purchased a Merkur Futur, Brush, soap, etc... and have been shaving with the Futur ever since. No more razor burn and no more bumps. Shaving became a Zen like experience. I take the time (When I can) and really enjoy the entire wet shave process.
Recently I have become obsessed with watching and learning about straight razors. I always wanted to use a straight razor but never had the chance to try one. I know all about the Honing and stropping process that goes along with owning a straight razor and I think that was the main reason I didn't pursue it any further. I'm 43 years old and have seen the barbers go from straight razors in the shops to using shavette style razors.
In the past few weeks I started considering getting a shavette but always thought they looked cheap and didn't think I would enjoy using one and had heard that they were not the same as using a straight razor and were not very different from shaving with a safety razor.
A few weeks ago I saw a video of a gent using a Feather artist club SS folding razor and again it intrigued me. I thought it looked much nicer than other shavettes I had seen. I did more research and began to really think this might be my answer to getting a straight razor type shave but not have to deal with the Honing/stropping. I took the plunge and ordered a black one with a pack or Feather Pro blades.
It arrived today.
Got home from work and nervously had a shave with it. I purposely didn't shave yesterday or this morning as I know the Feather SS was arriving today. I say nervous because it was they first time I had used or even held any type of straight razor.
Took the first pass down my cheek and was quickly relieved. No blood. Continued onto the rest of my face. wow, loving this razor. Did two passes, one with the grain and one against. This is the closest shave I have ever had. No irritation, burning and sitting her typing a few hours later, no bumps. I only got one little nick on my neck due to a bump that I didn't even realize was there.
I still have a lot of work to do on my technique as finding the right angles and hand/arm placement is very different from a safety razor and will take some time to get used to but I look forward to mastering the art.
I know is not a "straight" razor, but it's a first step. Maybe a straight true straight in my future.
So I decided to join B&B tonight to share my journey and since I will be reading and learning a lot more now, I figured I would introduce myself and thank the forum members for all of the information I have found on B&B thus far.
-Gromet
Began shaving as a teen with cartridge razors. Always had issues with razor burn and bumps after shaving. Always hated shaving do to the irritation and general pain associated with it. about 4 years ago I got intrigues by an art of shaving store in the local mall after seeing a man getting a straight razor shave in the window of the store.
I started researching and decided to give a Safety razor a try., WOW, what a difference it made. I purchased a Merkur Futur, Brush, soap, etc... and have been shaving with the Futur ever since. No more razor burn and no more bumps. Shaving became a Zen like experience. I take the time (When I can) and really enjoy the entire wet shave process.
Recently I have become obsessed with watching and learning about straight razors. I always wanted to use a straight razor but never had the chance to try one. I know all about the Honing and stropping process that goes along with owning a straight razor and I think that was the main reason I didn't pursue it any further. I'm 43 years old and have seen the barbers go from straight razors in the shops to using shavette style razors.
In the past few weeks I started considering getting a shavette but always thought they looked cheap and didn't think I would enjoy using one and had heard that they were not the same as using a straight razor and were not very different from shaving with a safety razor.
A few weeks ago I saw a video of a gent using a Feather artist club SS folding razor and again it intrigued me. I thought it looked much nicer than other shavettes I had seen. I did more research and began to really think this might be my answer to getting a straight razor type shave but not have to deal with the Honing/stropping. I took the plunge and ordered a black one with a pack or Feather Pro blades.
It arrived today.
Got home from work and nervously had a shave with it. I purposely didn't shave yesterday or this morning as I know the Feather SS was arriving today. I say nervous because it was they first time I had used or even held any type of straight razor.
Took the first pass down my cheek and was quickly relieved. No blood. Continued onto the rest of my face. wow, loving this razor. Did two passes, one with the grain and one against. This is the closest shave I have ever had. No irritation, burning and sitting her typing a few hours later, no bumps. I only got one little nick on my neck due to a bump that I didn't even realize was there.
I still have a lot of work to do on my technique as finding the right angles and hand/arm placement is very different from a safety razor and will take some time to get used to but I look forward to mastering the art.
I know is not a "straight" razor, but it's a first step. Maybe a straight true straight in my future.
So I decided to join B&B tonight to share my journey and since I will be reading and learning a lot more now, I figured I would introduce myself and thank the forum members for all of the information I have found on B&B thus far.
-Gromet