Well, that was only slightly terrifying

[thebilgerat]

So, my story is like many on here. I found B&B after a whim that I wanted to learn to straight shave. I have always wet shaved, starting with a Trac 2, then a Sensor, then the three blade jobby. Bought an EJ DE89 about two weeks ago and have been enjoying some good DE shaves with some feather blades.

On monday I decided that the DE was just the stopover for my original goal and bought a sight unseen whipped dog and poor mans strop.

Today it arrived and tonight I put all the lessons gleaned from obsessively reading every post and watching every movie I could about proper technique and taking it slow.

I did just the cheeks and a single pass. Kept the blade very shallow. It made hair cutting noises and it did take some hair, but mostly I concentrated on not slicing myself open. I made sure to give the non-dominant hand its turn and then finished with the EJ.

So excited to have finally embarked on this journey!

 

[Kentos]

Congrats! Believe it or not it becomes second nature pretty quickly, and you only get cut once in a while to remind you that you aren't shaving with cartridge or a DE.

 

[oakeshott]

It sounds like you'll do just fine. You took every piece of sage advice offered here for new shavers. Welcome to the dark side. Get some cookies while you're here.

 

[tomjr]

welcome brother to the dark side.

 

[Obiwan]

Congrats. The more comfortable and confident you get, the better it will feel. Stick with it.

 

[rockviper]

Good stuff!! Welcome aboard!

 

[jrp316]

Welcome to the dark side. Before long, you'll be whisker whipping like a madman with that straight.

 

[Mike H]

I remember my first straight razor shave, my hand was shaking! Wow, that was almost three years ago. Welcome to the club.

 

[jpcwon]

Very nice!! Welcome to B+B!!

 

[Bird_Flu]

Welcome to the wonderful world of straight razor shaving, this is where all the fun is!

 

[Monsieur Blaireau]

Welcome to the journey toward the best, comfiest shave you will know. Congratulations on taking the first step!

You have nothing to fear but new acquisition disorders.

 

[Shave_Rat]

Congrats! You are lucky you started into the straights so soon after picking up a DE. It means you won't have a large rack full of DEs that never get touched anymore in 6 months when you convert fully over to nothing but straights (unlike many of us here). lol

 

[fsturnz]

Welcome to straight shaving! I'm just over a hundred shaves in, and I'm learning something new with every shave. Keep watching the videos and reading the posts. Feel your face during the day, and find the trouble spots, then focus on finding an angle/hand/blade position that will shave that spot next time.

Isn't this a hoot!!!

 

[imfallen_angel]

Well, for me, I've not the patience to deal with the sharpening and strooping, so I've gone with the shavette direction, which I've used just a few times so far.

The funny thing is that when I get my first DE, I was in fear to cut myself, but with the shavette, I went with it like a fish to water.

Been doing it for a couple of years now, and I've yet to cut myself with either, and with the DE, it's like doing a race car race, as it's so easy and smooth to use.

I'd love to get a "real" single edge for the whole trying it out, manly appeal of it, but I don't consider the expense worth it as I've already got more than enough gear for the rest of my life at this point.

Glad that you're having fun with it.

 

[Chaloney]

You took every piece of sage advice offered here for new shavers. ]

That must be a first, I kno I didn't. I had read it all, but I wasn't smart enough to follow it!

 

[thebilgerat]

Thanks, everyone! I'm doing my best to avoid AD mania this early in the game. I thought about the shavettes, but part of the appeal for me was slowing down the process and being "present" for my shave. I've resisted purchasing lots of product (the VDH soap/brush and some Kiss My Face Cool Mint cream from Fred Meyers and a bottle of Old Spice I've had since the late 80's makes up my collection) so far, although straight razors seem like the worst of the AD (Each one is potentially beautiful, and functional, or already beautiful and functional).

Looking forward to shave 2 tonight!

 

[dpmtherrien]

Congrats and welcome.