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Evening all.
I’ve just finished my first ever straight razor shave, and I have to say- it went better than expected!
I used the Hermes 6/8 purchased from @Tony'schin. Coupled with my trusty omega 10065 brush and a brand new puck of tabac.
Face lathered as I always do, and got to town. As per Tony’s advice, I didn’t strop before hand as it was done prior to my receiving of the razors. I had the paddle strop he kindly included ready for after my shave.
anyway, I’m a lefty, so started on my left cheek/sideburn, and cracked on. I found that I needed to make my lather slightly wetter than usual after a couple of swipes.
I was initially planning on just one pass, but my first pass was pretty crap as I was getting used to my angles. I found the more I did it the easier it got, and when I got used to getting my hands in the right position, particularly for the across the face side, it became a lot better.
so full of confidence I decided on a second pass just to catch all the bits I missed in the beginning. Both WTG.
I found the chin ok but struggled most on my neck and jawline. It’s far from BBS but I achieved MUCH better results on my moustache area and chin than I expected from my first go.
when I finished I dried the blade with paper towel and used a piece of bog roll to dry between the scales. Then I had a go at stropping.
I honestly found this the most difficult bit of the shave. The paddle strop is ever so slightly narrower than the blade, so worked ever so slightly heel to toe. I found flipping the razor very fiddly, and kept wanting to turn on the blade rather than the spine! My crappy, knackered G Butler razor I think I’m gonna use as my practice blade to get better at stropping. I’ll have a go with my hanging strops too and see if I find them easier.
anyway, one shave down and looking forward to the next. Cheers everyone who’s helped on my journey so far.
Alex
edit: if I don’t get the hang of stropping some honemeisters may be getting a bit of business!
I’ve just finished my first ever straight razor shave, and I have to say- it went better than expected!
I used the Hermes 6/8 purchased from @Tony'schin. Coupled with my trusty omega 10065 brush and a brand new puck of tabac.
Face lathered as I always do, and got to town. As per Tony’s advice, I didn’t strop before hand as it was done prior to my receiving of the razors. I had the paddle strop he kindly included ready for after my shave.
anyway, I’m a lefty, so started on my left cheek/sideburn, and cracked on. I found that I needed to make my lather slightly wetter than usual after a couple of swipes.
I was initially planning on just one pass, but my first pass was pretty crap as I was getting used to my angles. I found the more I did it the easier it got, and when I got used to getting my hands in the right position, particularly for the across the face side, it became a lot better.
so full of confidence I decided on a second pass just to catch all the bits I missed in the beginning. Both WTG.
I found the chin ok but struggled most on my neck and jawline. It’s far from BBS but I achieved MUCH better results on my moustache area and chin than I expected from my first go.
when I finished I dried the blade with paper towel and used a piece of bog roll to dry between the scales. Then I had a go at stropping.
I honestly found this the most difficult bit of the shave. The paddle strop is ever so slightly narrower than the blade, so worked ever so slightly heel to toe. I found flipping the razor very fiddly, and kept wanting to turn on the blade rather than the spine! My crappy, knackered G Butler razor I think I’m gonna use as my practice blade to get better at stropping. I’ll have a go with my hanging strops too and see if I find them easier.
anyway, one shave down and looking forward to the next. Cheers everyone who’s helped on my journey so far.
Alex
edit: if I don’t get the hang of stropping some honemeisters may be getting a bit of business!