- Messages
- 2
- Location
- North East Scotland
After introducing myself on the forum, I thought that I would share my first straight razor shaves...
Firstly a big thank you to the contributors on this forum, as the advice on the forum directed me to buy a good straight razor and razor strop from reputable and recommended sources.
So on Saturday, impatient to make a start I took my shave ready Dovo Bismarck (a true thing of beauty) and my can of Nivea shaving cream/gel (I know - but I couldn't wait to give the razor a try) and cautiously proceeded to attempt to shave, determined to perform a 3 pass straight razor shave - as seen on youtube :blush:
Well, the razor grabbed and tugged at the bristles and a hour later my face was "sort of shaved." Red in places, with patchy stubble my face lacked that certain "baby-faced," freshly shaved look. :icon_eek:
Frankly, I was disappointed :icon_sad:
Sunday duly arrived and I resolved to repeat the attempt. This time, however, with one difference...Before shaving I actually stropped the razor (60 times on linen and 60 times on leather).
What a difference! (I don't understand how running a metal blade backwards along a piece of linen and then a piece of leather works) The razor was definitely sharper and I managed to shave off my bristles rather than pulling them out this time.
Needless to say I am perfectly happy to accept that as a total novice my lack of technique also played a significant part in both my shaving experiences and that these may continue to be "patchy" :blush: for sometime to come - but as I have said I am now certainly hooked!
Firstly a big thank you to the contributors on this forum, as the advice on the forum directed me to buy a good straight razor and razor strop from reputable and recommended sources.
So on Saturday, impatient to make a start I took my shave ready Dovo Bismarck (a true thing of beauty) and my can of Nivea shaving cream/gel (I know - but I couldn't wait to give the razor a try) and cautiously proceeded to attempt to shave, determined to perform a 3 pass straight razor shave - as seen on youtube :blush:
Well, the razor grabbed and tugged at the bristles and a hour later my face was "sort of shaved." Red in places, with patchy stubble my face lacked that certain "baby-faced," freshly shaved look. :icon_eek:
Frankly, I was disappointed :icon_sad:
Sunday duly arrived and I resolved to repeat the attempt. This time, however, with one difference...Before shaving I actually stropped the razor (60 times on linen and 60 times on leather).
What a difference! (I don't understand how running a metal blade backwards along a piece of linen and then a piece of leather works) The razor was definitely sharper and I managed to shave off my bristles rather than pulling them out this time.
Needless to say I am perfectly happy to accept that as a total novice my lack of technique also played a significant part in both my shaving experiences and that these may continue to be "patchy" :blush: for sometime to come - but as I have said I am now certainly hooked!