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straight razor shave #2
This was basically two days after the first. I achieved a near acceptable shave with only minor nicks, I'm pleased.
I'm hoping to stick to weekly summaries from here on.
As with normal razors, getting the pressure wrong will screw up your shave. The same is true with a straight razor, if not more so, and fear is good for getting the pressure wrong.
I stuck the tip of the razor in my ear while doing the off hand side, which resulted in a minor nick. That will be something to watch out for.
I haven't mentioned I've been sticking with (Edge) aerosol shaving gel. I don't know if I'll go for the badger brush / cup in the future.
I was worried I'd have difficulty providing useful information on how my skin reacted to this because of my habit of using wintergreen flavored 50% (too much?) alcohol and cetaphil lotion after my shaves, until I applied the alcohol this morning. Yup, my face is more abraded. But not terribly so, and I expect it's mostly due to my inexperience. It looked fine after shaving, and still does at least an hour later.
This morning was the first time I stropped. Definitely watch a video on this - move the razor spine first, and flip it over so the spine, not the edge, remains in contact with the strop. I nicked my strop twice before I realized how it was happening. Do not bring the razor all the way to the edge of the strop, even though you strop spine first. Just the tension of backing the razor all the way to the handle was causing enough tension that when I released, the pressure from the handle dug the blade into the leather of the strop.
Yes, sharp. Other than that I'd say stropping was easy and actually seemed effective (20 strokes).
I really need to get a styptic pencil. I haven't needed it yet, but I will.
I'm hoping to stick to weekly summaries from here on.
As with normal razors, getting the pressure wrong will screw up your shave. The same is true with a straight razor, if not more so, and fear is good for getting the pressure wrong.
I stuck the tip of the razor in my ear while doing the off hand side, which resulted in a minor nick. That will be something to watch out for.
I haven't mentioned I've been sticking with (Edge) aerosol shaving gel. I don't know if I'll go for the badger brush / cup in the future.
I was worried I'd have difficulty providing useful information on how my skin reacted to this because of my habit of using wintergreen flavored 50% (too much?) alcohol and cetaphil lotion after my shaves, until I applied the alcohol this morning. Yup, my face is more abraded. But not terribly so, and I expect it's mostly due to my inexperience. It looked fine after shaving, and still does at least an hour later.
This morning was the first time I stropped. Definitely watch a video on this - move the razor spine first, and flip it over so the spine, not the edge, remains in contact with the strop. I nicked my strop twice before I realized how it was happening. Do not bring the razor all the way to the edge of the strop, even though you strop spine first. Just the tension of backing the razor all the way to the handle was causing enough tension that when I released, the pressure from the handle dug the blade into the leather of the strop.
Yes, sharp. Other than that I'd say stropping was easy and actually seemed effective (20 strokes).
I really need to get a styptic pencil. I haven't needed it yet, but I will.
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For the record, I got the habit from my father who was allergic to every brand of shaving cream on the planet... so, he finally just gave up trying it at one point and started using water and nothing else.
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Have you tried just using soap?
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As for soap, yeah, I'll use it once in a while. Doesn't seem to make that big of a difference, though.