I must admit, I've been remiss in starting this journal. In the past, journals were for people to talk about me, which is realistically what a journal is for. But in other discussion forums Ive been a part of, it always comes with the sniping, jibes and general lack of good faith. But after becoming an active member of this forum, and seeing how this community is built, on the foundations of genuine good will. That unlike other forums Ive had the pleasure, (sometimes displeasure), of participating in, sniping just plain does not happen here. Judgements are reserved and when they are put forth, they are handed out only with the best of intentions, and that is to see the other person increase their enjoyment out of shaving. A piece of advice is often given here, along with an honestly friendly jibe occasionally, but it is all done in great faith. So its with my newfound understanding of, and respect for, this forum that I decided to start up this journal.
I will apologize for this first entry, as it could possibly turn quite lengthy. But I want to convey my journey as a shaver, to a non-shaver, to a wet-shaver. Im sure there are many other stories similar to mine. But hopefully, this journey is unique enough to you, the reader. Critiques, tips, suggestions and banter are all welcome Ive built up a thick enough skin from my time in the military.
Like many of you, prior to getting started in wet-shaving, I never really enjoyed shaving. It was a perfunctory task that, as a Soldier in the Army, I was required to do daily as part of the uniform and appearance standards. So, through my close to 16 years in the military, I shaved, with every day with any day I didnt have to counted as a blessing. I ranged from using the Mach3, to a nice electric Baun, Norelco, cheap Phillips, to the Fusion. I regularly used the canned goop, usually edge gel, at first, then eventually couldnt be bothered. I would just splash hot water on my face, run the cartridge under the hot water, and go to town. To save money, I would use carts until I saw the first sign of corrosion, generally 3 weeks to 2 months depending on the humidity of the location I was at. I never shaved against the grain, or even across the grain. Just WTG, water only as a lubricant, no aftershave. Uncomfortable, with the occasional ingrown hair, razor bumps, and irritation.
Then 2 years ago, my military career ended, and though I didnt have to, SWMBO did not really like, at all, facial hair. So I continued shaving periodically, skipping 2-3 days in between shaves. Generally, I would get around to shaving only if she said something, but not before. I landed a job that was going to be overseas. So, I packed up, and headed to where I still am, over to the sandbox. I didnt worry about shaving aside from trimming the cheeks up a bit, as I dont grow a thick full beard there. Now, for those of you who have worked here, outside of the military, there is only so much you can do here. So I surfed on a major discussion forum for what has been my passion and hobby for the past 20 years, Pool and Billiards. I would lurk, go through periods of posting, and return to lurking again. The overall atmosphere on that board was fairly aggressive, with people there very adamant about their opinions and not caring about being anything resembling polite. So, unless you were willing to get into one of those discussions, you kept to yourself. Until, while browsing through the NPR forum (non-pool related), someone asked a question about straight razor shaving. This piqued my interest, and I ate up the thread. How there were different grinds on the blade. The collections of antiques, more than 100 years old, that shaved as well, if not better, than many of todays blades. About wet shaving in general. Someone linked to B&B, and I started lurking here. That was mid-June of this year. I started reading up here on wet shaving, (and over at another shaving site more devoted to straights), and finally decided to take the plunge.
At the time, I had a 6 long goatee I kept fairly well groomed. But I justified what I was about to get into with knowing SWMBO did not like facial hair at all. And it was a cost saver. (funny in retrospect) So, I searched around and ordered a new Dovo 6/8, honed and ready to go, a strop, brush, cream (Proraso red), razor oil, a styptic pen and a scuttle. A few days later, I decided that a DE would be good to get as a back-up for days when I either, dont have the time or am rushed. So, I ordered a Merkur Futur with some Feather blades, an alum block, another inexpensive brush, and some more cream, (some croaps actually, RR and PAA) as well as some pre-shave and aftershave. Those were ordered just before the turn of July. It generally takes about 2 weeks for things to arrive here from the states. Unfortunately, the package I ordered containing my strop and SR was coming from Canada, which was having Canadian Post issues at the time. So, instead of being patient, I ordered another SR off of that auction site, a Wade and Butcher 6/8 wedge. Then a Dubl Duck Goldedge 11/16. Eventually, the Futur came in, and I started my journey into wet shaving.
My first few shaves with the Futur were fairly decent. I would classify them as CCS+ to DFS. I was experimenting with lathering techniques, watching what videos I could. My fourth shave, the Futur taught me a valuable lesson. Pay attention at all times when the blade is near or on your skin, and dont get cute. A nice slice, right under the nose. It bled for about 45 minutes. Eventually, after quite a bit of alum, and tissue paper, and pressure, it stopped. But the lesson was well taken. These arent cartridges. So care was taken from then on out.
The Wade and Butcher eventually arrived. By this time, I had been reading up on how to tell if your SR is sharp enough to shave with. This thing wouldnt tree-top anything. I had no strop, (coming in the mail from Canada), so I remained patient and waited. In the meantime, a few more soap/creams had arrived. (MWF, CF, Green Proraso) More DEs had arrived. (2 vintage ball end Techs, a Merkur 34c, a Maggards VR3 head with the MR5 handle) More blades arrived, a 50 blade variety pack, 5 blades per type. Ive since fallen in love with Personnas, but want to try more of them out before ordering in bulk to go along with the 50 Feathers. A nice custom brush in Super showed up as well as an inexpensive paddle strop. The ADs had taken hold and HARD.
Stingy SWMBO is not going to be happy.
The silver lining is I have others around me here who are very interested. Ive already PIFd one of the Techs out. I plan on PIFing the 34c, inexpensive brush, soap, bowl and some blades to a Soldier out here who is interested. It makes me happy to see others get involved in something Im getting immense pleasure out of. My Dovo came in about 10 days ago. I have been stropping the crap out of the W&B to the point where it will tree top very easily now at about 1/8 1/4 . Ive shaved about 4-5 times with the straights. No real disasters, a little blood has been shed, but nothing discouraging, and everything can be chalked up to one thing me. I understand the patience its going to take to learn and get comfortable with this new skill, and Im totally down with that.
Ill try and update this as often as possible, work permitting. The posts won't be NEARLY as long as this one. I hope i didn't ramble too much for you.
P.S. Oh yeah so somehow a Semogue 830, a 53 and 55 Superspeed, and an Ikon X3 got lost in Afghanistan...in my room. Apparently a SOC, Simpson Colonel, a 55 red tip, and CV Heljestrand are also about to get lost. *oops* We wont talk about the orphan soap samples Im sheltering for the time being.
I will apologize for this first entry, as it could possibly turn quite lengthy. But I want to convey my journey as a shaver, to a non-shaver, to a wet-shaver. Im sure there are many other stories similar to mine. But hopefully, this journey is unique enough to you, the reader. Critiques, tips, suggestions and banter are all welcome Ive built up a thick enough skin from my time in the military.
Like many of you, prior to getting started in wet-shaving, I never really enjoyed shaving. It was a perfunctory task that, as a Soldier in the Army, I was required to do daily as part of the uniform and appearance standards. So, through my close to 16 years in the military, I shaved, with every day with any day I didnt have to counted as a blessing. I ranged from using the Mach3, to a nice electric Baun, Norelco, cheap Phillips, to the Fusion. I regularly used the canned goop, usually edge gel, at first, then eventually couldnt be bothered. I would just splash hot water on my face, run the cartridge under the hot water, and go to town. To save money, I would use carts until I saw the first sign of corrosion, generally 3 weeks to 2 months depending on the humidity of the location I was at. I never shaved against the grain, or even across the grain. Just WTG, water only as a lubricant, no aftershave. Uncomfortable, with the occasional ingrown hair, razor bumps, and irritation.
Then 2 years ago, my military career ended, and though I didnt have to, SWMBO did not really like, at all, facial hair. So I continued shaving periodically, skipping 2-3 days in between shaves. Generally, I would get around to shaving only if she said something, but not before. I landed a job that was going to be overseas. So, I packed up, and headed to where I still am, over to the sandbox. I didnt worry about shaving aside from trimming the cheeks up a bit, as I dont grow a thick full beard there. Now, for those of you who have worked here, outside of the military, there is only so much you can do here. So I surfed on a major discussion forum for what has been my passion and hobby for the past 20 years, Pool and Billiards. I would lurk, go through periods of posting, and return to lurking again. The overall atmosphere on that board was fairly aggressive, with people there very adamant about their opinions and not caring about being anything resembling polite. So, unless you were willing to get into one of those discussions, you kept to yourself. Until, while browsing through the NPR forum (non-pool related), someone asked a question about straight razor shaving. This piqued my interest, and I ate up the thread. How there were different grinds on the blade. The collections of antiques, more than 100 years old, that shaved as well, if not better, than many of todays blades. About wet shaving in general. Someone linked to B&B, and I started lurking here. That was mid-June of this year. I started reading up here on wet shaving, (and over at another shaving site more devoted to straights), and finally decided to take the plunge.
At the time, I had a 6 long goatee I kept fairly well groomed. But I justified what I was about to get into with knowing SWMBO did not like facial hair at all. And it was a cost saver. (funny in retrospect) So, I searched around and ordered a new Dovo 6/8, honed and ready to go, a strop, brush, cream (Proraso red), razor oil, a styptic pen and a scuttle. A few days later, I decided that a DE would be good to get as a back-up for days when I either, dont have the time or am rushed. So, I ordered a Merkur Futur with some Feather blades, an alum block, another inexpensive brush, and some more cream, (some croaps actually, RR and PAA) as well as some pre-shave and aftershave. Those were ordered just before the turn of July. It generally takes about 2 weeks for things to arrive here from the states. Unfortunately, the package I ordered containing my strop and SR was coming from Canada, which was having Canadian Post issues at the time. So, instead of being patient, I ordered another SR off of that auction site, a Wade and Butcher 6/8 wedge. Then a Dubl Duck Goldedge 11/16. Eventually, the Futur came in, and I started my journey into wet shaving.
My first few shaves with the Futur were fairly decent. I would classify them as CCS+ to DFS. I was experimenting with lathering techniques, watching what videos I could. My fourth shave, the Futur taught me a valuable lesson. Pay attention at all times when the blade is near or on your skin, and dont get cute. A nice slice, right under the nose. It bled for about 45 minutes. Eventually, after quite a bit of alum, and tissue paper, and pressure, it stopped. But the lesson was well taken. These arent cartridges. So care was taken from then on out.
The Wade and Butcher eventually arrived. By this time, I had been reading up on how to tell if your SR is sharp enough to shave with. This thing wouldnt tree-top anything. I had no strop, (coming in the mail from Canada), so I remained patient and waited. In the meantime, a few more soap/creams had arrived. (MWF, CF, Green Proraso) More DEs had arrived. (2 vintage ball end Techs, a Merkur 34c, a Maggards VR3 head with the MR5 handle) More blades arrived, a 50 blade variety pack, 5 blades per type. Ive since fallen in love with Personnas, but want to try more of them out before ordering in bulk to go along with the 50 Feathers. A nice custom brush in Super showed up as well as an inexpensive paddle strop. The ADs had taken hold and HARD.
Stingy SWMBO is not going to be happy.
The silver lining is I have others around me here who are very interested. Ive already PIFd one of the Techs out. I plan on PIFing the 34c, inexpensive brush, soap, bowl and some blades to a Soldier out here who is interested. It makes me happy to see others get involved in something Im getting immense pleasure out of. My Dovo came in about 10 days ago. I have been stropping the crap out of the W&B to the point where it will tree top very easily now at about 1/8 1/4 . Ive shaved about 4-5 times with the straights. No real disasters, a little blood has been shed, but nothing discouraging, and everything can be chalked up to one thing me. I understand the patience its going to take to learn and get comfortable with this new skill, and Im totally down with that.
Ill try and update this as often as possible, work permitting. The posts won't be NEARLY as long as this one. I hope i didn't ramble too much for you.
P.S. Oh yeah so somehow a Semogue 830, a 53 and 55 Superspeed, and an Ikon X3 got lost in Afghanistan...in my room. Apparently a SOC, Simpson Colonel, a 55 red tip, and CV Heljestrand are also about to get lost. *oops* We wont talk about the orphan soap samples Im sheltering for the time being.