Hello guys (and the occational gal)! I figured I would get one of these started starting with the new year. Let me give you a bit of background info. I have been DE shaving for the last 4 years, using a Parker shavette for the last yr, and started straight razor shaving last month. I bought a whippeddog.com sight unseen package with a strop and a barber hone. The razor I got was a Clauss. I have been enjoying shaving with that for the last month but the last shave I had with it pulled a bit too much and I had to finish with my shavette. So last night I decided to check out some barber honing videos and watched the video by xmacd about 10 times and about 5 more times this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UaQyweJ7qU
My razor is not a smiling version so I just did a normal x pattern for 10 passes. I used my shaving soap combo lather for my lather with the hone. My hone is not as long as his in the video but once I figured out the stroke, it was not as difficult as I thought. After honing for a little bit, I did the thumbnail test and passed with no difficulty. I did about 20 passes on my leather strop and got ready for my shower and shave.
I showered, dried off, threw on some boxers and lathered up with my VDH deluxe boar brush and some shaving soap combo. (Basically I take all leftover shaving soaps, stack them in a bowl, put some hot water on it, let it sit overnight, and in the morning dump out all the water, and mold the mass like clay and stuff it back in the bowl). The lather is super slick and provides nice cushion. I lather up and get ready for my first pass. I nervously place the blade to my sideburn area and with a nervous attitude start my N-S pass. I was so nervous that it was going to pull again, that I almost jumped for joy when there was no pull at all. I did a complete N-S pass and was absolutely shocked with how smooth I was able to make the blade.
I lathered up again and decided that with the weather and the wind, I would just do another N-S pass instead of my usual ear to chin pass. It was so smooth that it didn't feel like I was shaving. I love that feeling and can't wait to try the shave again. The shave was not BBS but DF and I know that even in the battle with the elements, my face won't feel like a piece of leather.
The one thing I can't get used to is trying to use the straight on my stache area. Not so much with the N-S pass but more so with the out to in pass. The shavette is easy to maneuver but I have a bit of trouble creating a good pass on that area. No cuts or irritation but alot of awkwardness and nervousness.
I eventually want to get some Norton hones, and would love some advice on what grit and what it a must have hone, and what would be great to buy on top of that. Thanks for all of the help guys and can't wait to report back tomorrow. Peace!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UaQyweJ7qU
My razor is not a smiling version so I just did a normal x pattern for 10 passes. I used my shaving soap combo lather for my lather with the hone. My hone is not as long as his in the video but once I figured out the stroke, it was not as difficult as I thought. After honing for a little bit, I did the thumbnail test and passed with no difficulty. I did about 20 passes on my leather strop and got ready for my shower and shave.
I showered, dried off, threw on some boxers and lathered up with my VDH deluxe boar brush and some shaving soap combo. (Basically I take all leftover shaving soaps, stack them in a bowl, put some hot water on it, let it sit overnight, and in the morning dump out all the water, and mold the mass like clay and stuff it back in the bowl). The lather is super slick and provides nice cushion. I lather up and get ready for my first pass. I nervously place the blade to my sideburn area and with a nervous attitude start my N-S pass. I was so nervous that it was going to pull again, that I almost jumped for joy when there was no pull at all. I did a complete N-S pass and was absolutely shocked with how smooth I was able to make the blade.
I lathered up again and decided that with the weather and the wind, I would just do another N-S pass instead of my usual ear to chin pass. It was so smooth that it didn't feel like I was shaving. I love that feeling and can't wait to try the shave again. The shave was not BBS but DF and I know that even in the battle with the elements, my face won't feel like a piece of leather.
The one thing I can't get used to is trying to use the straight on my stache area. Not so much with the N-S pass but more so with the out to in pass. The shavette is easy to maneuver but I have a bit of trouble creating a good pass on that area. No cuts or irritation but alot of awkwardness and nervousness.
I eventually want to get some Norton hones, and would love some advice on what grit and what it a must have hone, and what would be great to buy on top of that. Thanks for all of the help guys and can't wait to report back tomorrow. Peace!