Gissy's straight razor stories

[Gissy]

Had a quick shave this morning. I didn't really have the time so I went for just one pass WTG. Got my first cut right under the nose otherwise it went well. Not at all close, but not to bad for 1 pass. I don't think I did a great job with the stropping today, the razor felt a little duller than before. I think I will give it another go on the balsa before the next shave.

Used today:
The same as yesterday exept I used De Vergylde hand soap instead of the La Toja.

[Gissy]

6th Shave

Used:
John Engstrom Jr. razor
Semogue 1305
Vergylde hand soap
Clubman original

I started with my WTG pass. I hadn't had time to strop my razor on the balsa since yersterday, just did 50 laps on leather. I can feel a little more tugging now, and the razor needs some work. Still went good with the first pass.

While lathering up again I decided to do a XTG pass not my usual second WTG. With my right hand it was no problems, even the ATG on the neck went really good. The left hand felt much scarier, especially on the neck, but no blood and the closest shave I've had with a straight so far. Tomorrow the plan is to video my shave again to see the progress!

[Gissy]

Never got so far as the shave today :(
Video will be up tomorrow. I just bought a neally nice zenith prince by marshall wells Germany today! Can't wait to get it!

[Gissy]

Nice shave today:

[BakerAndBadger]

Congratulations and welcome to the big time! I started just a couple of weeks ago and I'm now thinking and, more unfortunately, talking about it whenever I can. SRAD has kicked in and I'm trying to control it - already plan to hit the junk shop again on Saturday for more promised straights, have a sight unseen and a find that I honed myself (2 Euros for a Solingen) plus another blade that I'm waiting to restore & scale. Two Gold Dollars arrived yesterday (7 day shipping door to door from China!). I've got a Dr Balfanz and a Red Injun arriving from my bro (in the post) along with a bunch (6 or 7) of blades for restoration (scaleless).
Just one remark, you keep missing your chin!

[Raithskar]

SRAD has kicked in and I'm trying to control it

To quote a Movie phrase "You are beaten...it is useless to resist."

Gissy. Grats Bro! You are doing a great job! I put down the DE and have never looked back. Continued success to you!

[Gissy]

Thanks for all the great feedback! Glad it wasn't todays shave I videoed!

8th shave

Used:

John Engstrom Jr.
Semogue 1305
Cella
Clubman

I have had all good shaves with Vergylde hand soaps lately, but today I decided to mix things up a little. Cella has always been a good soap to me. I face lathered up for the first pass and things didn't feel quite right. I ended up making a good gash beside my face. I took the brush to the bowl and added more water. The lather looked okey, but it just did'nt have the glide I want when straight shaving. The second pass XTG gave me another two small nicks under the nose.

This was the worst shave so far. It's strange how soaps who worked so great with the De don't work at all well with the straight.

[Gissy]

9th shave

Got a couple of new things in the mail yesterday.

Used today:

John Engstrom jr.
Vitos preshave
Simpson Special BBB
Vergylde hand
Alum block
Clubman

I came out of the shower and put Vitos Preshave on my face. Felt nice and cooling, it's my first preshave ever.

I lathered up the Vergylde hand and got a great wet lather as usual. Both the WTG and the XTG pass went well, no real irritation or nicks. I opened up the two small ones from yesterday under the nose though, but nothing bad. On the XTG pass I go straight south-north on my neck so actually ATG, no problems. Ended up with a good SAS. Used the alum block both to help with the stretching and after the shave. I really liked it for the extra grip. No real burn with the alum block or the Clubman. Back to being a happy straight shaver :)

[Gissy]

10th shave

I didn't shave yersterday for some reason so I had some stubble to get rid off today.

Used:
Vitos Pre-shave
John Engstom Jr.
Simpson Special BBB
Palmolive Shave stick pressed into tub
Alum Block
Vitos cologne

I stropped the razor 50 time son my poor mans strop before I jumped in the shower. After the shower I put on the Vitos pre-shave while I dried myself and put on some clothes. This was my first time with Palmolive who I got in a PIF on "The Big Shave" group on facebook. The lather was quite nice, but the small wasn't anything fantastic. I used my Special again, I have been using it a lot after starting with straights. With DE's I usually used my Semogue 1305 much more, but the Simpson seems to be better at making wetter lather for some reason. Had no real problems on my two passes (WTG,XTG). My mustache area it without doubt the hardest place for me to get close shaves. I used some extra time there today, and it got a little irritated, but also quite close.

The alum block gave a little more burn today, but nothing real bad. No real blood today, just the little cut under my nose I always seem to open up a little.

The Vitos Cologne is a little sample I got from Connought shaving. It was nice, clean and slight scent and a little cooling.

[BakerAndBadger]

I seem to have the same problem as you when face lathering. Tending to stay away from my soap stick for the moment. My tabac soap is the one I use most but, and this may or may not be controversial, my wilkinson sword soar isn't bad!

[Gissy]

I seem to have the same problem as you when face lathering. Tending to stay away from my soap stick for the moment. My tabac soap is the one I use most but, and this may or may not be controversial, my wilkinson sword soar isn't bad!

I have never really gotten the hang of face lathering. I haven't tried the Wilkinson sword soap, but this is the first time I have heard anything good about it I think ;)

[honed]

That takes some true grit to do your very first straight razor shave in front of the camera. Well done & you have obviously all ready came a long way. Kjempefint!

[Gissy]

Thanks neighbour!

11th shave

Used today:

Vitos Pre-shave
J. Engstrom Jr.
Simpson Special BBB
Cyril R Salter Fresh Mint SC
Alum Block
Fitjar Folgefonn Kjakesmurning ASB

I had two days growth again and most of it was cut down after my two passes(WTG;XTG). No blood and no irrtation. The feel of the razor really have started to become natural. The shaves are still not really close, I think I will try an extra ATG pass in the next few days. Todays shave felt really nice with all cooling software.

Two nice packages was waiting for me when I got home today:



A new poorman strop(I have cut up the first one quite bad).
A W.H Morley & Sons razor from Whippeddog to practice my honing skills on. (It's really pretty though so I'm not really sure. I might send it out for a honing and practice on my J.Engstrom instead)
And a really beautiful Marshall Wells in great condition I bought from one of the nice members of B&B.

[Gissy]

12th Shave:


Used today:
Vitos Preshave
Marshall Wells Zenith Prince razor
Simpson Special BBB
Cyril R Salter Fresh Mint SC
Clubman Special Reserve AS

I got this "Prince" in the mail yesterday and I had to give it a go. I had a usual nice shave. No blood, but a little more irritation than I usually get. The razor felt as sharp as my Engstrom, but a little less smooth in a way. I got a quite close shave though, and my mustache area is starting to get together finally. Had a little burn from the Clubman today, but nothing real bad.

[Gissy]

[hide][top]13th shave:



Vitos Pre-shave
The Prince
Simpson Special BBB
Mystic Water Coconut soap
Vitos Mentolo Cologne

I hadn't shaved for three days so I had a lot of hair to go through, but the Zenith Price made an easy job with it. Had a really nice two pass shave(WTG, XTG). The Mystic Waters soap was really nice, great coconut scent and a lot of slick lather after just 30 seconds loading. Just one little weeper on the side of my "soul patch".

I think this is the closest shave I've had with a straight razor so far, I must try an ATG pass soon!

[Tekr]

Great job, I'm a little behind you on the shaves. I'm on number 10, and I really enjoy your video's and log.
I also went with the whipped dog unseen and I must say it was worth it. You mentioned that you put some nicks on your poor mans strop. I can guarantee you that if Larry saw the damage I did to mine he would beat me with it. Very tempted to try the Mystic Water Coconut soap. I have been using Mikes Natural Soaps and love them but so does my wife. She has taken over my DE razor which is fine, since I'm going straight. lol But as a man I have to draw the line in the sand somewhere.....Soaps is my line...Yea right..who am I kidding.... Keep up the great work. This is my unseen:


Paul.

[Gissy]

Great job, I'm a little behind you on the shaves. I'm on number 10, and I really enjoy your video's and log.
I also went with the whipped dog unseen and I must say it was worth it. You mentioned that you put some nicks on your poor mans strop. I can guarantee you that if Larry saw the damage I did to mine he would beat me with it. Very tempted to try the Mystic Water Coconut soap. I have been using Mikes Natural Soaps and love them but so does my wife. She has taken over my DE razor which is fine, since I'm going straight. lol But as a man I have to draw the line in the sand somewhere.....Soaps is my line...Yea right..who am I kidding.... Keep up the great work. This is my unseen:


Paul.

That is a pretty one! Glad to hear someone is reading this ;)

To me it's amazing how fast it feels natural to put a insanly sharp knife to your own face. I was also very unsure about using my left hand, but that became natural after just 4-5 shaves. I think I will make a new video tomorrow, it is the 14th shave so two weeks of shaves into my journey.

[BakerAndBadger]

Oooh, someone is showing symptoms of SRAD!!

[Gissy]

Oooh, someone is showing symptoms of SRAD!!

You know it! The only thing stopping me is being really broke.

[Gissy]

14th shave: