Good morning and Happy New Year! I received a Thiers-Issard #69 Medaille Argi from lmarkow yesterday and today was my first shave with a straight. I have been wanting to try str8 shaving for awhile now and was really excited to receive the razor, strop, and shave stick. The razor was sent to Doc for blade prep before I received it.
Looking at the razor for the first time, I was excited but I had already shaved yesterday morning, so I had to wait until today.
I did my usual pre-shave prep and took about a seven minute shower. My soap for today was Cella in the red tub and I used my AOS finest badger brush to get the lather perfect.
Holding the razor in my right (dominant) hand was easy. I kept the razor about a spine width away from my face. It is a different angle than what I am used to. I started at the sideburns and slid the razor down towards the jaw line. Very nice glide and I was happy that my ear was still attached. I completed the right side of my face with ease.
Holding the razor in my left hand felt weird. I started at the sideburn on the left side also and worked my way down to the jaw line. Shaving the left side took more concentration and a lot more time that the right.
The second pass on the right was smoother than the first. When I placed the razor on my cheek for the second pass, my angle was wrong and I received a nice slice at the top of my cheek bone. No blood, but I could feel it and see it there. I reminded myself to slow down and pay attention to detail. The second pass on both sides went well and I had smooth cheeks.
I then shaved just below my lower lip. I did not shave my chin or my neck. I am going to follow everyone's advice and save those areas until I get more experience. I finished off the rest of my shave with a GSB in my 2011 R41.
Thanks to lmarkow and Doc for the razor and the prep work. I am going to continue with straight shaving, but will not be shaving with it again until Thursday morning. I am going to take New Year's day off from shaving and see how the shave goes with one day's growth. I have very thick facial hair and can only get two days worth of shaves out of a DE blade.
I joined the 2014 GRUC and was wondering if I will need any more items for strop or razor maintenance. I have one day to order anything that I may need. I received the rich man's strop along with the razor. I plan on sending out the razor for honing when it is necessary, so I don't need a hone at this time.
Well, I am off to LA to drop my daughter off at the airport. I wish everyone a good day!
Looking at the razor for the first time, I was excited but I had already shaved yesterday morning, so I had to wait until today.
I did my usual pre-shave prep and took about a seven minute shower. My soap for today was Cella in the red tub and I used my AOS finest badger brush to get the lather perfect.
Holding the razor in my right (dominant) hand was easy. I kept the razor about a spine width away from my face. It is a different angle than what I am used to. I started at the sideburns and slid the razor down towards the jaw line. Very nice glide and I was happy that my ear was still attached. I completed the right side of my face with ease.
Holding the razor in my left hand felt weird. I started at the sideburn on the left side also and worked my way down to the jaw line. Shaving the left side took more concentration and a lot more time that the right.
The second pass on the right was smoother than the first. When I placed the razor on my cheek for the second pass, my angle was wrong and I received a nice slice at the top of my cheek bone. No blood, but I could feel it and see it there. I reminded myself to slow down and pay attention to detail. The second pass on both sides went well and I had smooth cheeks.
I then shaved just below my lower lip. I did not shave my chin or my neck. I am going to follow everyone's advice and save those areas until I get more experience. I finished off the rest of my shave with a GSB in my 2011 R41.
Thanks to lmarkow and Doc for the razor and the prep work. I am going to continue with straight shaving, but will not be shaving with it again until Thursday morning. I am going to take New Year's day off from shaving and see how the shave goes with one day's growth. I have very thick facial hair and can only get two days worth of shaves out of a DE blade.
I joined the 2014 GRUC and was wondering if I will need any more items for strop or razor maintenance. I have one day to order anything that I may need. I received the rich man's strop along with the razor. I plan on sending out the razor for honing when it is necessary, so I don't need a hone at this time.
Well, I am off to LA to drop my daughter off at the airport. I wish everyone a good day!