[ffpotts7]

So today was the day! I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first straight razor! It's a Harrison Brothers and Howson, given to me by Cobo(member). I call him SAINT Cobo now !!! Anyway, I went straight from electrics to this baby! I haven't used a "regular" razor in 10 years or more! So I was going to start with the cheeks but once I started I couldn't stop!!! I had the smallest little cut on the neck near my jaw but that was stupidity on my part! I did with and across the grain on my cheeks. Pretty smooth and I think it would be great if I tried against the grain as well (didn't want to go overboard!) My neck was with and agaist the grain. It's OK but I struggled a bit. Lips and chin, not very good at all. I guess it's a touch I'm going to have to find! I think some of the problem was the soap. I've never done it before and I think at first my lather wasn't rich enough. Dried up and disappeared. I wet the brush (crappy $5 boar) and it was much better! The soaps' Williams Mug Shaving Soap and it's very cheap and is all you can buy where I live as far as I can find! Well that's it!!! I have to wait to shave again untill I find a strop I guess! Any advice on anything, Including how to avoid the tinly little neck cuts, use to get those with regular razors too, please let me know! TAHNKS GUYS!!! This is going to be awesome!!!

[Ben325e]

Until you get you're strop, you can use a leather belt or even newspaper. Just fold the newspaper until it's three inches or so wide, and use an X pattern when stropping. That should get you through until you get a real strop.

Congrats on your first shave!

Ben

[Tennessee Dave]

Congratulations! Hope to have the same experience myself as soon as I get my DD Goldedge back from being checked out and sharpened by gssixgun. Really looking forward to this!

[dave5225]

Originally Posted by ffpotts7

I think some of the problem was the soap. I've never done it before and I think at first my lather wasn't rich enough. Dried up and disappeared. I wet the brush (crappy $5 boar) and it was much better! The soaps' Williams Mug Shaving Soap and it's very cheap and is all you can buy where I live as far as I can find!

You can find everything you need/want right here on this forum . I've delt with , and can personally vouch for "churley" (Colleen Hurley) at thegentelmansquarter.com for shaving soaps , bath soaps and shaving acessories , Tony Miller at thewellshavedgentleman.com for strops , and "OLD_SCHOOL" at shouhonyama.topcities.com for Tosuke razors , and natural Japanese hones . All three are active members of this forum , and there are others that I haven't tried yet . There is no need for you to limit yourself to what is available locally when you have the internet . Order it today , and it should be at your door in a week or less .

[netsurfr]

First, welcome to the world of straight shaving and SRP.
Congratulations on your shave! I did not venture to do my whole face for a number of weeks.
As faras avoiding some of the problems on your neck, I would highly recommend trying to stretch the skin some more and making sure that you have done adequate prep.
Congrats again!!!

[Cobo]

I'm glad you got a good first shave out of it.

And don't worry /too/ much about the soap right yet. When it starts to dry, just wash it off and reapply. I know my first few shaves were around twenty minute long affairs, which is a bit long to ask the soap to stay slick. :P