I am one week into the straight razor game and it as going really, really well. I have two straights:a newish Ralf Aust and a Whipped Dog flawed sight unseen. Been using the Whipped Dog blade exclusively until today. Been getting progressively closer shaves and adding in a variety of passes over the last few days. No real damage to my face or neck. Today, however, was epic (for me) on several levels. First, the Aust would not pass the HHT to my satisfaction when I got it. So, with many thanks to Caleb31 who posted the on another thread, I read up the simple honing process described in the science of sharp website. Talk about an incredibly useful education on honing - wowser this site is a must read. Anyway, I followed that Dude's instructions as close as I could using probably no more than $60 worth of honing stuff (i.e., King 1k/6k stone, piece of old denim with Mothers Mag polish rubbed in, old leather belt with .25 micron aluminum worked in). You can read about the process on the website, but it is simple enuf that someone like me with zero honing skills can render a fairly dulled straight into a truly shave ready, sharp but comfortable instrument in less than a half hour-no exaggeration. When I got done, the Aust easily passed the HHT test and tree-topped arm hairs galore. At this point I was really excited so I decided this was the day to finally try the Nuavia shave soap I just took delivery of yesterday. Just had to see what fuss was all about with this soap. And, wow, what a shave soap! Probably the best I have ever used. Thereupon, I set about hacking whiskers like crazy. I managed to get a BBS level shave on the cheeks and DFS shave on the chin and neck. The Nuavia was slick as guano and never even remotely dried on my face as I took my leisurely time. Only downside is I got a nice little crescent cut on my cheek when I forgot to puff my check slightly during one pass-good learning moment there. Thankfully was not very deep and not too much blood. For the first time, I did not feel the need to touch up with a DE razor and felt totally good to put my face out into the world. Btw, the Aust blade is freaking awesome. Anyway, back to the honing, I liked how the science of sharp honed Aust felt on my face better than the hone from Whipped Dog, so after the shave, I promptly did a touch up honing on it (i.e., didn't set the bevel as it clearly is already well set, but did everything else thereafter) with the science of sharp method and that blade also easily passed the HHT and arm hair tree topping tests. That one will swing back into action tomorrow. I cannot believe how well this has gone so far. Thanks Caleb31, BadDad Windsor Citrus and the rest of you straight razor gurus posting incredibly useful stuff in the DFS straight razor section - keep it coming gents!
BadDad,
User 1429 and
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