Great shave photo and report John. I think the MMOC might be ready for recycling.

Tuesday Shave:

I just set the bevel and honed this razor, I tried once before and failed. This time it was a success but could be a little bit better. This is an unusual thick grind for a J West so the first time I used tape and this time I did not use tape.

Irritation A Closeness A Smoothness A Sharpness A

Razor: J West Atlas
Strop: T Miller
Brush: Handle by Jason with an Omega boar knot
Pre: Proraso
Soap: AoS
AS: Derby AS, Speick ASB
Scent: Guerlain Derby

I got a boar knot from TGN in the mail this afternoon. I just finished setting it. It'll be my focus brush for next month. I'm kinda getting a plan together for No Variance November.

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Pretty picture, Keith.

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Beautiful brush Jim.

Thank you, Clint.

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You're my hero. Just saying.

Don't know if heroic fits, but sure.

Any blade will do. Use the sharpest you can find. Ultimately, results are technique.

And you're not in Louisiana.

You are more than a hero.

Peaches. Flat Earth. "Logic".

Pro tip: Mute button

@Keithmax - I'll have my lieutenant check. In with yours at Seoul HQ soon. Super busy out here at Prairie HQ.

Nice picture, John!

So this is my first offical post here, and the first shave of my life!

I was lucky enough to get some freebies from @pisces_0 . He gave me a Boar Brush, mug, Gillette safety and GEM (not sure what) razor, along with some C.O. Bigelow shaving cream and Williams Mug Soap. I did a few test lathers and found the Williams to my liking. My parents weren’t quite ready for me to use a safety razor so they bought me some Bic Sensitive disposable razors instead (Single blade [better for acne]). I also got some Thayers Witch Hazel Lavender Alchohol-free for aftershave.

So onto the actual shave (after reading many posts on here and Bader&Blade).

Get ready for a rollercoaster. (Sorry for all the words, feel free to skip along and see the other great posts.

I took a warm shower to get the hair loose, used my acne scrub and soaked my brush and puck for about 15 mins. I started firing up the lather for about a min and 1/2 and put it on. Now mind you, I don’t have much facial hair, just some embarrasing peach fuzz so I didn’t lather much. Let it sit for a few and then went to shaving the pesky upper lip.
So far so good as the first pass is done. I rinse and re-lather and go for a second. All good there. Rinse and Lather again. Finally I attempt to get a even closer shave by going from the outside of the lip in to the middle to get the last bit of subble.

Ouch...

Nic 1 has arrived. I grab my cotton bally witch hazel and put it on the cut. And oh the pain. I haven’t felt that much pain since I got the tip of my ring finger smushed off.
Anyway, blood clots and I go from the outside in on the other side MUCH lighter.

Much better.

Top lip done.

Now onto many other tough spots and nics 2 and 3 appear.

Witch Hazel and a burn straight from hell again.

I lather my whole face and go on chin and cheeks. Easy easy easy. Rinse and I witch hazel my whole face and I’m done.

What an experience.
I’m not sure how y’all manage to shave everyday. I’m definitely gonna need more practice.

Yup, time to go to the razor graveyard I think.

Looks awesome, Jim! My TGN never loosened up enough for my liking. Yours looks like it has a little more loft than mine did, though.

Hang in there, Michael. Lots of time for you to get this down. 1 or 2 passes with the grain (North to South) ought to do just fine for now.

I understand your parents reasoning on not wanting you jumping in to a DE Gillette Tech or SE Gem 1912 just yet. Put em away for a bit and come back to them in when you're ready.

I'm fairly confident you'll be amazed at how smooth and easy the Gillette is.

After a while you'll be shaving with the crazy contraptions we all know and love here. Hang around for MAYhem next year in the 30 Day thread. THAT'S fun to watch...

You, sir, are correct. Neither am I stupid.

Well done, young Jedi. You have already learned the first, middle and last lesson of learning to shave. Practice. The way we do it everyday with such seeming ease is all the hours we have put in learning the correct angles, amount of pressure and just staying with it. Sounds like your first experience was about normal from what I can remember back when I was but a lad, as they say. And with practice you'll be a pro before you know it! Welcome aboard!