The progression of the obsession

I started a long time ago with a 1964 Gillette Slim Adjustable safety razor (not pictured, it’s waiting on a good cleaning). My grandad gave it to me when he realized I was going to have the same sensitive skin he had.

As I got deeper into professional sharpening, people started asking if I could do straight razors, and since I couldn’t, I decided to learn.

I’d used shavettes here and there but never really loved them. When I finally decided to give straight razors a real shot, I made the rookie mistake of buying one of those cheap Amazon razors that are so warped and twisted they’ll never hold a proper edge. That’s when I joined this subreddit and started learning from you all.

Eventually, I picked up a Red Imp locally for $20 and instantly fell in love. I practiced honing it until I felt decently confident.

Then today, I found a Dovo Forestal on Facebook Marketplace for a great deal. The previous owner couldn’t get a good edge on it, but he’d at least taped the spine, so there wasn’t any major wear. I took it from a 1k stone up to 12k, then finished with a canvas and leather strop. Took about 30 minutes total.

Just finished my first test shave and I’m never going back. I absolutely love this razor. Thanks to everyone here for fueling what’s quickly becoming a full blown obsession.