Thread: First shave!

Prominent is one way to word it, the blade is flat and straight,
it is easiest to shave an area that is flat and straight ie. the side burns.
Stretching does two things for you during the shave
1. it will stand the hairs up when done properly
2. you can get less accessible/less-easily shave-able areas into a better spot.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

How do you guys handle that hollow created by the neck muscle on one side and the trachea on the other?

I use 2 different two methods.

1.) Tilt your head straight up like your trying to touch the ceiling with your chin. Next place your hand just above your adam's apple with the thumb and index finger on opposite sides like you're trying to chock yourself. Now press the skin toward the back of your neck.

2.) Tilt your head up and to the side. Place your index and middle finger between the corner of you mouth and your jaw line. Now push the skin toward your mouth and nose.

Does your skin toughen up? My skin is do sensitive now that I can feel my beard growing and it's not pleasant.

Yeah, your skin will feel really raw at first; remember with a straight you're removing skin. I suggest you TRY and give yourself a break when starting out with a straight, I say TRY as we all get excited and want to shave every day; or even twice a day at first!

BTW, don't try and go ATG too early and don't get obsessive about the hollows of the neck too early. Working out how to get in to those hollows (and working out which way the hair grows there) takes some time. I really do find it easier to cut myself when I go ATG, and of course, I know you probably already know this, but there is NO such thing a aggressive ATG with a straight; unless you like the sight of blood.

Like Carl said, just chill a bit, I was really obsessive about 3 passes plus and getting really as smooth as possible, the end result was a smooth but very tender face. I now just do between one or two passes snd live with the results, I may not be smooth but I can allow air to touch my face without wincing.

Ed, have you been using a straight for a while?

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Ed, have you been using a straight for a while?

Not really, only about 4 months. It took me about a month or there abouts from joining the forum to getting set up with a razor etc, hence why I can still remember what I used to do. My memory isn't great

Are you happy w/the shave's your getting?

I think Ed and I are on the same level of the learning curve. I shaved 11 1/2 hours ago and am sporting what used to be a "freshly shaved" face. My 5:00 shadow appears about the same time it is time to shave again. (Except for the #$%^ chin -- still fighting with that

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Are you happy w/the shave's your getting?

Yes I am. After I had been straight shaving for a while and ending with soreness and mild discomfort I pm'ed a mentor that I had been bantering with on the forum, he advised me, amongst other things to not obsess about being completely smooth, but instead to do 2 passes and make them count. Of course I still do more than that from time to time, I still have rough shaves, and only 2 days ago I cut my chin, but I am happy sitting on the comfort side if the scales rather than the smooth side.
I have seen lots of posts by new guys saying that they are only a few shaves in and are getting great results etc, though how much of that is bravado I don't know. There are an equal number of people who will openly tell you it took them a while to master it.