First shave didn't go so well

I got my shave ready straight razor in the mail today and decided to grab a shower and try it out. I soaked my brush and soap in hot water while I showered, got out and commenced to shaving. Ouch!! It pulled the hairs out and scraped the hell outta my face. I noticed that the edge was slick and only felt sticky at the toe, but since I've never even held a straight razor I figured I might not know what a sharp one felt like. I should have trusted my gut and stropped first, even though word on another forum was not to strop the sellers razor so that I can feel what a proper sharp razor feels like for reference. I managed to shave my whole face after 3 passes mostly guillotine strokes WTG (the only way it would cut most of the time). I didn't have much trouble with technique, felt natural enough (I take a "Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead" approach to most things). Though I had a little trouble deciding which hand/angle to use in the chin to neck transition everything else went as well as can be expected with a dull razor. cut my self twice Once on the left ear and once on my right cheek, nothing too bad and it didn't even bleed much, I blame it on the amount of pressure I had to use to make it cut(first sign that I should stop and strop). I did however, have problems working up a lather, I felt like my shoulder was gonna fall of by the time I had something doable in my mug. Maybe the soap needs a little mor hydration? it was pretty hard and didn't seem to wanna transfer to the brush very well. I figure that'll work itself out though. Any way at the end of it all I have a crumby shave and a freshly stropped razor that is ready to shave(feels sticky along the entire length of the edge now) next time.

Well that sucks. Best course is if it feels wrong stop. There are many reasons for poor lather. If you tell us your technique equipment etc will help if able. Next shave go really light on pressure. A sharp razor does need any real pressure to work effectively. Hope the next dhavr goes better.

Where did the shave ready blade come from?

Sorry to hear you had a rough first shave. :( But fear not! We all have at some point or other had frustrating shaves, and it generally gets better.

As eddy79 said, with a properly shave-ready razor (more on that below), proper beard preparation, and proper technique, very, very little pressure will be required. So something somewhere has gone a little haywire for you.

Where did you purchase your razor? The sad fact of the matter is that one person's razor advertised as "shave-ready" is not necessarily the same as another person's. If it was received truly shave-ready, there should have been no need to strop it before use. In fact people are generally discouraged from stropping a truly shave-ready razor upon receipt from a reputable vendor/honer. The reasons are twofold:

1) if it's advertised as shave-ready it should be just that: ready to shave
2) it is very easy to damage an edge while stropping, particularly when one is new to all this. Stropping it before use can skew what you understand as shave-ready.

As noted, there are other reasons why a shave can go sideways, so it may not be the razor itself. And if it was received from a reputable vendor/honer and not stropped prior to use, the solution probably lies elsewhere, i.e. technique or prep. eddy79 was also right in saying that more info re your equipment and technique should help us help you.

Good luck with shave #2!

EDIT: you beat me to it Pixel! :)

+1 on where the "shave ready" blade came from. Many claim shave ready, but are lacking.

Got the razor from whippeddog, got the silver tip brush and bald frog soap from him as well. I'm happy with the purchase and don't really mind having to do some fine tuning. I'm pretty confident with my stropping (stropped alot of knives) and was able to get a decent edge on it easily. I tried the hair test and it pops the hair in two near the heel and kinda shaves it to a taper near the toe. Not the greatest edge but I was able to get a closer cut the second time around, with alot less pressure ( I tried again after my original post). I think I'll rest my face a day or two and maybe try the balsa and compound followed up with a good stropping. I don't have any stones fine enough for a razor but I'll need to remedy that pretty soon. I'm sure my technique needs polishing and will most likely help the most. Good thing I have a pretty tough face, LOL, I'm gonna need it.

Might be you got you what paid for.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Might be you got you what paid for.

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Yeah I really wasn't expecting anything more than a sharp piece of steel, sharp being the keyword. I doubt, like many here, that I'll only have one razor, soap, brush etc. anyway. I just gotta slip things in here and there to stay under the wifes radar.

Your first shave sounds like many beginner's first shave, regardless who honed the razor. If you don't believe me, do a quick search and you'll find similar threads involving other well known vendors on this site and "shave ready" razors vs. uncomfortable first shaves. Learning To shave with a straight razor takes time and patience, it's not like you'll instantly get the best shaves of your life once you switch to a straight. Keep at and you will get there, we were all in your shoes at one time.

From what I have heard Larry is normally pretty good with keeping his customers happy, perhaps you could e mail him and ask for him to rehone for you.
I have no personal experience with this vendor, but I have seen a few posts regarding his customers service.

Although I have no first hand experience with Larry's edges there are quite a few members who do.
From what I can garner his edges are quite good?

Be patient, watch your technique and see how the next few shaves go.

I never had any problem with my razor from whippeddog that wasn't operator error.

Rearden has summarised it very well.

I would steer clear of hitting the compounds on balsa at this stage personally, you will just be taking the edge futher away from what was delivered without an awful lot of experience to guide you on where you are taking it.

Good luck and keep at it RandyDavid :)

I got my first shave ready from Larry at Whipped Dog, it was a sight unseen but a great shaver unstropped. Did you find the soap doesn't wash off the blade easily? This one caused me problems with the blade needing pressure to cut hairs. I added more water to the brush gradually as shown in one of Lynn's videos, doing this instead of adding water to the bowl/mug made a huge difference to me. Also dont cut the stubble off, wipe the lather off instead. So simple and a lot smoother/better shave.

I have a razor from Larry and it was definitely shave ready. Sounds like technique is a factor. Angle, pressure, face prep, lather?? A lot of variables to learn. It took a couple months before I was getting what I considered a smooth, irritation free shave on my entire face. Stropping the razor may be different than a knife. I have no experience with knives, just make sure it lays flat and you don't roll the edge. I wish you luck and success.

Shave Test

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html


First shave

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...beginners.html

Sounds like a typical first shave. Before the next shave work on your lather prep. Load your brush up with lots of soap. Keep adding small amounts of water whipping the brush in between until you've created a good lather. When shaving keep a very low angle (no higher than 2 widths of the spine) and use very little pressure. Try this a few times and if that doesn't work than talk to Larry and ask for a touch up honing. I'm sure he'll be more than willing to help you out.

Yea, sounds like a typical beginners shave especially if you try to do 3 passes on your first go. Maybe try to slow down a bit and not rush things. Try learning how to get a good Wtg pass in before moving on to the others. If you push things you might end up looking and feeling like your face lost a fight with a bob cat. It takes quite a while to get you technique down. Also if your lather does not easily rinse off your blade it is likely too thick and needs more water.

Bob