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Thread: A Beginner's Shaving Journal

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    Junior Member FutureDoc's Avatar
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    Default A Beginner's Shaving Journal

    Well, that was interesting. I got my Ralf Aust 5/8 in the mail today from Lynn. I was so excited, I just had to try. I lathered up my brand new mama bear soap (Spellbound woods), and went to work. Here is how I did.

    Lather: C- -- I've read up a lot about straight razor shaving and I realize lathering is something that will come with time. I don't think I used enough water because the soap kept drying on my face. However, spellbound woods is an amazing scent that I can't stop smelling.

    Nerves: A- -- I actually was not as nervous as I thought I would be holding a blade to my face. I wasn't worried about cutting myself, I just tried to get a feel for the razor and shaved. I wasn't confident (or stupid?) enough to do all of my face. I did from sideburn down to jawline on both sides, and finished with my old cartridge shaver.

    Shave Results: C -- I think a big reason this didn't work very well was my lather was not great. However, my strokes seemed relatively steady, both right and left hand, and it kind of worked. Definitely not a very close shave, even after going over it a few times. I'm going to practice lathering a few times before I shave again. Here's to hoping. There were no nicks or cuts, so I guess that is a positive. Still plenty of room for improvement.

    Stropping: ? -- I've seen Lynn's videos and many others on youtube. I think I am stropping correctly. The sound is not what I expected, but I think the brand new strop might be the cause of that. I really don't know for sure if I am stropping well, but I think I am. I stropped ~25 laps before and 25 laps after. Is that enough?

    Overall: I'm just happy I didn't cut myself. I can't wait to do it again. Are there any supplements out there to make my beard grow faster (Just kidding)? I just want to thank this board. I did a ton of lurking before I finally decided to take the jump. I probably would be lying in my bathroom in a pool of blood if it wasn't for your advice. I might keep a little log of my first few shaves on this thread, so you guys can remember how it felt to be a clumsy idiot rubbing a blade across his face, praying that it caught a few hairs haha.


    FutureDoc

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    Senior Member deepweeds's Avatar
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    Congratulations!

    Stropping is a _great_ thing to pay attention to right now, because you've got a shave-ready blade, but could lose it easily with one careless lap on the strop. Your muscles don't have any muscle-memory for "good form" yet, so take it slow and give it your full (and relaxed) attention. The main thing is to keep the spine on the strop at all times. (Edit: most of the hanging-stroppers seem to use 40-60 laps before shaving, which might help.)

    On lather, I think it was Mama Bear who said something like, 1) soak your brush a while then shake/squeeze it out, 2) work the soap onto the brush tip then swirly it around the bowl until it feels tacky and getting dry, 3) add a palmful of water, then 4) just beat the daylights out of the soapy water with the brush, working it into and out of the brush as it thickens from thin soapy water into a proper thick lather.

    Sounds like a terrific start!
    Keep your pivot dry!

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    Junior Member FutureDoc's Avatar
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    I appreciate the help. I just tried lathering up with that technique and it helped a ton. Much better! Thanks

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    Senior Member Wayne1963's Avatar
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    Early on, I had trouble with my lather drying out too. It really helped to add about 4-5 drops of glycerin.

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    Senior Member crouton976's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FutureDoc View Post
    Shave Results: C -- I think a big reason this didn't work very well was my lather was not great. However, my strokes seemed relatively steady, both right and left hand, and it kind of worked. Definitely not a very close shave, even after going over it a few times. I'm going to practice lathering a few times before I shave again. Here's to hoping. There were no nicks or cuts, so I guess that is a positive. Still plenty of room for improvement.
    Great reading, and thanks for sharing! Being honest with yourself about your results and evaluating (to the best of your ability) what may be the cause of some of your issues is paramount when you're just starting out. Also, it seems you have been doing your homework and taking advice, as evidenced by shaving only from sideburn to jaw line.

    One more area of focus, especially in regard to the "close shave" aspect you mention above, is to really pay attention to your blade angle. Too steep and you'll end up with razor burn, but too flat and the blade may not cut like it's supposed to, resulting in a less than smooth shave. A good starting point (as I'm sure you've read) is about two spine widths from your face. If it's not shaving well, try making the angle just a tiny bit more steep. Just be sure to go slow and in VERY small increments, since you want the blade to shave but also want to avoid razor burn.

    Another tip for you on your lather making abilities: try practicing building your lather while you wait for your beard to grow back in between shaves. Sure, I guess technically you'd be wasting soap/cream, but the price is small to shorten your learning curve and start getting great and comfortable shaves sooner.


    Good luck!!
    "Willpower and Dedication are good words," Roland remarked, "There's a bad one, though, that means the same thing. That one is Obsession." -Roland Deschain of Gilead

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    I'm a social vegan. I avoid meet. JBHoren's Avatar
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    Way to go! (and a big +1 to others' comments). I'd like to add this: Consider participating in the weekly SOTD thread; a photo accompanying your journal entry will help "make it real" -- for us, and for you (and it doesn't have to be "professional", or even "doctored").

    Smooth shaving!
    You can have everything, and still not have enough.
    I'd give it all up, for just a little more.

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    Junior Member FutureDoc's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone. JB, I will definitely do that once I step up my game a little bit. Right now I just have the bare essentials.

    Day 2

    Lather: B -- The lather definitely improved today. I think, if anything, I had it a little too watered down. It tried to run off my face initially, so I added more soap. That helped some. It seemed that all of my soap had disappeared by the time I got to the left side of my face. That might be because I'm going slow. The lather has room for improvement, but it was a definite step up from yesterday. I still don't think it is how it is supposed to feel when done correctly. I'll keep practicing tonight, even though I won't shave.

    Shave: C+ -- I still think something is wrong. Crouton, it's funny that you said that. I've been trying to figure out why it doesn't seem to be cutting well, and the only thing I can come up with is my angle. During this shave, I tried to be very aware of my angle of attack. I don't think I've found the sweet spot yet. The majority of the shave, it wasn't cutting much, so I relathered and tried again. On the right side, it was choppy and almost skipping, so I stopped and tried my left hand. I think I started to get it a little bit, but it's still not great. I assume it's bad if I have to go over a spot 3 or 4 times in the same pass to actually cut some hair. I will keep playing with the angle and try to get the 2 spine width or 30 degree thing down.

    Areas Shaved: Right and Left Sideburn to jawline. I tried some of the neck, but i didn't get much hair. My neck hair runs up toward my face for the most part, so I shaved upwards (WTG), being very careful.

    Stropping: B+ -- I think I'm getting the hang of stropping. It isn't too bad, and I can keep up a relatively average speed. I watched some videos last night, and I don't think I was doing anything wrong. I practiced turning the blade in my hand upwards and it feels natural now. I had a nearly invisible nick on my strop yesterday, but today was perfect. I have a natural leather SRD strop and I think it still needs some time to break in. I've been rubbing it down with the oil from my hands and that has helped. It should get better. I stropped 30 times before and 50 times after I shaved. Should I be using the linen side before the leather or is the leather sufficient?

    Overall: I'm definitely not afraid of the blade. I know not to get too comfortable though. I'm nowhere near that. I had a small weeper near my chin line on the right side, but I barely felt it. I can't even find it now. My face was a little irritated after today, but it subsided after a few hours. I think I can give it another go tomorrow. Especially considering the face that I barely got any hair today haha. It's obvious where I used the old Mach 3. It is much closer. But I'll get there. Thanks for all of the advice and support.

    FutureDoc
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    Junior Member FutureDoc's Avatar
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    I guess I'll throw this up here. This is what I'm working with right now. I got that cheap van der hagen set mainly for the bowl. The brush is only holding me over until my pure badger (with a stand, I know) comes in the mail. I also have amber romance soap from mama bear. It smells amazing as well, but I'm sticking with the spellbound woods for now.

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    FutureDoc

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    Moderator Razorfeld's Avatar
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    Future Doc, pardon the pun, but if you get a cheap wooden bowl (Goodwill is a good source), an epoxy that comes in a double syringe applicator and "doctor" the interior up with dots on the bottom and vertical ridges on the sides, let dry 24hrs, and then build your lather you will get fabulous lather in half the time.
    "The sharpening stones from time to time provide officers with gasoline."

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    Junior Member FutureDoc's Avatar
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    Nice idea! I'll have to try that out when I get some free time.

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