Thread: Official first attempt!

Finally! My new Aust razor came in today from SRD. Much better and certainly much sharper than my other blade had been. It took me a while to get used to using an authentically sharp razor and I realized there are so many factors that make first shaves so difficult. I was having a difficult time stretching the skin right, then my lather was drying up super fast, it seemed like I had to angle my blade to closer to 45 degrees to get it to cut closer, and my left hand did not want to cooperate. I know were supposed to make a thick rich lather but I felt it was working much better with just a wet-thin lather that almost dripped. Even like that it dried fast but I could at least complete one section without it drying. I did at least realize why it is called "wet shaving". It was nice though, to make a few passes on my neck without tearing up the skin! I didn't get BBS; ending up at 5 o'clock shadow instead, but I did at least start to get a feel for what the shave should feel like. I also made sure to strop on linen and leather after the shave and not before. I also made sure the blade edge had the same feel as before the shave to make sure I didn't roll my edge. That was a success at least! I started with WTG with mild success. Couldn't seem to get the right angle and with sticky soap it was getting confusing. Eventually I got the slick feel from the lather but by that point I was trying ATG. I was even successful at going ATG on my lip without a nick! My head was a different story. Couldn't seem to get even a close cut anywhere except where it is nearly devoid of hair on top.

Protips are encouraged! I'm using VDH soap and AoS pre oil. I put a few drops of that in the soap for my second pass as well since the VDH stripped a lot of my natural oils. I finished my cheeks and head with M3 to get clean but left my neck alone.

(If it seems jumpy, I apologize. Writing this from my phone while wife is on the computer!)

Tinture of time,keep at it.Before you know it will all come together.

jim try doing just the cheeks area WTG from sideburn to jawline for just a few shaves till you get the feel for the right angle and pressure ,, that way when you get used to it add another bit to your shave till your there taking on to much at once is very hard to get the feel for each area of your face . that way your lather wont give out on you either ,, I still have to relather myself because I,m too slow ,, but this isn't a race, I learned this from the video I watched and it helped me a lot ,, kinda like learning a new language, you learn one word at a time then put together sentences, youll get there I promise ,one day it will all just click good luck tc

Keep up the great work! You have more courage than me! Probably a better eye, too -- I can't really shave my neck well without having my glasses on so I can see what I'm doing.

Tonight I am doing my third shave with a straight razor. If I can do the dominant side of my face (that is, my right side since I am right handed) with my right hand, I'll congratulate myself.

For myself, I plan to be patient and keep trying. I have been getting that "5 o'clock shadow" result, too. But I have not tried multiple passes with the razor. I know that shaving is done with a few passes, not in one pass alone.

Again, keep up the great work! I think you are doing great.

Bob

What tc said. Start slow and build up to it. You are trying to do an activity that your mind and body have not been trained for and if you try to do it all before learning you're going to pull a muscle or better yet, learn the ancient Chinese art of blood letting... the hard way.

Jim -- tcrideshd's advice is correct. Slow down and get an easier area to go well first, then move on. I've been shaving a long time and still don't do ATG with any razor, even a cartridge. It's just not comfortable for me and I don't need my face to be perfect (it wouldn't match the rest of me).

Bob -- good for you. You seem to be exercising patience which is a good thing.

With time, all things come together.

h.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Jim -- tcrideshd's advice is correct. Slow down and get an easier area to go well first, then move on. I've been shaving a long time and still don't do ATG with any razor, even a cartridge[...]With time, all things come together.

Jim, I am with Harold and Guitstik. I myself am going very slowly and timidly. I do think I will make more progress tonight than in my past two shaves as I learn the ways of straight razors.

I'm guessing that in my own grandfather's day, when he was a boy, he had years of watching his own father shave with a straight razor. When he in turn became a teen, he had a shaving mentor right there every morning -- his Dad. The combination of observing his Dad and then getting quick shaving advice probably helped him get started fast. You and I don't have that benefit. We have to go a bit slower.

Like Harold, I myself don't shave against the grain with any razor. I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying it may be attempting a little too much, too fast.

Bob

Learning to SR shave at a later age in life has many of the same qualities of being circumcised at a mature age, hurts like hell but sooner or later you get used to it.

Originally Posted by guitstik

Learning to SR shave at a later age in life has many of the same qualities of being circumcised at a mature age, hurts like hell but sooner or later you get used to it.

So you wanna scare all the new guys away with that analogy?-Har har.

Like anything else new you just got to learn it. I would use a better analogy like learning to drive a car with a stick shift or trying to write with your off hand. It's awkward at first but the day will come when you will laugh at your first attempts (except of course for the guys who killed themselves trying or cut their ears or other parts of their anatomy off).

True. I probably should. Though I did actually learn to drive in a stick. Writing with my left hand though? Yeah not likely happening in the next century! I've always been a "run before you walk" kind of guy. Hence the reason I've jumped into honing as well as shaving. Then again, that attempt would have worked a lot better if the blade wasn't warped. Either way, I'll see how shaving goes tomorrow or Monday and report back in!