Beginner, Third Shave With Oxford Razor -- Germania Cutl Works

Today, I was more adventurous in my 3rd straight razor shave with my Oxford Razor from Germania Cutl Works. Thinking I was perhaps a little too cautious in my shave attempt yesterday, today I tried to shave most of the right side of my face with my right hand (I'm right-handed.)

I think I did better than yesterday. I was more confident in my grip on the razor. I shaved more area of my face. I'm still very nervous. I did not achieve a smooth, close shave, but I took more hair off with the straight razor than I did yesterday. In this first pass, I got one tiny nick a short distance under my ear. I was a little adventurous. I tried to shave the right side above my upper lip where a mustache would be. After the first pass on the right side of my face, I rinsed all the lather off and and brushed on more and did a second pass of the same area. I became worried about getting the razor to reach the back of my face where the jawbone connects with the rest of my head. I didn't try to shave that part of me.

After the second pass with the straight razor, I still had stubble on my right cheek. I finished it off with an additional 2 passes of my Merkur double edge razor. I had been so focused on working with the straight razor that I forgot to change the blade in my Merkur. In total, I did 4 passes on the right side of my face: 2 with the straight and 2 with the Merkur. I can feel the results on the right side of my face, there is a little burning sensation right now as I type this.

You can see my pattern here: I start out trying to do part of my right cheek with my straight razor. Then I finish up with the double edge razor. I am more adventurous than I was yesterday, and I did no worse, even if I do not show dramatic improvement. I became a little more confident.

Here is a photo of the right side of my face -- remember, this is 2 passes of the straight razor plus 2 passes of the double-edge.

Attachment 171861

Here is a photo of my straight razor.

Attachment 171862

Thanks for all feedback!

Bob

Bob, your confidence will improve with every shave.

Something you might try -- and I know it sounds just a little nuts -- but you can give it a shot. Shave once first with your Merkur, then re-lather and go over your face with the straight. There won't be any pesky whiskers there to catch the edge and and make you cut yourself. You'll learn the topography this way and figure out which grips will facilitate shaving the different areas.

Go slow, confidence in your strokes will come your way.

Stimpy52, this is a really interesting idea! I am going to try it tonight. Thank you!

Bob

Right now, I keep my soap bowl full. I soap the areas I'm about to shave (after an initial pass with crunkhorn glycerin). I soap each area right before cutting because I found that my slowness caused the soap to dry. I like VERY wet soap as I'm learning.