Fourth shave, finally got meat!

Well, my beginners luck finally ran out. After my 3'd shave, this morning, the pesky stubble that I kept feeling while stroking against the grain, under my jaw, got the better of me. Can't visually see it, but it's there just the same. It was time to get a bit froggy and try some shaving practice cross grain and against the grain. Didn't work too well. I wasn't able to find any comfortable angles, nor successfully remove the stubble. I finally gave up. I don't have any real feel for handling my razor, yet. After the jaw thing failed, I then decided to attack my chin with some east to west strokes. That's where I cut myself. At last, I finally got to try my Proraso styptic gel and must say that it works really well! :o Guess I'd best stick to shaving north-south... and also exercise a little more patience, for now!

Welcome not bad for the fourth shave. My first couple weeks were rough everything from my cheeks to my ear loabs got knicked. My first couple shaves I just did with the grain till I got a feel for the razor. You will build muscle memory soon and be amazed how you can navigate your face with the razor. Keep up the good work. Tons of good people here to help.

Yea, chalk it up to a lesson learned about having patience, had to learn that one too. Found out people weren't kidding when they said there was a steep/long learning curve to this sport. You'll know when you feel comfortable enough to try other passes but watch out for over confidence that can bite too. Don't feel bad, the chin knob and under the jawline are some of the hardest bits to do and those still give me troubles.

Bob

you will get there sooner than later if you slow down and be patient ,,it takes a lot more than 4 shaves to get capable at this endeavor. any body tells you different has a bridge to sell! stick with it and keep the styptic handy tc

The whole chin thing is a no-rush proposition. Chin skin is kind of mobile and the grain of the beard (on mine, at least) is very resistant to cross- and against grain cutting with anything less than a very crisp blade an good skin-pulling technique. Throat and parts of the neck are that way, too.

Come to think of it, the whole deal is a no-rush proposition.

Welcome to the boards. The information here is invaluable!

That's a scary title to begin with...".finally got meat". Don't be impatient. I learned to be satisfied initially with only wtg strokes, the shave looked smooth but you could feel stubble, but with no bleeders I felt successful. It took over a year to learn this..of course I'd try xtg, atg now and then but as soon as I "got meat" (like that phrase), it was back to simple wtg for the rest of the shave.
Only just recently, well after two years since I started sr shaving, can I get a no stubble shave, no bleeders consistently.
YMMV, you may be there in six months, but it took me well over a year.

don't be ashamed to use a DE on the tough parts perfect

straight shaving can be a progressive learning process

These are the lessons we remember the most. The trick is not getting any scars while you learn these lessons. Most don't.

I had to get even with my razor, for the unprovoked (?) attack... so I made this today. "Take 'that' you dastardly razor, you!"
Attachment 172885

Very nice. You weld that up yourself?

When I first started, I took these opportunities(and still do) to take a good hard look at all things. Turn the owwie into wowie! Add something extra to shave prep? Strop some more? Start from a 0-5 angle and work up until you find the right angle? Did I not skin stretch enough? Maybe, I didn't have my styptic stick within eye shot?

Hmmmm....

And, welcome, brother.

Don't forget to post in ..." The cut of the day " thread....they didn't have it when I was carving up my face.....LOL. No matter how good you think you are....we all slice ourselves on occasion ....if you ain't bleeding ,you ain't shaving....

Sic4531,

Yep!:D