Thread: First straight shave this morning

So I finally got all of my gear together to shave with a straight this morning. For the most part it went better than I expected, especially considering I decided to go against my better judgement and just do the entire shave with the straight. I prepped my beard as I normally do, hot shower, hot towel, lather, hot towel, relather then shave. I did two passes, one WTG and one XTG. I figured for my first time a superlather wouldn't be a bad idea, so I made one out of Tabac and Nivea shave cream, whose scents work well together for me.

I got an easy DFS on my cheeks and upper lip, just as good as I normally get with my DE, and I assume that will improve with time. I'm still trying to get a handle on how to shave my neck properly, leaving me with a little irritation there, but it was mostly cleared up with some generous application of witch hazel. There was significantly more tugging than I'm used to, but I expect that comes from poor technique.

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with my first shave, and I have a better understanding of the steep learning curve ahead of me.

Additionally, I used two razors for this shave and I'm very impressed with the Bruno Custom that I got from a member of another shaving forum. it surprised me how the slight smile and shorter blade made it much easier to maneuver than my whipped dog sight unseen, even with the 8/8 blade.



Finally, I thought I was going to make it through with no nicks, but right at the end of the shave I got the bottom of my earlobe with the toe of the blade. live and learn.

Sounds like you are off to a great start. As you said, the technique will come along. Good job on snagging a Bruno blade, that's on my wish list.

Doing better than me on my first! I lost a pretty good amount of blood that first day... I didn't believe it when I first read it, but everyone on here was exactly right that it takes a few months to get down. Between stropping and shave angles and learning your face, it takes some experimenting. I'm going on 4 months now of daily shaves and am just getting to where I can do my neck properly. But that first day that you get a true BBS with no cuts or weepers - it's an awesome feeling!!

Well done, and congrats on your first shave!! Sound like you are off to a good start.

Think back, did that cut on your ear lobe happen the instant your concentration jumped ahead to something else? I've found that every nick and cut I've had while straight razor shaving is due to a lapse in concentration. That old axiom, 'Know thyself' can be rephrased "Know your blade (and where it is on your face)'.

Other than that, congrats on a first straight experience and I'm jealous of your Bruno.

Congrats and always mind the blade

That first shave feel.

Just remember that stropping technique is almost as important as shaving technique. Keep at it, boss!

Congrats on your first shave. It'll get better as time goes..................

Originally Posted by DickWhitman

Just remember that stropping technique is almost as important as shaving technique. Keep at it, boss!

^^^ This, very important.