Thread: The First Shave

I just received my straight today with my strop and brush and soap. First things first stropping correctly is harder then it seems and I have already taken the tiniest bite out of my strop. need to slow down a bit until I have it down I think. This won't affect my stropping will it. I mean the small cut. I used a soap as my lather and found out that it dried out by the time I got to that side of the face as I ignored Lynn's warning about only shaving one side burn. What can I say I really liked it. It was so peaceful dragging one blade across my skin instead of 3 and actually having to pay attention to it. I did a 3 pass WTG, XTG and ATG and made it out with only 3 small nicks and a tender face. Not bad for my first time ever. I just have a few questions. How do I make my lather stay wet? Since I am learning and it takes me a long time to do 3 passes. The whole thing took me about an hour. The only part I struggled with was near my Adams apple because I have a "defined" neck with not much roundness to it. Also can someone help me get a process going because I had no idea what to do with my brush after I lathered. I put it back into my mug. I tried both the shaving soap and the shaving cream and both of them dried and flaked. That was the only thing that made my shave a little uncomfortable but all in all I've got to say I can't wait to shave again. Any advice would be appreciated. A little about razor care would help too such as how to store, what to oil etc. Thanks guys!

Lets start with the lather. If your lather dries out it needs more water and more whipping. If I have a fresh honed blade from someone else it usually comes pre stropped and you should be able to go straight to the shave. Too late now but something to remember for next time. Tiny ncos should not be a big deal. They cn be glued bad into place easily with rubber cement or carefully candid out, that in itself is a mint lesson. Skin stretching and razor angle are super important. Keep you skin tight and your angle quite low. The spine should not be close enough to drag on your skin but it should be fairly flat. I think most guys say the gap should be two times the thickness of the spine. Going slow is always a good plan. The neck is one of the most discussed area of the face around here. A quick search should give enough reading for several days.

My brush soaks in a coffee cup a minute or 3, in warm water, before I put it to the puck or cream. Then if the lather looks like it needs a little more water, I dip the tips of the brush back into the cup.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Also can someone help me get a process going because I had no idea what to do with my brush after I lathered. I put it back into my mug.

Back in the mug works but my brush always seemed to fall down....I know it sounds simple but I just stand mine on its base next to the mug. My brother (who just got his first straight) was watching me shave and when I stood my brush up he just looked at me in shock like "oh that's what you do with it....brilliant"

If I need to it takes a dip into the mug before re-lathering. Don't be scared to re-lather!!! Don't shave dry!! Congrats on your first shave....feels awesome huh!!!!

Yea it feels pretty amazing

Some pretty good advice given already. My advice is to experiment with the lather. Sometime when you have some spare time try varying the ratio of cream/soap to water. Try adding a little more water to the lather in increments until the later fades away.

About storage...After I use a razor I rinse the blade with hot water from the tap, then dry the blade and scales off with a tissue. I lay the razor in a safe place, but not the bathroom, for 24 hours opened. Then I close the razor and put it in a cigar box with silica gel packs.

Enough advices were given regarding the lather. So I will try to cover the shaving itself and the storage. First, you did what I couldn't when I got my first straight razor, you did not shave your entire face. I did, and quite frankly it did not go too well. I had the same issues you did, the lather dried, I nicked myself and the strop, but didn't give up, if the guys on youtube could do it so could I. Pre shave preparation is essential, a hot shower before shaving is a great way to do it. Mix some lather up and before you apply It, wet your face a little bit more, then work those whiskers up. If you didn't do this already it is a great way to avoid razor burn to navigate your face with your fingers and learn the growth direction of your beard, before I shaved with a straight razor I thought I knew the growth directions of mine, but I was surprised after a couple of minutes studying it. Stretch your skin and go slow, take a few short passes, one pass to shave an entire area of your face is not good. Now, about the storage, I currently own 5 razors, so each razor has to "wait" something around 3 weeks to be used again, therefore it is a lot easier for it to rust. If you have only one razor possibly this won't be a problem to you, but I don't know how often you shave. My advice is to get some mineral oil, after you dry the blade and the scale with a tissue of toilet paper (it's better than a cloth because it absorbs more water), rub some of that oil on the entire blade (spine, tang, etc). I garantee you that you won't have to worry about rusting, and the next time you use the razor just whipe it off with toilet paper, strop it and BAMM another baby smooth shave. Sorry for the long reply, I hope it helped, keep it up and I assure you it only gets better.