My very first shave!!

Well after many video's and deliveries from the post office,today was the day!! I bought 8 razors in the last 3 weeks,mainly because I just kept winning them.Name's like GEORGE WOSTENHOLM & SONS,Joseph Rodgers & Sons,H Boker & Co,Crown Razor Co and Wester bros.How could I miss! I used a hot towel on my face for 10 min,put the new soap in the new cup.I took my new Badger fur brush and made a shocking later"it is the first time you see it :) " and went at it.I had a new razor that came with my strop so I thought I would start "fresh" for the first time.How bad could it be,it's new! WRONG!!!! Now I did read about all the countries NOT to use a razor from,and did it anyway. So as I watched it scrap the soap off my face and leave the hair in place,at that point I decided to use a classic instead.The Boker had a fresh hone and strop and tried again.More water and soap and down with grain it went.After a couple of trial swipes and angle changes,I noticed the hair was not there any more.That's a good thing! So I did the other side of my face.Much easier now that I'm a pro :),and that worked great.Now both cheeks are done well let's move on.This is where I realized that hair grows in different direction's. OK let's follow the direction and see where that leads me. Slightly more difficult,and I think I found a cure for acne but it worked.So the chin and under the nose. Well I remember from the videos how it was done,but I also have watched video's on brain surgury and I think I will pass on both for right now. So I cleaned everything and put it away for round two,a nd finished up with my electric razor.So now I have 5 o'clock shadow in the middle of my face and smooth like it has never been on the sides....And no blood! So the journey continues!! Wish me luck and thanks for all the help,and this great site....Dave

Well, first welcome. Secondly, let me suggest you read Lynn's sticky at the beginning of the beginners section. I admire your energy in attacking it all at once and am not surprised at your results. Unfortunately disposables and electrics condition our mind to 'just do it' and all is accomplished in one step. Wet shaving with a straight, a DE or a SE is a multi step program. The difference is you are not recovering from a condition, you are advancing on a state of enjoyment best learned one or two steps at a time. What is also good, other than Lynn's sticky and various videos is that you have a huge support group you might not be aware of. Front line help are the Mentors. We are here to help you understand the many steps needed to a successful shave and to lend our expertise, whether by post, PM or, if there is one near you, one-on-one sessions to help you get to the result you want. So please, read, reread, watch videos, re watch videos and ask, ask, ask question on anything that is not clear to you. Believe me, with the support group you have here there are answers aplenty.

Congrats on the shave success. Happy shaving

Just keep following the good advice you get from other members on here (mentors on up) & keep going in a positive direction & everything will be alright!!!

Well today was day 2 and this time I shaved after my shower,but I didn't get as close a shave as yesturday? I'm going to strop a little slower and more carefully,even though the edge seemed very good.I did take less time and my angle seemed to be easier to find..Well day 3 comming up:)

Keep trying, it takes time to get it down just right. You'll be ok!!!

Congrats, and keep it up...just watch those weepers...

You put a smile on my face, Helmut.

I'm called pinklather from how I looked after my first shave. It was ah colorful.

I've not read all the replies, but I can be rather certain 'shave ready', 'honed by a pro' will be included. I think the fastest way to come up to speed is to get w/ an experienced shaver or two in your area. Watch their technique, have them watch yours. It can be amazing how much it helps. Should your travels take you near Portland, OR in the Great North Wet - hollar.

The guys here have been incredibly kind and helpful to me. Helping guys fall in love w/ their shaves seems the best way I know to thank them for their kindness.

I think you're gonna love the str8 shave. The attitude that comes through in your post is outstanding.

Hi Pinklather "great name!" and your right about the hone.I re-honed all 9 razors "that came in so far" today.I watched more videos and I am going to work my skills.I have a family of watchmaker's and gun makers in my blood on the German side of my family,and I won't give up.This morning I think I got cocky and did not take the time to lather and my blade was not up to snuff.I got a full wedge in today and put an edge on it that should be able to cut an engine block in half,and maybe even hair. So tomorrow is another day and I have 9 blades and I am going to work the angles a bit more.Cut the angle and pull the skin,which I did not do this morning. Being disabled I have plenty of time on my hands to figure this out. The hone-miester's may be in my future,but I will still need to do it on my own. So wish me luck! Day 3 comming up!..Take care....Dave

Ok it's day 3.This is the second day shaving after my shower in the morning with no luck.I did use a razor I got in yesturday,that was a full wedge that I thought I had a good edge on but maybe not.Today I ordered a 4000/8000 wet stone.So let's go up a notch.I am going to put a hold on this till that comes in and look for the missing pieces of my face in the mean time.All my razors have an edge that cuts paper like it's not there,and arm hair! I thought I had it last night with a fresh hone and 100 strop,but I guess I was mistaken. I wish I remembered what razor I used on the first day,when I shaved in the afternoon.I may try that again and not after a shower.Maybe I'm not awake enough.Plus I will be completely dressed also! That would be an accident I would really want to avoid at all costs.Try explaining that to the ER doctor.You cut what off shaving your face???? That's not a conversation that I would want to have.Anyway the stone is comming and I will start again:)....Dave out

sounds like your razors are not shave ready ,, maybe should get one done right so you will know what shave ready is,, it took me a bit to find out my razors wern t ready,, and I could cut paper with my knives all day long easiest way to learn how to shave well is with a razor that's ready , till then you wont know good luck tc

Good luck and keep at it, slow and steady.

You're making me laugh and cry at the same time :D

I admire your fortitude and persistence, but encourage you to either perfect honing quickly (not likely or easy) or get one or two of your razors honed professionally.

I'm a year in and finally getting very (almost) shave perfectly. Part of it is fresh, well honed issues that I didn't ruin stropping or shaving badly, part is lather finally learned, and part is angles and PATIENCE.

Good luck, hand in, and as our guru says "have fun". Sounds like you are!

Well it's one month today,so here's an update.The shaving is going well with a couple of hone masters"wipped dog" for one and a double duck on Ebay plus 16 others to practice on.The shaving has been going very well with only a couple of small nicks.The restoring and honing has been fun to say the least.Thank god for the video's!!! I was over honing and sharping,then not stroping enough.So that's comming along.I am branching out to across the grain and that so far has been working well.Now my friends and getting ready to start this weekend:) We are having a shave a thon.This will be fun to say the least..I think I will give out prizes for the most blood lost:) Ok people I will keep you updated and thank you all for the support and advice...Dave

You might want to call the blood donor trucks out!:tu

Well I'm going to shave first and go over the rules so to speak.They are going to keep it pretty flat till they get the feel of it..This should be fun:)