one month in...

I posted on here after about two weeks starting with a straight; now I'm a month, maybe a bit longer in and would like to give an update, including a few more observations I've made that might help other new people out.

The biggest problem areas I have had have been, like a lot of people, right around the chin and on the sides of the neck. My first impulse was to keep trying and trying to get those areas right, and quickly discovered this was not a good tactic; mainly a lot of aggravation and razor burn. From there I went to the tactic of attempting different approaches - this was a much better way to go, provided I didn't once again overdo it and do seventeen different angles on the same patch of face at once and leave it pulverized. One thing I found was that a cross handed approach (right hand on left side of face and vice versa) was a good way to get at the hollows of the neck.

The next thing I found was that sometimes ignoring a problem area is a worthy approach. This kind of worked for my chin. I convinced myself to stop worrying about it for a week or so and concentrated instead on improving technique in the areas around the chin that I was already doing okay on, and sure enough, within a few shaves, the chin area began to look a lot better because I was getting better in the areas immediately around it and slowly expanding into the chin area. Its still a work in progress, but I know I'm getting there.

Finally, a block of alum is worth its weight in gold in getting a grip on the skin. the only other alternative I can think of would be pine tar, which would likely have some serious disadvantages....

I appreciate the wealth of advice on this site - I'm sure I'd be a lot farther behind if I didn't have this to refer to on a daily basis.

Chris

Sounds like you are well on your way. Great tips for newer members.

Sounds like it's coming together for you, that's great.

You follow a sensible approach and appear to make steady progress.
Congratulations.

Sometimes during a shave a new idea formed in my head how I could tackle a problem area, I tried it and sometimes it worked and sometimes I had to move on.
And that is how my shaves became gradually better as I was coming to grips with the straight razor and the different shaving zones of my face.

Being right-handed, I too use the left hand for the right half of my face and it works for me.


And that's basic how it comes together; finding by trial and error what works for you (and accepting that what works for you may not work for others and v.v.).



B.

Thank you for the tips. I'm still studying up on how to SR shave, and haven't started yet. I've always been one to learn from others mistakes. I'm just hoping from what I learn here I won't skin myself alive when I first try. Lol.

I took a similar approach myself. Wanting to become a "switch hitter" on the straight edge I stuck to just my cheeks for weeks before moving down to the neck...then the stache...and finally the chin. I think all in the entire process took close to two months before I started to understand how to move the blade on the face and hand position memorization started to improve the pace at which the entire process was executed. It helped ease my anxiety when I realized I don't have to rush any of this...it's not a race to learn how to shave my face. By taking the time....I improved my confidence...and thus my commitment to the craft. I kept a disposable (And still do) in the drawer any time I encounter a challenge and don't think the penalty is worth the effort. I figure in time....all of this will become a non-event and I'll move around the face with the razor like a veteran.