Thread: OMG!!! I have got to get better at this!

My first SR shave was quite an episode Sunday evening. Felt like a I was using a paint brush comb. If you don't know what a paint brush comb is, it looks like a 6 inch long paint stirring stick with finishing nails in a single row.

I have a Dovo "Best Quality" 6/8 razor, using Proraso Green pre/post shave, Proraso Green soap, Omega 6223 badger brush. The razor is straight from Lynn's honing. I used my 3" Red Latigo SRD strop. At least 30 laps on the fabric webbing and at least 50 laps on the leather.

I did fairly well as far as the bloodletting is concerned...WTG - just a few nicks on each side of the face and neck. Whiskers were still evident visually. I should have stopped there and went back to the Merkur 23c DE. But nooooooo, I had to keep going. Re-lather and try again. More pain. More blood (but still not that bad). Then I stopped and picked up the DE. Raw faced and on fire.

My second SR shave was completed about 30 minutes ago. Light years better performance *pat myself on the back*. First pass WTG went fairly well. Just took the heads off the bumps from the last effort. A little more blood, but removed a lot more whiskers, and hardly any burning. I took my strop beforehand and laid it on a table and took more time with the stropping. That was most likely the issue with the first shave, I may have curled the edge, or just not made good contact. I was able to go XTG this time which was very, very productive with the whisker removal. I then made an attempt at ATG. Not ready for that just yet evidently!! This is where I scored tonight's version of raw face and fire. I picked up the DE and finished off my chin and went ATG and cleaned myself up.

I am very pleased with this second attempt and expect I will really be enjoying my new shaving experience in the next several weeks. Thanks to all the people here on SRP. All the advice on what to do and stories about what not to do is really going to be my bible in the coming months.

CHEERS MY FRIENDS!!
Steve

30 shaves from now, revisit this thread, it will amuse you how much you've improved. I wasn't ready for ATG till 20 shaves in YMMV. I started with 3 WTG passes just so I could have more practice, then a clean up with DE. Now my SR skills have surpassed my DE shaves. Make sure to use both hands from the start. My first 5 shaves were quite stressful. Most important thing for me was to take my time and enjoy it and relax or try to as I made less mistakes this way.

I ruined the edge pretty quickly with poor stropping in the beginning with my first few shaves.

I also had to slow down and give my face a chance to heal at first too.

Yep start both hands early.

Sorry to hear about the rough first shave experience. It does get better - especially after your stropping improves.

A couple of things to remember. Keep the angle low and shave the lather not the whiskers. Just wipe it off like you were trying to get it all without touching your skin. The other thing that is key, skin stretching and holding. I suspect it was with the DE too but keep on it.

I'm a few weeks ahead of you very much enjoying the morning shave. But that first shave was no joke! Using both hands is the right thing to do. It's better to get used to it now.

This is the way many of us start by ignoring the advice and pressing on with full passes as we are enjoying too much until later when we burn. Start slow and work your way up. You will get there just as quickly without the pain and waiting for your face to heal. +1 to the advice on pressure and angle these ate common to have problems with in the beginning. Good luck

My first shave went simliar to this but with a feather DX and 2 cuts

Originally Posted by jmercer

I ruined the edge pretty quickly with poor stropping in the beginning with my first few shaves.

I also had to slow down and give my face a chance to heal at first too.

Yep start both hands early.

I like jmercer have ruined the edge on a new blade through bad stropping technique. I have to get the bevel re-set and razor re-sharpened. But like you, the OP, it will get better. I have noticed even with a compromised edge my steadiness and technique was better. I am now sitting on a razor waiting to get re-set to start again.

Good days, bad days doe not seem uncommon. I was trying to find the "cut of the day" thread because I sliced myself pretty good. Don't rush, and don't let it unnerve you.. calm and slow work best.