Thread: First Five shaves down!

I am retired and have plenty of time, but I prefer to shave in the morning. I have two cups of coffee to make it a sporting experience, if you know what I mean. Each shave I learn something new. Having been a DE shaver, I thought I knew my beard pattern, but I am finding out, I didn't have a clue until I began the SR experience. Each shave is an experiment at this stage, but you are correct in that it is meditative.

Ok tenth shave down tonight. I think I did a good job with my strope tonight because I really had a really smooth shave. Still having issues getting a close shave on my jaw and under my chin but I feel like I'm getting better every time I shave.

Originally Posted by Miketig

Ok tenth shave down tonight. I think I did a good job with my strope tonight because I really had a really smooth shave. Still having issues getting a close shave on my jaw and under my chin but I feel like I'm getting better every time I shave.

Good for you!

I (and probably most of the shaving community!) also feel that the jaw and chin are the most difficult parts to get close. It'll get better and better, though, since you'll learn how to contort and stretch your face to make it easier.

I recently discovered how much easier it becomes for me when I push my lower lip up as far as I can, imagining I'm trying to touch my nose with it at the same time as I stretch my chin up against the ceiling. This makes the chin flatter, and when I tilt the head from side to side it also makes it easier to hit the jawline, especially when coupled with some stretching of the skin with the non-shaving hand.

Good luck!

Those two places are the hardest, I was probably at around thirty shaves before I figured that area out.

Watch out for over confidence, that will start kicking in soon. I know mine did at about shave 15+/-.

I'm still afraid of it like it's going to cut me on it's own. I do love the process I never thought shaving could give me so much pleasure.

My buddy asked how long does it take you to shave? I said 45 min to an hour. He laughed it takes me TWO min and I get a better shave. I said you are doing a chore I'm learning an art, it's a man thing you wouldn't understand. He laughed again. I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

Originally Posted by Miketig

I'm still afraid of it like it's going to cut me on it's own. I do love the process I never thought shaving could give me so much pleasure.

My buddy asked how long does it take you to shave? I said 45 min to an hour. He laughed it takes me TWO min and I get a better shave. I said you are doing a chore I'm learning an art, it's a man thing you wouldn't understand. He laughed again. I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

That was an excellent response from you! And it shows that you've truly understood what this hobby is about.

It will get faster, I was close to 45mins when I started. Now if I do a one pass WTG shave it's probably under 5mins

Originally Posted by Miketig

I'm still afraid of it like it's going to cut me on it's own. I do love the process I never thought shaving could give me so much pleasure.

My buddy asked how long does it take you to shave? I said 45 min to an hour. He laughed it takes me TWO min and I get a better shave. I said you are doing a chore I'm learning an art, it's a man thing you wouldn't understand. He laughed again. I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

Originally Posted by Miketig

I'm still afraid of it like it's going to cut me on it's own. I do love the process I never thought shaving could give me so much pleasure.

My buddy asked how long does it take you to shave? I said 45 min to an hour. He laughed it takes me TWO min and I get a better shave. I said you are doing a chore I'm learning an art, it's a man thing you wouldn't understand. He laughed again. I guess if you don't get it you just don't get it.

Yeah, it took me a good long while to get my time down from that 45-60-minute range. Just keep focusing on an irritation- and cut-free shave, and your time will keep coming down. You're right about pleasure: I've been at it for nine years, and it's still fun!

Ok I know the name of the thread is first 5 but I'm up to 12 now. Tonight I decided to go really slow and shave my whole face and neck. The sides of my face are really smooth I'm very happy with my progress there. My upper lip and chin are coming around not perfect yet but getting better. My jaw line is still my biggest problem but it's getting better with every shave.

Watching shave videos has been more of a help then I would have ever thought. I learn something new every time I watch a new video. This journey is way more fun then I ever could have imagined.
Thanks for all the comments and advice
Mike

The chin and jaw line are my toughest spots too. I do a 2 pass shave and what ever I miss on the wtg pass I get on the xtg pass. Instead of trying to get everything on the first go around and just trusting by the end of the shave I may have a couple touch ups I save my skin a lot of irritation. I also find it difficult to get the chin anything resembling clean shaven on the wtg pass. The hair on my chin is so tough and lays so tight to the skin that it's a hopeless endeavor to get it all going wtg. Stretching and using a buffing xtg pass is the key for my chin.