First Five shaves down!

I've gotten through my first five SR shaves with only one minor nick, I'm calling that a moral victory. I started out the first three doing only cheek and sideburns. My right side worked out great. My left side with my left hand not so much. I'm very uncoordinated with my left hand I hope that gets better with time. Shave four I moved onto my neck which is where I nicked myself. No big deal it stopped bleeding before I was done shaving.

I've bought shave soap and cream. The soap is from the art of shaving I'm not getting a real good lather out of it not sure why. I put a little hot water on it and my brush in hot water then shower. Then try to build a nice lather and it doesn't seem to happen. The cream is unreal it's Taylor of old bond street it lathers up nice and give me a great shave. Well great as in smoother but I'm still using my disposable to finish up.

I'm really enjoying the process I can't wait to be able to get a great shave out of my razors. The rounded areas of my face are giving me a problem and under my nose I have no idea how to get a close shave there. Anyways just wanted to vent and any suggestions will be awesome thanks

It only gets better!
Just keep at it and eventually you will get a great shave every time .

Miketig, be patient and keep at it. Remember to stretch your skin well. Lots of contorting! Small SR nicks always tend to heal quickly because the cuts are so clean and straight. Keep practising and it'll get easier, and the coordination with your left hand will get better too. Just don't give up. It's a steep learning curve, but you'll get there. Good luck.

Congrats!
I'm a new to SR shaving as well, I've been using DE for some time.
What really helped me was the library content here including all the videos + patience.
Everyone on the Forum has been extremely supportive.
Can't comment on the AOS products as I've been using other products. I've been simply testing them individually and picking my favorites.
Enjoy the experience!

I have a beard, so I only shave part of my cheeks, under my bottom lip, and my neck, but I do it all right handed. I don't find it awkward or difficult at all. I'd rather focus on the razor than what my hand is doing, too.

Sounds like your doing great. I too am a newbie and finally doing complete SR shaves (sometimes). I just finished my 14th SR shave and it was not that great. It seemed to take me forever (1.5 hours). However, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to hold the razor and the angles on my neck. Still having problems, but I am determined not to give up. I am having trouble with the coordination of my left hand, but it seems to be getting a little better each time.

You will find no shortage of help from the members of this forum. They have been a tremendous help to me.

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Originally Posted by Grayelk

Sounds like your doing great. I too am a newbie and finally doing complete SR shaves (sometimes). I just finished my 14th SR shave and it was not that great. It seemed to take me forever (1.5 hours). However, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to hold the razor and the angles on my neck. Still having problems, but I am determined not to give up. I am having trouble with the coordination of my left hand, but it seems to be getting a little better each time.

You will find no shortage of help from the members of this forum. They have been a tremendous help to me.

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I heard that it takes me forever to shave. I'm in there at least an hour every time. I have started shaving in sections so the cream/soap doesn't dry up. My Gf thinks I'm crazy to take so much time learning to shave again. I told her this is real man stuff you wouldn't understand lol. I have Lynn DVD in the mail hoping to get some more good info off of it.

With time and all the learning you are doing I have no doubt you will get your shave time down to under 20-30 minutes. A great deal has to do with self confidence. Unless I am rushed in the morning I can get a two and a half pass shave done in 15 minutes, with both hands. It took a year and a half to get to this point, and I enjoyed the fight and learning all along the way (think a maple bar as a reward for getting something right in the process.)

As for soaps that are difficult to lather, add a 2 or 3 drops of glycerin on top of the wet puck and let it sit for several minutes. That, in most cases, other than hard water problems, usually solves the issue.

Well last night was my 6th shave and it was the best yet. I'm not able to do a hundred percent but I did pretty good. The right side of my face was as smooth as I've been able to get. It was really cool getting that awesome of a shave. I didn't get the left side as good but it's getting better every time. It's funny I wish my beard would grow faster so I could practice more lol.

Thanks for all the advice

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Originally Posted by Miketig

I heard that it takes me forever to shave. I'm in there at least an hour every time. I have started shaving in sections so the cream/soap doesn't dry up. My Gf thinks I'm crazy to take so much time learning to shave again. I told her this is real man stuff you wouldn't understand lol. I have Lynn DVD in the mail hoping to get some more good info off of it.

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I am one of those guys who will tell you right now to stop clock watching. Part of my shave routine is simply ENJOYING the entire process. I can shave myself in 5 minutes using a DE and get a BBS result (DFS at worst), but why would I want to? I have always said that, for me, there is a meditative quality to shaving that I look forward to. No way in hell do I want to speed that up. Now, I get that, if you are shaving in the morning for work, you may want to shave more quickly. But, if you are an evening shaver like me, than I say stop focusing on how long it takes, and start concentrating on how much you enjoy the process.

You'll find that, when you do, your times will come down, and your shave quality will go up.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Quote:

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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.

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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.

I'm working at stretching my skin for the best results I figured the more I practice the better I'll get. Someone said that they know so much about their face after SR shaving. I'm starting to understand that statement now. By Christmas I'll know every inch of my face. That should be around my 100th shave. Enjoying the ride!

I have one shave down and I am already looking forward to my next one. I'm glad I took the plunge. I had a very small nick that was minute but I'm sure it won't be the last, lol.

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Originally Posted by Humpglide

I have one shave down and I am already looking forward to my next one. I'm glad I took the plunge. I had a very small nick that was minute but I'm sure it won't be the last, lol.

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Not that I know anything yet but it only gets better from here. The difference between my first and 12th is like night and day. Every shave you learn something new about your face. Post questions everyone on here is very helpful. Enjoy the ride!