I tried to shave my left side cheek today

Like I said. I have been shaving my right side cheek and neck for the last 10 or so days. Just with the grain so far. I have my good and bad days. some days more razor burn and some days none.

I have tried most of the right hand cuts. such as across the grain on the left check, and left neck area. I have tried against the grain on the right and left side. I have had not bad progress, I think if I get the razors honed by SRD they will probably perform better. There nice razors I bough off the classified here. I probably should just bought one brand new one of quality to start, but that's were it is.

Oh the left side cheek with the left hand. It did not go bad a little different, I felt like I was al thumbs. The area I have the most problem is with the mustache area upper lip and the chin area I just cant seem to cut them whiskers.

I am probably only going to straight razor shave on the week ends and go thru the week only using my DE razor. I hope this doesn't put me in the same league as the cartridge users.

It was funny I was at my moms today and in the bathroom my father had his Schick injector razor with the dial setting. I learned to shave on that thing. He has had that relic for 45 years.

Interesting about your dad having the Schick Injector for 45 years. I have used a straight razor for 6 years now but before that I used a Gillette Trac II that I bought new in 1974. I hated shaving with that Trac II, still have it and won't use it...its a sentimental thing. Funny how someone will hate using something but keep it for so many years............

When we start out keeping the edge in top shape is difficult - it's one of the many things you have to master. And unfortunately a less than perfect edge just makes it all harder.

It's gets better quickly - 20-30 shaves is a break out for many in the way to the magic 100.

I've bought several razors from the classifieds and every one of them had an outstanding edge - the bar is high. What helped me a lot was getting a razor from the classifieds at around the 25 shave mark. The skills where good enough to appreciate the edge, and it started to click.

And PM the seller(s) from the classifieds, many will re hone a razor (that has not been damaged/chipped) for the price of postage or postage and a few $.

My line is "learning how to shave with a straight on your own is like learning how to tune and play the piano by correspondence course" - there is just a lot of fine motor skills to master.

Hang in there, it comes together in short order...

Yeah, that left hand can cause some angst. I remember starting and the left hand and the mirror image made....up - down, left - right, etc. etc.. However it improves much quicker than you might imagine. In a very short time, my left (off hand) became the more proficient hand and still is. I always said that it didn't have any bad habits to correct.

The razor burn sounds like, maybe, a combination of things. Starting out we try to compensate for things by using too much pressure, too steep of an angle.....causing a scraping of the edge across the skin, dulling the blade.

Getting your razor pro sharpened would be very beneficial and here's a link to our "member services" and you'll find a number of members highly skilled in honing. Their ads have contact info, etc. and you can decide which you might want to use. http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4

If in doubt, PM me and I'd be glad to offer suggestions to help in your choice.

Here's a great video about the test shave, but it covers much more....Prep, which I hadn't got to yet, but angles, expectations, etc..

:gl: and keep having fun!!

Best Regards,

Howard :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

I remember practising in a mirror with a bread knife just to get the mechanics sorted. Are you using the heel of the razor at times? I find some areas lend themselves very well to being cut with the heel. The left upper lip would be one. I have a moustache thingy but trim the LH edge with the razor's heel and I imagine I also use the heel if I had to shave my left upper lip.

Hang in there, you will get it. Lots of practice, trial and error and just getting muscle memory.

Stropping alone is a huge item that takes time to get right before you can actually improve the edge of your razor.

If you can, I would suggest using the straight everyday and then the DE afterwards for finishing up. That way you will get practice everyday but still walk out with a good shave. I used my cartridge to finish for about two weeks or so before just putting that in the closet and only using my straight.

This really does takes about a hundred shaves to start getting things together. You can do this, just give yourself time to learn. Read as much as you can here and watch videos.

Keep at it, your doing fine.

As a matter of fact that is what I have been doing every morning. Even though its only on my right sside and a few select left side cuts it gives me a little but often my favorite quote. Like shooting skeet after you shoot about 3000 rounds you start to figure out what to do.