Thread: First Straight Shaves

When I first started, straight razors felt dull on my face. Especially in the moustache goatee area. I learned that the razors were sharp, my technique was poor.

I am basically in the same boat as you. The area above the lip is so difficult for me to figure out. I find it impossible to get the proper angle when shaving right under the nose.

Today's Subject: Skin Stretching with the Off Hand

It has been my practice to get a little dab of Railcar Fine Goods Pomade and comb the hair before shaving. The hair is looking spiffy as I grab the razor. I have noticed that, after my shave, I look like I have been in a wrestling match and lost. My hair is twisted this way and that. There has probably been some grunting and sweating going on. Getting the arm around my head and stretching the skin while also watching my blade angle and pressure is, let us say, challenging. I am reminded of the fight between Jim Carrey and himself in Me, Myself and Irene.

I think some yoga will help.

There has been one problem which has really surprised me. By the time I get to my upper lip/chin area, I find that the lather is drying up. I've been wetshaving for more than 2 years, and I thought I was a lather-making machine with my beautiful shiny creations. I'm using high quality soaps (including my new acquisition of a virtually unused MdC brain bowl from a generous b/s/t post!), so that is not the issue. I don't have the problem when I am using a DE. I wonder if I am taking too much time. I also wonder if I am touching it and that affects it. I guess it is yet another variable to be played around with. I will go back to bowl lathering for a shave or two and see if that makes a difference.

I also wonder if the DE is too much of a crutch. Right now, I am a hybrid straight/DE shaver. If I am uncomfortable shaving an area, I have just been skipping it and thinking that I will get it with the DE. I think I would benefit by taking the training wheels off, at least for one shave.

Ya just sceered.!! Not like your gonna cut yer lips off....
Maybe...[emoji55]

Just grow a pair and git er done! Just kiddin dude!!

I've been wet shaving for about a year and straight shaving for about 8 months and just recently had the guts to turn the straight upside down to do a complete ATG! Tried numerous times but just felt so unnatural. Just kept at it and slowly got comfortable with it and beginning to feel more natural and easy to do.
I found the secret of learning new stuff in this game is " baby steps " make it much easier and in the long run all things become easy.

I used to have to re apply lather all the time when I first started a few months ago, starting out I believe we take so much time concentrating on not cutting ourselves and how are we going to stretch that to shave it that the lather just collapses. After a bit of time you will get more efficient and the lather will not be a problem. Just another newb, no expert by any means, best of luck and shave on. Best advice I can pass down is consistency and slow and easy.

Originally Posted by TomSlick

Maybe I should just put in a new blade. Gotta find out where it goes. What do I twist?

Don't worry, I got the joke. I laughed so hard, I woke up my wife sleeping next to me!

I read the rest of the thread, as well. Speaking from experience, it is a matter of we noobs take longer to shave with a SR, so the lather definitely dries out! My number one tip for other noobs is: lather in sections. The sections, IMO, are as follows: each cheek/sideburn area, neck & under jaw (each side is a different section again), then the goatee area. Lately, I've been starting with the goatee area while the lather is fresh, since it also tends to be the area where the stubble is most coarse.

Sidenote: for when you start to shave your whole face with a SR. When the wife falls asleep several hours before your necessary bedtime, do NOT spend over two hours shaving, "strop to strop", just for the fun of it! Even if you don't cut yourself, even if you use the proper amount of pressure, even if you rebuild your lather no less than three times, your face will still be raw! Don't ask me how I know. Just know that I have absolutely no regrets!

I hope this was helpful! Keep us updated on your progress!

If you don't lather in sections you can apply fresh wetter lather over the top and freshen up what is underneath, as long as the consistency at the end is right.

Yesterday was the no good, horrible shave.

Let me put it in context. To get a perfectly good DE shave, I have always done the the WTG and XTG passes. Feeling some confidence in my WTG on the cheeks with the straight, I decided to add the XTG. I studied up on it and found out that it is done with opposite hands in order to go from ear towards mouth. For some unknown reason, my hand felt the need to move down while the blade was going across. I discovered that when a lot of the blade is in contact with the face and is moving east-west and the hand decides to move north-south that you get a really long slice in your face. I think I will do some butter knife practice before I attempt that maneuver again.

I look like the 6 fingered man before Inigo Montoya killed him.