First Straight Shaves

My first straight shave sucked.

Let me clarify. As the razor came to me "shave ready", I did not strop it. My thinking was that I wanted to establish a baseline/starting point, and I will strop tomorrow to see if there is a difference. I have been practice stropping with a dull practice razor for a few days, so I hope to see some improvement in the actual razor.

I did as Lynn Abrams recommends: one easy little pass down from my short sideburns to the jawbone. On each side. Nothing tricky. Just getting a feel for the razor. Not comfortable at all, pulled like hell. Was conservative, so no cuts or blood. Completed with a DE. Wiped the razor down with a tissue, also ran the tissue through the scales. Trying to develop some good habits.

I recognize this is just a start, part of the process, and I will try to do a little better tomorrow. I guess this thread will be journal of my straight razor infancy. Feel free to point out the error of my ways - I take coaching well.

Many acronyms around shave forums. One that pops up often; YMMV.
There are too many reasons why Your Mileage May Vary.

If not passed, I'm nearing my 6 months into wet shaving. I don't blog my experience so the 100th shave came and went. Point is you have made your First Step! Take your time. Read everything about any questions you have. Start new threads if you don't find the answers. You will do as good as you can if you put your mind to the task.

Since you referenced Lynn, am I correct in assuming that Lynn honed the razor? If so, then it is shave ready. If not, then who did hone it? I ask because you need to get to the bottom of whether it is the tool or the user or both. Unfortunately for too many beginners they buy a dull razor and don't know what they are doing with it and so they fail miserably and give up.

IF the razor is shave ready, then the most likely culprit is using the wrong angle. The spine needs to be very close to your face. Touch the spine to your face and then lift if off just one, or at most two, spine widths and then take your shaving stroke.

Do not get discouraged, there are so many possibilities for a poor shave experience the first time out that it is almost impossible to accurately say why you had a poor experience.

If you can assume that the razor was indeed shave ready and you did a good thing by not stropping it before first use that leaves poor technique as the main culprit. Try keep a 1 to 2 spine widths gap between face and the razors spine and try and use no weight on the blade. I found getting those right were my biggest problems when I started.

Bob

Slow and steady is a good path to follow! Been straight razor shaving for about 8 months or so and just recently attempted an full face ATG as holding the razor in that position just felt so awkward for me. Used to do 2 or 3 WTG and XTG passes and still got a very nice, close, clean shave. Rapidly getting quite comfortable with ATG now. So hang in there and add new technics slowly, there's plenty of time to improve.

Newell

Experiment. The first number of shaves are usually not comfortable. Pressure could be the culprit; remember to just shave off the cream, the whiskers will follow. Shaving angle could also cause an uncomfortable shave...one or two spine widths is all the angle you need.

Once you figure out how to shave this area comfortably, you will be prepared to move on to more difficult and sensitive areas.

Regarding the shave readiness of the razor: I purchased the Ralf Aust 5/8 secondhand from a gentleman on TSN. He purchased the razor from SRD, but developed some health problems that didn't allow him to use it. He used it 2 or 3 times to my recollection. He sent the practice razor and an old strop with the Ralf Aust as a bonus (he also threw in a stick of La Toja, but I am not holding that against him). Great guy.

Therefore, the actual sharpness of the razor is a variable which needs to be nailed down. My best newbie guess is that I have a razor which is in basically good shape. A good stropping should help, perhaps a little tune up on the balsa strop with the ChromOx. If not, I will be hunting for a mentor in Virginia.

Lynn's recommendation came in his beginner straight razor shaving video; I have had no contact with him whatsoever. On the other hand, I would know him anywhere due to my obsessive watching of his videos.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I really enjoy my shaving hobby, so I will take the time to get this right.

OK, so we don't really know if the razor was really shave ready as in fresh from a honing session so you are right that could be another variable. Can't hurt to give it a "good" stropping and see what gives. If that fails try a few swipes on the crox coated balsa strop and another good stropping. Sounds like you got a good plan. Let us know how you make out with that.

Bob

Yeah bad stropping can quickly trash an edge and good stropping can great improve an edge. Now you need to figure out how to strop well before you can shave well!

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Yeah bad stropping can quickly trash an edge and good stropping can great improve an edge. Now you need to figure out how to strop well before you can shave well!

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

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Originally Posted by TomSlick

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

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OK, now I'm confused. Are you saying that your razor is a shavette with replaceable blades? I find it had to imagine that Ralf Aust would make a shavette. I may be wrong, but I suspect that if you have a shavette, then you don't have an Aust. If you have an Aust, then you don't have a shavette.

I think that we really need a photo of this razor.

I think maybe he was joking.?

First owner may have buggered up the edge, if you read here much you should start with a shave ready edge! But I'll say this , get it done so that variable is taken care of , then the next thing is, you don't know how to shave yet! It will take time and learning all over a new skill set, plus learn to stretch the skin properly. And by the way the La Toja shave stick, it's very good so don't hold it against him, this guy was new and didn't really know what he was doing cause of being a newbie hisself but he sent you good stuff just use it right and you will ve fine, but don't think it's an overnight process,, a few months from now you will be able to judge an edge,, good luck. Tc

Ive only just started as well. My first shave was just like yours, down the side burn and finish with the DE. I also expirienced a lot of pulling. I got mine from whipped dog so I knew the edge was not the problem but my lack of skill. I have had several more shave since i started and they have progressed rather well. Stick with it and it will start to all come together.

Phil

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I think maybe he was joking.?

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:gaah:

Yah, that makes more sense. I did not expect that from a beginner!

Sorry about that, I was just playing around. I've been a member for less than a week and I find myself jerking a distinguished member's chain. I will try for more dignity in the future. :bow

Back to the straight razor: this morning went just fine! Massive improvement. I stropped nicely and made the angle of attack much shallower. Yesterday I think I was holding the razor at approximately the same angle of my DE blade. The advice for 1 or 2 spine widths of the razor was well received. I shaved my cheeks and was very pleased.

Maybe it was just the Mitchell's Wool Fat that I brought out this morning? It fixes everything.

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement.

Really, the first few shaves have nothing to do with "a good shave". It's like a meet and greet between you and the razor. If you don't nick yourself and/or have bad shave burn you were successful.

After that then you can begin to concentrate on the shave itself. I'd reserve judgement on the razor for the time being.

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Originally Posted by TomSlick

Sorry about that, I was just playing around. I've been a member for less than a week and I find myself jerking a distinguished member's chain. I will try for more dignity in the future. :bow

Back to the straight razor: this morning went just fine! Massive improvement. I stropped nicely and made the angle of attack much shallower. Yesterday I think I was holding the razor at approximately the same angle of my DE blade. The advice for 1 or 2 spine widths of the razor was well received. I shaved my cheeks and was very pleased.

Maybe it was just the Mitchell's Wool Fat that I brought out this morning? It fixes everything.

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement.

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Absolutely no apology is needed. I'm usually the guy putting his foot in his mouth. You simply made a good joke that I assumed to be beyond a beginner and so I fell for it. No dignity is required, just keep experimenting!

I'm glad to hear the next shave went better.

I am progressing about as well as I can. Developing the dexterity is just going to take some time. I have even done the mustache/lip area. Just getting the blade into the right position is a challenge. You would not think that getting the razor into a position to shave under your nose could be such an issue.

Being fairly cocky, I was thinking "How can you slice up a strop? Just lead with the spine and flip it on the spine. That isn't very hard." The answer: When you slice a strop, it happens real quickly. For example, stop to adjust your grip on the razor a little bit and lose concentration on which direction you were going. One little split second move in the wrong direction and you are looking at a cut on the strop. Cocky, but not unprepared: I bought 2 of the poor man's strops from Larry at Whipped Dog. The nice bridle leather strop will have to wait.

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Originally Posted by TomSlick

I am progressing about as well as I can. Developing the dexterity is just going to take some time. I have even done the mustache/lip area. Just getting the blade into the right position is a challenge. You would not think that getting the razor into a position to shave under your nose could be such an issue.

Being fairly cocky, I was thinking "How can you slice up a strop? Just lead with the spine and flip it on the spine. That isn't very hard." The answer: When you slice a strop, it happens real quickly. For example, stop to adjust your grip on the razor a little bit and lose concentration on which direction you were going. One little split second move in the wrong direction and you are looking at a cut on the strop. Cocky, but not unprepared: I bought 2 of the poor man's strops from Larry at Whipped Dog. The nice bridle leather strop will have to wait.

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Thats why it pays to start with an old belt... Like mine.
Attachment 222092
This is my second belt from years ago. Hangs next to my 3" strop to remind me to pay attention [emoji1]

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!! :rofl2:

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.

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Originally Posted by TomSlick

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

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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.

Got back up in the saddle today. I still have a big reminder on my face to be careful and respectful with the razor.

I can give myself a socially acceptable shave now. Of course, I still do a pass with a DE, but I could survive with the straight if required.

My coordination with both hands is such that I can make affirmative strokes. Those hesitant, slow strokes of the raw beginner are uncomfortable. When you are confident of your angle and can guide the razor over the different planes, the smooth stroke makes a large difference in comfort.

Straight razor shaving certainly has a learning curve that you must respect. I am buying the "100 shaves to attain competency" wisdom.

I purchased a Case Red Imp recently at the Richmond, Va Antiques show. The weather was horrible and attendance was very poor, so I made what I thought was a lowball offer - $10. I will try to remember to post pictures of it. Using the knowledge gleaned from some purchasing threads, I tried to find any notable flaws. I was thinking that I could use it to practice my honing skills if/when I cross that bridge.

Glad to hear it, buddy! It can be fun trying to sniff out razors in antique shops, estate sales, and auctions. Just be careful to make sure the "AD's" (Acquisition Disorders) don't take hold of your wallet :gl:. I've basically allotted myself about $5-$10 a week towards this hobby. I hope to one day be able to make it a "self supporting" hobby by means of the occasionally flipped razor. But that will be a while. I prefer to approach such money pits/hobbies/addictions with modesty ;). Enough about me! :HJ

How has your progress been? Getting the lather done proper?

Sounds like you're coming along fine. It really does get easier and easier. The first time is the worst, when you don't have much of an idea what to expect. It does get easier every time you do it though. That's the way it is with any skill. You learn as much as you can from others, but ultimately doing it by yourself is how you really learn. Then after a while, you don't even think about it. Just like when you were a kid trying to learn how to tie you shoes. It was hard for a little while, then it's just something you do automatically. The big rule with the razor is if you're doing something that hurts -- stop.

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Originally Posted by Uzi

... The big rule with the razor is if you're doing something that hurts -- stop.

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:OT
I couldn't help myself, this reminds me of a REALLY old joke...
Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I do this... *touches extremity*"
Doctor: "Well, then don't do that!"

:rofl2::rofl2:
Sorry... I'll go back to sanding my razor now.

Here is my attempt at a photo of the Red Imp:

Attachment 226997


There's no rust near the edge/bevel or chips/cracks, so I am hoping that it can be made shave ready. All of the funk is on the upper half of the blade. The other side is better than this one. I hit it with some Maas metal polish and it is already looking better. I used Scrubbing Bubbles and a fine wire brush on the tang. Can a fine grit sandpaper be used on the deeper rust spots on the blade?

Crawler, I am moderate with my ADs. I have collected a few Gillette vintage DE's - however, there was an Aristocrat on a B/S/T last week that I could not resist. I use 3 synthetic brushes which are fairly inexpensive including a Chubby 2 which was a Black Friday deal - however, I did feel compelled to sign up for a Shavemac on a group buy recently and I have a Semogue boar brush I have been intending to sell. I have 8 quality soaps, but I am resolute in not purchasing more until I have finished one or two. I can foresee some straight razor purchases in the future, but I am waiting to gain some expertise in my shaving ability and in straight razor knowledge. The Classifieds here are extremely enticing. I sure do enjoy playing around with my shaving stuff:

Attachment 227000

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Originally Posted by TomSlick

Crawler, I am moderate with my ADs. I have collected a few Gillette vintage DE's - however, there was an Aristocrat on a B/S/T last week that I could not resist. I use 3 synthetic brushes which are fairly inexpensive including a Chubby 2 which was a Black Friday deal - however, I did feel compelled to sign up for a Shavemac on a group buy recently and I have a Semogue boar brush I have been intending to sell. I have 8 quality soaps, but I am resolute in not purchasing more until I have finished one or two. I can foresee some straight razor purchases in the future, but I am waiting to gain some expertise in my shaving ability and in straight razor knowledge. The Classifieds here are extremely enticing. I sure do enjoy playing around with my shaving stuff:

Attachment 227000

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That pic is ready for the "Show us your Shave Den" thread!

You could go about the rust on the Red Imp a few different ways. 1k or 2k sand paper, or extra fine steel wool (0000 grade) are fairly gentle, as far as hard abrasives go. They should do a decent job of getting rid of the red/brown rust without making it look like a rock tumbler & a dremmel got in a fight with the razor caught in the cross-fire. They won't do much to remove pitting that may be hiding under the rust, however. :gl:. Pitting isn't a razor death sentence, though. As long as it is tended to & not allowed to spread or grow in any way, it is just a blemish, like a pimple.

On a rust related note: preventing rust is the reason I wipe my blade on the corner of a large, dry sponge between passes. Only a light rinsing at the end, followed by the usual drying methods. Btw, the sponge also nearly eliminates the risk of "clinking" my SR, chipping it.

I hope this was helpful!