Thread: First SRS

Ok. I want to preamble this post with a confession: I shaved my whole face the first time ever shaving with a straight. Ok, that was cathartic.

Next: it went ok. I did end up with tiny, cartridge like cuts on my chin and the crease at the base of my neck. There's a little razor burn in the hollows under my jaw. The shave wasn't particularly close, but it wasn't the worst shave ever. I even shaved the old unibrow bbs with no cuts.

Since it was the first time shaving with soap and a brush I am sure my lather was lacking and, along with inconsistent angle and a little excess pressure, contributed to the discomfort. Also, I've read of newbie issues with stropping, so I skipped it preshave for future reference.

Third: It was awesome! It was relaxing and there is a real sense of accomplishment.

Gear Breakdown:

Ralph Aust 5/8 with black scales
Simpson B4 pure badger brush
SRD Frankincense soap

All were purchased from SRD. Kudos to them for awesome products and good prices!



I plan to update this thread with later shaves as technique improves.

Sounds like your on your way. Just pay attention to what works and your learning curve is short. When you start to feel real confident then watch out. That's when the serious cuts start happening.
The advice on how to start is just a suggestion to save guys from bleeding. I started like you for the most part. Avoided the neck for a couple weeks and that turned out to be the easiest.

That is one of the best starter kits I have seen.
Your brush is upside down :<0) Think water coming out and the brush drying.

Thanks, I'll flip my brush. The brush smells like a badger. I admit that was a little surprising.

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Remember too that whisker removal is done over a number of passes. If you try and remove them in one pass that could lead to using excessive pressure on the blade. You can also practice making a lather on your palm without having to shave if you want to work on that. Try keeping the blade about 1 spine width from your face as a good starting angle and adjust slightly from there to suit. On the whole it sounds like you had a good first go. Congrats.

Bob

Originally Posted by arfman2882

Next: it went ok. I did end up with tiny, cartridge like cuts on my chin and the crease at the base of my neck. There's a little razor burn in the hollows under my jaw.

Good for you. On your chin, clench your lower lip between your teeth and then go around the chin bulb keeping your angle correct by following the chin curve with the razor. With your neck make sure you keep the skin stretched. It all takes time and practice.

It did go fairly well. I think I'm hooked. I've been boring my wife all morning talking about the shave and watching instructional videos.

Thanks for the advice, 10pups on building lather practice and Benz for the chin shaving advice. I'll be shaving tomorrow morning.

The smell will go away and faster if you wash it. Use what you would on your own hair. I got a real stinker once and let it soak in borax a day or two. Playing with lather is cheap and inexpensive AND you don't have to wait for the whiskers to grow back to practice :<0)

You may notice lathering is harder on a fresh shaved face, so if you can do it then , with whiskers will be easy.

I'm glad you had a pleasant experience your first time. Stropping might ease the irritation a bit. Stropping like shaving is all about the pressure you use doing it. When stropping use just enough to keep the blade and spine on the strop. Shaving as little as possible. I find when I try and put some pressure I will almost always get irritation. Keep up the good work. Yes people will think you are nuts making a big deal about shaving. For most people its just something you do like brushing your hair or teeth. Good luck and you are in the right place. The knowledge in this community is second to none.

I am a fairly new guy as well with about three months behind me. I had some of the same issues in the beginning. After a pass on my cheeks I pull the skin up and shave as low as possible on the jawbones and when I release my skin it drops down below the hollow for me. That helped me the most in this area. Then an across grain the same way. Makes a good clean shave in this problematic area.

No irritation and better lather today. I did cut myself a little under my nose this time. Styptic pencil smarts a little. Stropping made the shave more comfy also. I'm definitely digging the process. Once I get comfortable wtg I'll start working the xtg.

When cartridge shaving I only ever did these two passes. I'm not sure if I'll ever do atg as traditionally, with all other shaving methods, (including my brief foray into de shaving) that has resulted in widespread razor burn.

I'm certainly hooked. I really enjoy stropping and improving my technique with the razor is fun too. Long way to go, of course, but that's a good thing.

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