Thread: First shave!

I was several weeks in before I even attempted to do my chin

were you using any pressure? if the angle is good and edge was good and your skin tight, then it sounds like it may be pressure applied. A good edge should mow down hair with light contact with the skin. Good technique is learned in time...

Originally Posted by caljw

Well it's gonna be a long 6 months!!! Shave #4 today and I really cut the hell out of my face. I am trying to do too much too soon...I need to riegn myself in. Just the cheeks I keep telling myself but then, when they go nicely, I push on and shouldn't. Patience and self control....who knew straight razors would require such virtues? Oh and the stinging.....man if that doesn't toughen you up

The first few months I started with my SR, a friend at work kept joking that he was going to take up a collection to buy me a disposable razor. I looked like i lost a fight with a cat nearly every morning.

It was discouraging and I thought i was following all the great advice i got here, but later realized I had the angle wrong, didn't always stretch my skin, and was using way too much pressure. Other than that I was doing it perfectly.

Eventually it started to click. I can still cut myself from time to time, but now it's not a little cat scratch -- more of an ax wound, when I shave distracted. Don't do that.

So, it gets a little bit better. #5...lighter touch, better angle, tighter skin = fewer nicks. I find myself tied up in knots trying to figure out how the hell to make the next stroke So much different than the DE, at least for me now, each move on the chessboard has to be contemplated to get that successful pass. So many angles and the blade is to damn straight. Lol. Damn straight!

BTW I have discovered "Chimensch" and he's my new hero.

Yup, just take your time and make haste slowly. It will all eventually come together. Give yourself about 3months/100 shaves for that to happen. Enjoy the ride.

Bob