First Shave experience

[July10newbie]

Hello,
This was an exciting day. I received my Ralph Aust 5/8 and shaved for the first time with a real straight. To be honest, I tried a $10 Grim Dollar insertable blade razor three to 4 times before doing this first shave with a real straight.

l did the whole face probably because of the confidence acquired from the Grim Dollar experiences. It took a lot of concentration and I had three tiny cuts. Tiny enough that I didn't need a Styptic pencil to stop bleeding after doing the cold towel at the end of the shave.

I did mostly downstrokes and some upstrokes especially the neck area below the chin.

It was a close shave and when I learn WTG, ATG and XTG it will be even closer.

One notable issue is that it's really hard to see when holding the razor with the right hand. It's hard to see the area under the side burns because my hand blocks the view. Same with the left hand. Any thoughts on this issue?

It was really fun to do Lynn Abrams' routine on the video:
Wash face with hot water, hot wet towel on face, lather, hot wet towel , lather, shave, cold wet towel, aftershave with Trumpers Sandalwood Skin Food (recommended in Christopher. Moss' shaving book which is recommended by Lynn Abrams).

Stroping was a bit of a challenge. I did seventeen strokes on the cloth part and 52 strokes on the leather. Probably applied too much pressure but this was my first time.

All and all I consider it a big success.

Thanks for your suggestions.
July10newbie

[Leatherstockiings]

It sounds like you are off to a good start. Keep it up.

[July10newbie]

Thank you Leatherstocklings!

[petercp4e]

Great job!
Keep up the good work.

Pete <:-}

[criswilson10]

Congratulations. The shaves just get better from here.

[MisterClean]

You have taken the giant step and survived! The members here will tell you that SR shaving is part visual and part feel. It takes a little time to get the feel thing down but we all do it. Congrats

[Wayne1963]

To trim the burns, just get reasonably close with your razor, then finish up with an electric trimmer. Over time, get closer and closer with the razor until you don't need the trimmers any more. This will happen on it's on accord as you gain experience.

[rodb]

The hand in the way view happens to all of us, in certain areas after some time using a straight you learn to do it by feel and imagination as scary as that sounds lol!!

[July10newbie]

Thanks for all your comments.

I asked the question of how to see better because the shaving hand obstructs visibility especially going from the sideburns and down past the ear and to the jaw. It seems there is nothing I can do to help this issue. Does anyone have any ideas about this?

[easyace]

If it is just shaving to the sideburn and not actually trimming, then you can see much easier on an "upstroke"/ ATG, using the opposite hand.