Thread: my first (and a half) shave

well, I am home from work (for other reasons) today, and had time to take it slow and easy, and prep the way I wanted to - both the razor, and the face.
slightly longer than normal shower - washing face thoroughly (using Alata soap).
Hot hot soaked brush - I used the 2 minute bowl in microwave method described elsewhere on this site.
I don't know what kind of brush - I got it from a set that was on clearance a few months ago @ Target.
Some wal-mart shave soap "deluxe Shave Soap - Van Der Hagen enterprises" is what it says on the box.
I did a first lather (I'm still working on getting just the right thickness), then off to the strop for about 50 laps.
Back to the sink for a rinse and 2nd lather.
Now, my technique is lacking, I need way more practice on my shave stroke, but it didn't go too bad, and I noticed some things I'll try in order to improve my tech next time. Only some slight pull. I need to really be mindful of my blade angle - I kept noticing I would want to put it way too low, or way too high. I scared myself a couple times with the too low angle, and thinking that I had nearly sliced off and nice thin sheet of skin!
I only went WTG, and I keep a goatee, so it was just cheeks, and neck. It's probably also important to note that my jawline is rather forgiving, and not too sharp. Even as thin as I am, I have a "fat" face. So, that helps.
No real nicks, minor discomfort, but after a hot final rinse, it was fine. Did a quick plain old alcohol splash, and was done. I could stand to clean it up a bit with the Mach3, but I'm not that worried about it, and it's only noticeable if you look close.
I know the razor isn't "dull", but I'm sure it's far from being as sharp as it should be. I'm interested in seeing the difference in this one, and something that's "sharp".

It was nice giving myself a slow, deliberate, hot shave.

Congrats on the first shave, good to hear that there were no "issues"

Sounds like that razor is great. You might try stropping on newspaper to sharpen it up a little. Or I use fireplace ash on a linen strop too. You can do a search on these techniques.

Sounds like your razor is already there.

Thanks DwarvenChef!!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Sounds like that razor is great. You might try stropping on newspaper to sharpen it up a little. Or I use fireplace ash on a linen strop too. You can do a search on these techniques.

Sounds like your razor is already there.

honestly, I hope not. While it didn't "pull" too bad, or "hurt", it was far from anything that I would consider "comfortable". It was very loud as well. The scratching / scraping sound kept me awake and paying attention though!! :-D Maybe that's just my technique?

I was very slow, and VERY deliberate. I just feel like it should/could be sharper, and that the feeling of the shave itself was not right. call it intuition, or whatever, but I don't think it's quite there.

Also, not anywhere near BBS - but, that's probably the WTG only.

One last thing, it doesn't seem like it's anywhere close to passing the HHT.

Well you'll have some comparisons soon enough. A straight does pull a little and they do make quite a bit of noise

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Well you'll have some comparisons soon enough. A straight does pull a little and they do make quite a bit of noise

Yeah, I was expecting the noise... I just didn't know how loud. Thanks for the input.
If it is that close to a good edge, I don't think I'll be able to do an ATG until my technique / razor handling gets much, MUCH better!!

I'm not a big fan of ATG shaving. The results are lost by the next day anyway. For me closeness is achieved by stretching the skin appropriately. Have you read the 1961 Barbers Manual in the Home Page Archive....good reading.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,19/Itemid,3/

Good advise Alan, You didn't mention if you stroped your razor. If you didn't, search the threads on news paper as Alan sugested. Keep at it, this is a learning curve.

Phil

Originally Posted by floridaboy

Good advise Alan, You didn't mention if you stroped your razor. If you didn't, search the threads on news paper as Alan sugested. Keep at it, this is a learning curve.

Phil

I did strop, yes. Looking back on it, I think I probably did so with a bit too much pressure. I'm still trying to get a rhythm doing that. And I really don't know what I'm doing. LOL
I ordered Lynn's DVD last night, so I'm sure that will help with the strop, and in shaving.

Thanks again for all the input guys!!

I can't seem to put these things down! LOL. By next week, I won't have any hair on my arms at all. I'm either going to have to start working out and get all buffed up, or wearing long sleeves!

Well, I watched a few of the straight razor shaving videos on YouTube last night. Based on what I saw there, my razor is definitely not as sharp as it should be. It helped actually seeing some guys who appear to know what they're doing.
I'm going to keep working the Black Diamond doing a hone-strop-test-repeat over the weekend - I don't mind the patch look! - and see if I can get any better with putting an edge on. From what I've been reading, I'm guessing a scope or at least some magnification implement will really help in this area.