Thread: First shave... FAIL!!

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

You don't know why? This is a perfectly natural response and anyone here will tell you that the first time you put one of these things on your face ----- well it takes a leap of faith -- and a little fear is natural. It doesn't seem to me that you have started with the easiest razor but whatever route you chose it will take trial and error as no one can explain exactly what to do or what's best for you. After a few shaves accompanied by the inevitable beginner's nicks and cuts, you will learn the right pressure and angle ----- keep at it but I must say there is no easy way, it's rites of passage time .

Justin

You know, I completely missed that! I was shaking so bad the first time I shaved with a straight that I thought for sure I was going to cut something off!

Originally Posted by JMS

You know, I completely missed that! I was shaking so bad the first time I shaved with a straight that I thought for sure I was going to cut something off!

I was thinking "do I really want to do this?' --- and I applied so little pressure that the thing barely touched my skin --- and because I was nervous and uncertain, I cut myself --- I couldn't see my face in the mirror, the hand/mirror coordination was all funky, and the thoughts of doing anything beyond a WTG pass was inconceivable ---- the resulting shaves sucked but things improved rapidly .


Justin

I am not worried about you at all. It was your first time. Looking at your face, I am very confident that with practice your shaves will improve immensely.

I don't know how difficult a Japanese straight is to use, but the learning curve for straights does seem to be steep. Yet it is not unconquerable. Take your time, focus, and enjoy!

Don't be afraid of the razor. It's a tool and like any tool, it deserves your respect, not your fear. In the next few days, you will nick yourself. There's no doubt about that. But a nick is only a nick, you'll only feel a short, split-second little sting, it will cure without hurting in a few days.
Don't curse yourself for being afraid. We all were afraid when we started. It's the first thing you need to let go.

I don't know anything about the tosuke, but if you're sure that it is shaveready and it is not cutting whiskers, the cause must be that you don't use the right angle to put it against your face. Minimal pressure is a good thing. Lay the blade flat on your cheek, right underneath the side-burn and start stroking downward, while increasing the angle until the razor starts to cut whiskers. The shallowest angle that works is good for learning. Later you'll learn to experiment with the angle a bit to improve closeness of the shave.
You'll get the hang of it pretty soon. I'm sure of it.

Have fun,

Bart.

Aram, after my first shave with my pre-honed razor (first use) my results were very similar. I had been shaving for some time, and had the technique down pretty pat before I got my DOVO in. I sent mine back to be re-honed because I knew it wasn't my technique (tried multiple angles throughout the shave - same result) so just make 100% sure it isn't your technique. If you're positive, get it honed up real nice.

Good luck man

Aram,
The first shave is always the most tense and tentative one. I am going to have to say that jumping to str8s w/ a Japenese straight might be a bit much to handle. I am assuming that the str8 is shave ready.

You have made a significant investment already. My recommendation would be to get a traditional str8 and begin there if you can.

If not stick with the Tosuke you will get the hang of it I am sure, the learning curve with a Japenese str8 might be a bit steeper.

I agree that technique may have something to do with it, but it shouldn't give you razor burn and miss hairs, that sounds like an underhoned edge.
I have a couple of questions for you.
1) Did you strop your razor before shaving?
2) Did the razor come from someone with experience honing japanese styled razors?
3) Did you feel the razor pulling hair?


I'm going to go out on a limb, and say that I don't think your razor is sharp enough. This is especially true if you felt it pulling. However as I have absolutely no experience with japanese style razors please take this with a grain of salt.