Thread: Another First Shaver...

Well, last night marked my first attempt at straight shaving. I’ve got a Dovo, 5/8 extra hollow, “singing” razor. Razor was sharpened by Lynn.

Overall, the experience was like few I have had in a long-time, feelings of awe, fear and joy all rolled into one.

A little background…
For the past five years since I started wet-shaving I have been using a Mach 3. I had always felt this gave me a much better shave and felt & looked better than the electric I had been using since I first started shaving. However, the Gillette always left noticeable stubble that, although it couldn’t be felt, it could be seen and the Mach III seemed unable to cut.

I happened upon an Art of Shaving Store (never had heard of the place) and went in. After talking with the store manager I told him of the problem I had and he recommended a two-pass shaving system, one with the grain (WTG), relather and one against the grain (ATG). He also recommended pre-shave oil, a badger shaving brush and shaving cream, stating the Gillette blue foam stuff was not to be used with the brush. When I was in the store I noticed a collection of straight razors on the wall…thought they looked cool as display pieces and thinking who shaves with a straight razor? Went home, tried what the guy said (I usually shaved with one pass and that would be ATG) and the shave was much, much better. Started doing some internet searches on shaving cream and found Straightrazorplace and Classic Shaving and here I am a new straight razor shaver.

The Shave
So, after watching you tube videos on shaving and Lynn’s CD I tried straight shaving for the first time last night. Lynn offered, what I thought at least, to be a great piece of advice (of many) on his CD stating a beginner should shave in short strokes at first. I shaved my right cheek and chin. I hadn’t shaved in two days so the beard was pretty long. Used AOS pre-shave oil, shaving cream and badger brush. It seemed that the beard initially was catching on the razor and the razor felt like it was pulling on the hair rather than cutting it. Eventually I got a better angle and remembered to pull my skin to get it tighter, problem seemed to go away. I was also VERY careful not to use pressure, unlike with the Mach 3 (glad I found this place before I started I otherwise would have figured pressure works good on the Mach 3, so probably works the same with a straight). The initial strokes on my right cheek, first going WTG didn’t cut all the hair. So I relathered and went ATG, relather then XTG (Across The Grain) relather then WTG relather then ATG. Only used the oil once. Got most of the stubble after those passes, no cuts during the whole process. I was trying to get that “glass” effect as shown on Dr. Moss’s straight shaving manual page 35, that looks so nice & smooth. After I was done with the cheek I noticed some little red bumps (gone by morning) and the skin was raw, even after the AOS Aftershave Balm.

On to the chin, more difficult than the cheek, but was able to get it done. Had a hard time figuring out how to stretch the skin for a better shave. Should have had the Dr. Moss guide next to me, oh well next time.

The remainder of the shave I used my Mach III, took me 30 min to do the above cheek and chin, slowly and with many passes. In the morning I noticed that the side done with the Mach III already had a noticeable 5:00 shadow, the straight razor side…nothing, just why I started shaving with the straight, still kind of raw though. I guess the "glass effect" will come with time...I hope.

So…just wanted to share, open to comments about how to improve. I think fewer passes is in order and shaving when there is less hair to cut. Will try again tonight on Mach III side, should be plenty of stubble there within 12 hours or so.
Thanks for your time and attention.

Well, I completed my second shave last night.

Went faster than the first, one small cut, due to combo of speed and carelessness. Unfortunately, I am not yet attaining those BBSs I hear so much about, other than on a small part of my cheek, which does feel super when I do achieve it! I only straight shaved left side of face (cheek and also neck this time). The cheek was easier than the neck. It was the neck that no matter how many passes I made in whatever direction I could still hear the cutting of stubble (or scrape of the skin). When I was done I could still feel the stubble and my neck was red and burned pretty badly.

I think tonight when I shave the right cheek again and right part of neck I will perform the shave right out of the shower, vs. doing the hot towel, I don’t think I am doing the hot towel right; I will also forgo the pre-shave oil, see if that improves anything…

Originally Posted by shaverdude

It was the neck that no matter how many passes I made in whatever direction I could still hear the cutting of stubble (or scrape of the skin). When I was done I could still feel the stubble and my neck was red and burned pretty badly.

This happens to me when I consciously try to push the blade into the hairs instead of simply passing through them. You said you were careful to use very light pressure, which makes me wonder still why your neck burned badly. Maybe one of your many passes was too heavy or at a steep angle or was over skin that was not well stretched. Keep practicing and it will get better!



As a side note, it would be really neat to see a video of someone shaving with a straight for the first time, wouldn't it? It would probably be quite long though

Thank you for your comment Lee, I greatly appreciate the support.

At first I used light pressure, then increased it, forgot to mention that part. I also admit, looking back to the second shave, especially around the neck, I forgot to stretch the skin a few times as I became increasingly frustrated failing to get that BBS despite numerous passes in various directions.

You bring up a good point about the angle of the razor, I think my angle may be off as well, will have to go back to youtube and review the shaving videos again.

Had I created a "first shave" video with the straight, would have been quite funny. Looking back, didn't really need the pre-shave oil as all the sweating I did could have provided lubrication enough.

Shaverdude,

Upon reading your posts, I can honestly say you are way, way ahead of the str8 razor shaving learning curve! I am very impressed on your progress (yes, already) and your attention to what you need to do. Impressive!

What you have to look forward to to attain that BBS you're looking for:

Improving your lathering techniques! Yes, lathering and using the better soaps and creams is almost an art form in itself. - and improvement here will improve your shaves.

Stropping! Learning to strop properly will make or break the quality of your edges. This was one of the most difficult things for me to learn. - and, one morning I just gripped the razor differently, ...and wah-la, it all came together.

Improved Shaving Techniques! A no brainer, of course. I was a good shaver right out of the blocks, and yet, I still continue to improve. This and honing, I believe, are two things that we will always continue to improve and learn.

* If you get in to honing, and I believe you will, this could be your biggest challenge. I wont go down this road right now. There are just too many variables, to even discuss it now.

Anyway, welcome, and enjoy the great experience.

Regards,

Steve Boyd

Thanks Steve. Concerning stropping, I am doing it, slowly but surely.

Concerning honing...too much to worry about there, so will just use Lynn...

Concerning lathering, I think I need to use more water, I noticed in Lynn's video when he lathered the foam/cream was not dripping off his face, but I think my lather could still handle more water....will try that tonight as well.

Originally Posted by shaverdude

Thanks Steve. Concerning stropping, I am doing it, slowly but surely.

Concerning honing...too much to worry about there, so will just use Lynn...

Concerning lathering, I think I need to use more water, I noticed in Lynn's video when he lathered the foam/cream was not dripping off his face, but I think my lather could still handle more water....will try that tonight as well.

There is a fabulous video over at Badger and Blade:

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...er_from_a_soap

Actually, it's not a video - a tutorial with pictures. I learned a lot from this - you will find that different soaps and creams will require a different amount of water to make the right lather. You want your lather thick (cushion) and very wet at the same time. Too much water and you've thinned it down too much to be effective. Even the brush you use will, also, effect your method and your results. I found that if I am making lather in a mug, I want my brush to not be very wet. I want total control of the soap/water ratio. You will find some of the soaps and creams require a different ratio. MWF (Mitchell's Wool Fat) is one that you will ruin the lather with too much water. Get it right and MWF is one of the best soaps.

Anyway, check out B&B's thread on making lather; it's great!

I really like making lather in a mug, but just lathering on the face is not only easy, but it will give you a feel for this soap/water ratio thing. after loading your brush with soap, or you face with cream, you just add water by quickly passing it under the running faucet and lathering until it's perfect.

Good luck,

Steve

Awesome tut Steve, thank you kindly.

Well, completed my third day of shaving last night of the right cheek and neck, went much better than Sunday night.

Shaved right out of the shower for the first time, still used pre-shave oil, next time I will skip the oil. (I know I said that last time, but I just like the smell of the AOS oil so much.) Noticed much less razor burn and red bumps this time, but they were still around. Did not obtain a BBS, but I think improvement still existed, again due to much less razor related burning and red bumping.

I noticed after shaving that when I ran my finger down my check and neck, smooth. When I ran my finger up my cheek and neck, smooth, and when I ran my finger from the left-to-right along cheek and neck, smooth. However, when I ran my finger across my cheek and neck right-to-left felt much stubble, so I suppose I should run my razor from right-to-left? (Geez, that would make four passes…)

I love BBS shaves also. Assuming a sharp razor, good prep., ect., it sometimes takes many passes and time. One thing that may be required (depending on stubble growth direction) is a directional pass that differs from the normal. Sometimes a patch of stubble adjacent to another will not be cut BBS except by a change of pass direction. You can feel the stubble to know what direction is necessary. Learn your requirements. The satisfaction of a BBS shave is worth the effort.

Monte