Thread: Whole face or sections at first?

As everyone else says, do what you feel comfortable with. This is just a line to say that I just jumped in with the whole face from day one. The only time I finish off with a cartridge is when doing my scalp and this is as much (I like to tell myself) because I have to shave that part of my head without my glasses on. Upper lip was surprisingly easy but the chin was a nightmare for a while, much razor burn etc. By the time I got my second, genuinely shave ready razor from Steve at the Invisible edge (as opposed to 'shave ready' direct from TI, thing of beauty though it is) my general technique had been honed so as to solve those initial teething problems too. Stropping, lathering and stretching are definitely included in that general technique. Like I said at the start, my intention here is not to dissent from the consensus (ie do what you're comfortable with), just to point out that it can genuinely include any variation. Hope this make sense.

I've been straight shaving for a month and a half now and I shave my whole face at once. That said, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who has to be well-shaven for work. I take anywhere from 45-90 minutes to shave depending on my success and which razor I'm using and I only do it every 2-3 days. I do about 5-9 hot towel treatments and shave each section separately. I've had two totally BBS shaves and the rest are, as you mentioned, as good as my best cartridge shaves. The sectioning off thing allows you to understand the different angles of approach and what part of the blade to use, both of which I am still working out. I seriously doubt most people have 90 minutes to shave when they need to and that is why I recommend sections and progression where you ween yourself off your old razor. I have to agree that proper stropping, lathering, and skin stretching are key, the last of which becomes more natural if you're going in sections. Good luck.

Adam

straight shaves for me no matter how bad have almost always equaled that of a cartridge razor. Maybe in the very beginning I had worse luck but not after the first few times. THey last hours longer, feel better, and are much more comfortable not to mention close. It did take me a while to learn how to do it right, and to do it right every time, but it is still my faces saving grace. I don't even remember how to shave with a cartridge now.

IT took me a few weeks to do my entire face with the straight. Up until then I was finishing my chin and mustache with a DE as well as a complete second pass. I gradually improved my technique and got a couple of truly shave ready razors and was able to put the DE away. I have been doing a two pass shave solely with the straight for the last few weeks. Watching Lynn's DVD a few times and practicing honing & stropping a lot also helped. Living close enough to a forum member with a few years experience also was greatly beneficial for me. His coaching on honing, stropping and lathering has been a great help. I am still a bit awkward with manipulating the blade in one direction or another but it is getting better day by day as I gain more experience. Practice makes perfect I guess.