Thread: First Shave

I got my pack from Kenrup and decided to try it out earlier.

I had mixed results.

To begin with I became used to the blame. I placed it against my face and stroked it gently down. This was not an act of shaving, but of getting used to the sharpness. Then, I washed my face thoroughly. I applied the soap to my beard, ran the blade under water, and then began the left side.

There was pulling and pain, but I made progress. I shaved the left side of my cheek just to the jawbone. Then I moved to the right hand side. I found the positioning difficult. I'm left handed totally so trying to find how to hold the knife wasn't easy. Again I made progress up until I got to the jawbone.

The throat, jawbone and chin areas hurt like hell. I gave up and switched to a cartridge razor to do that.

One small cut, but otherwise my face is fine (although I look a little red).

I would add that I didn't strop initially (I did strop a little to get used to it after the first few go arounds) because I was told it was shave ready. I am however worried about my lather and angle. The lather didn't seem very thick, rather watery which may mean I did it wrong and I had issues trying to shave the right side of my face with my left hand.

Welcome Dan!! There is a learning curve, so dont get dis heartened yet. And I agree with your current observations, beard prep is an absolute fundamental, the whiskers need to be as warm and moist and as lubricated as possible to soften them up. Correct technique, or angle will help as well and there is only one way to perfection and that is practice. There are many good threads here to help with these things and you are free to help yourself, so please dont give up.

Hi, I too am a newb but I'll throw in my take on things. I'm certain someone with more expertise will correct any advice I have given if I am wrong.

Blade angle is incredibly important. If you get it right you will immediately identify the difference in the shave. I know I did.

I would suggest trying to use the left hand for the left side of your face and the right for the right.

It sounds really difficult, but in reality it's not soo bad. Just remember to go slow with your none domminant hand.

Good luck

Hello Dan,

I feel your pain, I also got my pack from Kenrup this week and my first few shaves are certainly not what I was expecting. It looks much easier in the youtube videos. Every time I finish one it makes me wonder.. why am I doing this ? But after reading all the excellent advice in this web site I go and try again the following morning.
By the way, this is my first post, so I would like to take the opportunity to send a salute from Miami, FL to all the members. Thank you for the guidance.

Hi Dan,

I had the same problems as you when I started (3 weeks ago). I too am left handed (totally) and I am trying to use both hands for shaving and it is tough but getting better. Don't give up as it will get better in time. Blade angle, confident strokes, proper prep and lather are working for me (I also have a coarse, thick beard too). Are you keeping your face taut in the area you are shaving? Also practice, practice, practice. Remember you are not alone and I guess many off us are/were where you are.

Nath

Dan:

Congratulations on your decision to become a str8 man. It does take a while do get good shaves, but your reward will come on a daily basis.
Don't try to do too much at the begining, just go WTG on the sides until you find the right blade angle, then move to your neck, and I'e leave the chin for last.
No pressure, take it easy, and be persistent.

Yeyo:

You have the nicest avatar in the entire forum (my opinion), I may have to borough it.

Welcome to the forum

Well I also got my package from Ken yesterday.

I didn't have as much time to play with it at I would have liked last night.
One thing I did do, was strop it first and tried using the hair test to see if it was sharp enough. What I did find was that I really need to learn to strop better.
Anyways, I did tried to shave my chops and it does look way easier on youtube than it really is. Now I wish my beard could only grow faster to practice more.

I've read a lot and have picked up a few tidbits here and there that makes things easier, they are the blade should be sharp, super sharp, you shouldn't have to force the blade to cut the hair it should be sharp enough to do it easily rather than rip through it and the last thing was to use sunflower oil as a pre-prep oil on your face to before lathering up. It actually seems to work except my blade wasn't sharp enough and it pulled on the hair. ouch.

Could you tell me how to do the hair test please

I had another go just now and to be honest it wasn't very successful. The lather is a major issue now and I'm going to have to work on generating better lather. When I applied I shaved my cheek and noticed the lather on my neck was barely visible!

My face is a bit sore, so I'm going to give it a few days to recover before I give another go, but I won't
give up

I think its the hanging hair tet. basically you should be able to cut the hair as soon as it hits the blade.
check out youtube. their is a young guy who does the whole hone, strop and shave bit. its two parts. I found it pretty useful and he shows the hair test. I've seen it mentioned a few spots especially in the honing section.