Thread: Second shave

My first one was yesterday. Razorburn mainly on chin and neck. today was worse. I know i'm a newbie but Im starting to think the single blade is just not meant for my face. I couldnt go ATG at all, much like the DE. only i didnt get any cuts with the straight, im more razorburned than ever. i look like i have a skin disorder. im not going to shave at all tomorrow.

Hi,

I'm also a very new newby, but i had the same as you. My first straight shave went rather well, but the second one i suffered a lot from burn (which i normally don't have much). I can say that the angle was the main reason for this burn. Take a smaller angle!

Good luck!

Don't despair, Oldfashioned.
These things take time. I'm very sure single blades give LESS razor burn than cartridge disposables like the Mach 3. But only if you allow yourself the time to learn how to handle them right. Shaving Nirvana lies ahead of you, but you have to work your way through the desert first...

Gentleman is right: the shaving angle is the key to success.
Keep it as low as possible, during your first few shaves. Another big cause of razor burn with a straight, as well as with a DE, is pressure.
You can't use too little pressure while shaving. The edge should be barely touching your face. The harder you push, the more you irritate your skin. It won't shave you any closer, for that matter.

If you can afford it in your professional career, it's a good idea to wait 2 to 3 days in between shaves, during your first few learning weeks. It's a bit easier, and more rewarding, shaving 3 days of growth, and it gives you and your face time to adjust to your new shaving method.

I am convinced that straight razor shaving is something any one can learn. The slowest starter may become the most proficient shaver. All it takes is a certain diligence.

Good luck,
Bart.

I would also suggest, that you avoid going over and over the same area. If you don't cut the hair with 2 passes then you are either using an incorret technique (angle) or a razor that is not 'shave ready'.

Don't be disheartened, a bit of razor burn can be easily resolved.

Good luck

Well Im lucky I have this tinted moisturizer. I use it because my face is dry and pale (doesnt get tanned by the sun like the rest of me). This cream is a god send. hides imperfections, has vitamins etc in it. I dont look razorburned because I have this cream on me. Sure there is some very slight pink but no where near the redness I had earlier.

Anyway, it just feels like it hurts when I shave. I used to get the sides of my head razored at the barber every 2 weeks. It always kind of hurt. Cheap foamy lather. Well I now use the M3 on my head with real shaving cream and brush, and I can even go ATG with that. For my face, Ive been using the M3 for years in the shower with perfect shaves. I want to switch to the str8 because I want to shave with it. Just seems like Im repeating those D/E days only this doesnt nick me or cut me. my technique does suck because its a 3" blade and I have no idea how to guide it. Those videos make it seem so easy yet when I try it like them, i quickly notice that its not as easy. Its almost hard to believe that a str8 is going to give me as close and as comfortable a shave with no razorburn or nicks like the M3 does. I sure hope so anyway.

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

Its almost hard to believe that a str8 is going to give me as close and as comfortable a shave with no razorburn or nicks like the M3 does. I sure hope so anyway.

Just to clarify something that we often forget... The M3 is capable of giving you a reasonably good shave because it has taken much of the control away from you, the user. It is designed to fight excess pressure, incorrect angles and generally sloppy shavemanship. The DE is more of straight razor with training wheels... DE's will NOT correct for incorrect shave technique but rather simply prevent the user from decapitating themselves if they stray too far off course. The straight razor does absolutely nothing to prevent you from shaving incorrectly.... If you press the razor hard enough to cause razor burn (and it takes very very little pressure to do that) then by golly the straight will give it to you... after all, that's what you told the razor to do. Use the incorrect angle AND excessive pressure and you shall surely be rewarded with lots of razor burn, nicks and cuts.

The straight demands discipline and respect. Learn to handle it correctly and it will reward you with the kind of shaves you can never get from a cartridge razor but remember.... you are the one that has to do the controlling and the shaving... the razor will simply oblige and do what you tell it to do. Straight shaving is not hard, but it surely isn't easy when you start out and you have to be willing to work at learning and developing the skills and senses you need to use to guide that razor. A straight will no more make you an expert shaver than a basket ball will turn you into a Magic Johnson, it's you who has to take the reins and teach yourself how to do this.

As for razor burn, you're pressing too hard with the blade, caress your face with it, don't scrape your face and secondly, the angle of the blade is probably not right... try to keep the spine of the blade one or two spine widths from your face, move it further away from the skin only if it's not quite cutting. Make your strokes rather short and overlapping slightly... and just so you don't forget, don't lean on that blade!

The chin line... it's a sharp curve for most of us... all the pivoting in the M3 now has to be duplicated by your wrist... hard to do so most of us use very short strokes as we work our way around the corner..

ATG, worry about that when you can do a proper WTG with no burn or other issues. Most of us are able to do an appearance presentable shave in one WTG pass. I don't mean you won't feel stubble if you rub your face in all directions, I just mean that if you look at yourself in the mirror after that one good WTG pass, you should LOOK presentable. Don't feel bad if you have to use an M3 to finish the shave in the beginning... keeping your face in one piece is important... once you get razor burn, it needs to heal before you can shave again properly....

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Just to clarify something that we often forget... The M3 is capable of giving you a reasonably good shave because it has taken much of the control away from you, the user. It is designed to fight excess pressure, incorrect angles and generally sloppy shavemanship. The DE is more of straight razor with training wheels... DE's will NOT correct for incorrect shave technique but rather simply prevent the user from decapitating themselves if they stray too far off course. The straight razor does absolutely nothing to prevent you from shaving incorrectly.... If you press the razor hard enough to cause razor burn (and it takes very very little pressure to do that) then by golly the straight will give it to you... after all, that's what you told the razor to do. Use the incorrect angle AND excessive pressure and you shall surely be rewarded with lots of razor burn, nicks and cuts.

The straight demands discipline and respect. Learn to handle it correctly and it will reward you with the kind of shaves you can never get from a cartridge razor but remember.... you are the one that has to do the controlling and the shaving... the razor will simply oblige and do what you tell it to do. Straight shaving is not hard, but it surely isn't easy when you start out and you have to be willing to work at learning and developing the skills and senses you need to use to guide that razor. A straight will no more make you an expert shaver than a basket ball will turn you into a Magic Johnson, it's you who has to take the reins and teach yourself how to do this.

As for razor burn, you're pressing too hard with the blade, caress your face with it, don't scrape your face and secondly, the angle of the blade is probably not right... try to keep the spine of the blade one or two spine widths from your face, move it further away from the skin only if it's not quite cutting. Make your strokes rather short and overlapping slightly... and just so you don't forget, don't lean on that blade!

The chin line... it's a sharp curve for most of us... all the pivoting in the M3 now has to be duplicated by your wrist... hard to do so most of us use very short strokes as we work our way around the corner..

ATG, worry about that when you can do a proper WTG with no burn or other issues. Most of us are able to do an appearance presentable shave in one WTG pass. I don't mean you won't feel stubble if you rub your face in all directions, I just mean that if you look at yourself in the mirror after that one good WTG pass, you should LOOK presentable. Don't feel bad if you have to use an M3 to finish the shave in the beginning... keeping your face in one piece is important... once you get razor burn, it needs to heal before you can shave again properly....

Regards

Christian

One of the best posts I have ever read.
Kaptain_zero,

The truth is ever so beautiful and soothing when it's masterly brought.

"A straight will no more make you an expert shaver than a basket ball will turn you into a Magic Johnson", I think I'll put that as a quote in my signature for a while...

Bart.

Yeah I agree with that. Im just pissed off right now.

I was too, maybe you should read my thread, it calmed me down.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ght-shave.html

You cannot get a perfect shave with a straight after just 2 attempts. You need to practice, practice, practice.

You had razor burn after your first shave, then you should give your face at least 24hrs to heal again, 48 is better.

Also try just shaving your cheeks for now while you improve technique. The cheeks are easiest, then the chin, jawline and neck are the more difficult areas.

Good luck and don't give up yet.