First Shave Issues

I received my Wapi the other day and got up the nerve this morning to attempt m first straight shave. Overall it was a positive experience, although a bit nerve racking at times and somewhat cumbersome (which I'm sure is to be expected). I was really surprised at the amount of feedback I felt from the razor. I ended up with a couple of nicks but nothing too serious. I do have a couple of questions for the more experienced straighters out there.
1) Do most folks shave with one hand or do you switch hands when shaving different sides of your face?
2) How can I shave my chin? Sounds like a stupid question, but I just couldn't find a comfortable angle to approach my chin.
3) I'm wondering if I should have trimmed my growth with an electric trimmer before shaving. I had about 4 days of growth. Would the shave have been easier if I had trimmed first?


Thanks guys,
Jeff

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Originally Posted by jsensen

I received my Wapi the other day and got up the nerve this morning to attempt m first straight shave. Overall it was a positive experience, although a bit nerve racking at times and somewhat cumbersome (which I'm sure is to be expected). I was really surprised at the amount of feedback I felt from the razor. I ended up with a couple of nicks but nothing too serious. I do have a couple of questions for the more experienced straighters out there.
1) Do most folks shave with one hand or do you switch hands when shaving different sides of your face?
2) How can I shave my chin? Sounds like a stupid question, but I just couldn't find a comfortable angle to approach my chin.
3) I'm wondering if I should have trimmed my growth with an electric trimmer before shaving. I had about 4 days of growth. Would the shave have been easier if I had trimmed first?


Thanks guys,
Jeff

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Sounds like you did very well on your first shave. I assume you still had all your fingers to type your post. :D

I find it much easier to switch hands. When I'm shaving with the grain (WTG) I use my right hand and my right side and my left hand on my left side. When I'm shaving against the grain (ATG) I use my right hand on my left side and my left hand on my right side.

I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous. :thinking:

I shave my chin going across from both sides. I support the skin with my non razor hand. I also tuck in my lower lip to get a flatter chin.

I don't think trimming your beard before you shaved would have made much difference.

+1 on Ken's advice. I, too, switch hands and it makes a difference. There are some single hand shavers here, but I never tried it myself. You will grow accustom to using your off hand pretty quick depending on how often you shave, and it will give you more versatility as you go for BBS.

As for the chin, I have never shaved mine! I do know that getting into tighter areas of my face, I had learn to use the toe and heal of the razor independently of the whole edge. This is where having a round point probably saved me some nicks. If I can't get directly with the grain (or what ever direction I am shaving in) then I get as close as possible to the direction and go a bit slower. For instance, on the sides of my throat, I can't get directly perpendicular to the grain so I go at about 10 degrees off of perpendicular and then shave as perpendicular as I can with that angle of approach (kind of scything). NOTE: I am not talking about edge to spine angle, I am talking about heel to toe angle!

I almost always shave through two days of growth or more and my blades mow it down with out issue when they are shave ready.


Hope this helps you out. CONGRATULATIONS ON HOLDING A BLADE TO YOUR THROAT AND LIVING!!!
:tu:tu

+1 On what Ken said.

Also, watch Lynn's video before shaving, and try to follow his technique.

Straight Razor shaving demo

Thanks guys. I am definitely going to review Lynn's video...several times! Ken thanks again for the Wapi. That baby is a looker! It was actually intimidating at first glance. But I think we will get along just fine.

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Originally Posted by jsensen

Thanks guys. I am definitely going to review Lynn's video...several times! Ken thanks again for the Wapi. That baby is a looker! It was actually intimidating at first glance. But I think we will get along just fine.

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Glad you like it. You will get used to the fact that you are shaving with a naked steel blade.