First try - jury's out

I have worn a beard for many years, shaving only my cheekbones and neck. Once every year or two I shave it off to see what's under there, and each time after several days of turning my face into a red, burning, bloody pulp I say, "Oh yeah, THAT's why I stopped shaving!" and let it grow back. After reading that straight razor shaving can be both more smooth and more comfortable than cartridge shaving I've been excited about giving it a try. I got all tricked out ready to go as I've posted on another thread here.

I don't know if it's because my beard is particularly coarse or if the whiskers lie down very flat, but after shaving with a cartridge WTG my face feels to me like it hasn't been shaved at all, and after going XTG it's not much better. I can't stand the feeling of rough stubble esp. immediately after the shave, so I always shave ATG -- perhaps part of the reason for the perennial discomfort.

This morning I had my first try with a straight. I've been waiting for a couple weeks since I received my new Dovo by way of Lynn's workshop because now I have a little more time in the morning. I decided to leave my goatee for today and just do my cheeks, jaw, and neck. After an awkward start when I couldn't figure out how to see my right side burn while I was trying to shave it, the first WTG pass went well -- surprisingly smooth-feeling and irritation-free. However, as with a cartridge, there was still an annoying stubble (though maybe less than with the cartridge, although the first shave of a full beard always gets a little closer). I lathered again and tried XTG. Still a pleasant experience, but not quite satisfied with the closeness. So I forged ahead, lathered once more, and tried to shave ATG. What a train wreck! I got a cut on my cheek and several nasty nicks on my neck. Now there are still parts of my face that are not quite smooth, and the right side of my neck is red, burning, and sore (though that part's smooth!).

I know things will get better with practice, but I am beginning to wonder if it is not possible on my face to get a shave that is both smooth and irritation- and blood-free. I'll keep at it for awhile, but if it seems like I can't get both then I'm afraid the advantage I was hoping to get from the straight just isn't there.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that straight razors were used for several hundred years. It helps my "I must be a special case, this certain problem seems so difficult for me whereas others say they have no trouble" perspective

There are a lot of variables that can cause a shave to go foul. The best advice I have received and used so far for straight shaving is keep practicing :) You did well to go two passes comfortably. The closeness + the comfort is a quest I am also seeking. I compromise less and less to achieve that as I keep practicing

Congrats! Your start sounds about normal. I didn't even try ATG until I got comfortable wielding the razor - and getting the vision thing down. Give yourself a couple/few months of consistent practice before you make up your mind. It can easily take that long. Not to mention learning to strop and touch up your edge while you're at it. :)

Jordan

Time and patience is the key! Pay close attention and keep working at it, and it will all come together! Don't shave against the grain until you are proficient at using a straight with the grain!

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Originally Posted by JMS

Time and patience is the key! Pay close attention and keep working at it, and it will all come together! Don't shave against the grain until you are proficient at using a straight with the grain!

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+ 1 on not shaving against the grain for a while. Shave across the grain from two different directions but not against the grain. Also, when you do venture to shave against the grain, make sure that the skin is well stretched and that the blade is even flatter against the face than when you shave WTG and XTG. I come close to laying the spine on the face when shaving ATG.

Keep at it and don't be discouraged. I took months to get my first reasonable shave and I still needed to do some cleanup with a DE.

Good luck!

Another +1 for waiting on the ATG pass. Work on technique first. ATG is the hardest pass to master. I'd recommend starting slow, going WTG, then XTG and trying a XTG/ATG angle. As you get proficient you can increase the angle going more ATG. Make sure to strop again prior to your ATG pass. That will get you your keenest edge for the final pass. The good news is your doing great for your first time. I won't bother to tell you how bad my first WTG pass went, just know it was bad. Remember -light pressure.

personally In ever shave against the grain with a regular razor. my skin is just too sensitive and I have learned to be happy with what I get from wtg and sometimes cross grain. I know that some guys that have very sensitive skin end up going to a special dilapadory cream for faces and use the back of a butter knife to scrape it off, supposedly works very well. one guy I know that had to do it that way finally got tired of it and has done the lazer removal, I think crazy but he says he'd never want facial hair.

Red

Thanks for all the encouragement, gang! My still-stinging-and-red jowls and neck have left me a little disappointed, but I haven't given up yet.

I may heed the suggestions about holdiing off on ATG if for no other reason than to let my skin heal, but as I mentioned, WTG/XTG with a cartridge just doesn't do it for me and it didn't seem like the straight was that much better this morning. I will eventually either need to do ATG without putting my face through the meat grinder or else get a better result WTG/XTG or straight shaving won't be worth it for me.

You WILL get better. I'd bet that in time you'll get to the point where just WTG/XTG gets you smoother than a cartridge ever could.

Congratulations, you have taken the first step in str8 shaving.

Remember, brick layers don't build a house on the first day thye lay a brick.

Eventually you will develop the skills necessary to give you that perfect shave, but first you must serve your apprenticeship.

Good luck and enjoy the ride. :tu

The only thing I can add is to remember to perform an excellent beard prep, use light pressure with the thought of beard reduction with each pass and not complete beard removal on the first pass. Use a very good soap and relather as much as necessary.

Now give your skin a rest for a few days.:)

Day 2: I skipped the ATG pass this time (except a little patch on one cheek I couldn't resist). Like yesterday, the WTG and XTG passes were very smooth! I didn't draw ANY blood today, which is a huge improvement over yesterday's massacre. There was very little redness or irritation, and what there was was in damaged areas from yesterday that are still healing.

Overall the shave is not as close as I would like. It's passable from a distance, and even if I run my fingers over my skin WTG, but some spots definitely do NOT pass the credit card test, esp. on the neck (where I was going easy to let it heal) and up my jawline next to my ears.

psdarby suggested re-stropping in the middle -- I tried that because it seemed like my razor was starting to pull a little in the middle of the second pass, and I think it helped. I'll definitely have to remember that for when I get the guts (and skin) back to try ATG again.

On the whole, for a bloodless, low-irritation, pretty-close shave, I'd say it was better than most cartridge shaves I have ever had. (And no more jeers from my wife today!:p She was pretty shocked and alarmed when she saw the condition of my face when I came home yesterday evening.) Still looking for that magic combo of comfy and close to convince myself that it beats wearing a beard, but now I'm a lot more hopeful that it can be done!

Thanks again for the encouragement and the advice.

Razor v. whiskers W/L/T record: 1/0/1

Great to hear. Usually takes about a month to develop the skills to shave decently. I got your PM about being in my area. Sent you my #. If you ever need any help give me a holler. I'd be glad to assist.



Patrick

You didn't mention how many passes you made your strop before shaving. Under-stropping can cause irritation.

You might consider just doing one pass on your sides and cheeks and then finishing with a safety. When you're comfortable slowly increase the areas you use the straight on over time.




Man: Doc, it hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Don't do that.

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Originally Posted by shuredgefan

You didn't mention how many passes you made your strop before shaving. Under-stropping can cause irritation.

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Yesterday I didn't strop, since it was my first shave after receiving the sharpened razor from Lynn and I wanted to be sure I knew what it felt like before I had a chance to "mess it up" on the strop. My impression was it was plenty sharp for the first two passes.

This morning I stropped 50 laps on the linen and 50 on the leather before shaving, then I think I did another 10 or 20 laps on the leather halfway through the second pass.

It may be my imagination, but I do think the mid-way stropping helped, so you're right to suggest I be careful to keep the edge stropped and keen. I also put a drop of oil on the edge of the blade for overnight storage because I'm keeping it in the bathroom, so hopefully that will minimize dulling due to oxidation. (I noticed last night there was already a spot of rust forming at the hinge. :mad: It rubbed off but was a heads-up that I need to be more careful how I store it.)

(As for finishing with a safety, that's the LAST thing I want to do. I can't stand those things -- talk about blood and irritation! I'm afraid it's going to have to be straight or nothing for me.)

Thanks for the suggestions -- its nice to have help with the troubleshooting!

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Originally Posted by psdarby

Great to hear. Usually takes about a month to develop the skills to shave decently. I got your PM about being in my area. Sent you my #. If you ever need any help give me a holler. I'd be glad to assist.



Patrick

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Thanks! I got the PM. It would be nice to have a regional forum in here for people who are geographically close can get connected. I couldn't find an easy way to identify all the users from this area on the members list except to search city by city. I did see a number of other Seattleites listed though.

Today I worked a little harder on getting the shave close. There were still some areas that were still rough no matter what I did with WTG and XTG, so I did try a little ATG again here and there. Results:

Closeness: This is really good today! Not quite BBS everywhere, but almost.
Blood: Not quite as good as yesterday. One small nick and a small cut, but both had stopped bleeding before I was through so at least I didn't have to use the :cen stiptic pencil! Definitely no bloody massacre like two days ago.
Irritation: The cheeks are fine, but the neck, esp. on the right side, is a bit red, hot, and stinging, so not quite as comfortable as yesterday, but not too much worse. It seems I have traded off a bit of irritation for a bit of closeness. The sweet spot in between the two really seems to be -- forgive me -- a razor's edge!

I'm declaring this one a marginal victory. Razor v. whiskers: 1/1/1.

That reminds me of my Dad's short-lived prize fighting career when he was 16. He fought 3 bouts: he lost one, he tied one, then he won one. Just like me and my razor. Then he came to his senses and hung up the gloves. As for me, I don't plan to hang up the razor, but I probably won't be posting these daily updates anymore since I'm sure it will lose its interest for anyone except me. Seems like I'm getting there, even with my perfectionist standards, so I hope that's an encouragement to other noobs getting started.

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

As for me, I don't plan to hang up the razor, but I probably won't be posting these daily updates anymore since I'm sure it will lose its interest for anyone except me.

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It might help to remember that the razor itself has nothing to gain by knocking you out. Just roll with the slashes.

And I take interest. I'll be showing a good friend how to shave with a straight this weekend and you are reminding me what to expect :D

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

It might help to remember that the razor itself has nothing to gain by knocking you out. Just roll with the slashes.

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On the contrary, I was imagining the razor and me on the same team, like Dad and his gloves. The opponent would be the whiskers. Or maybe my skin. But then the goal would be to leave it as NOT bloody and beaten up as possible. OK, so the analogy doesn't really work... Still nice to think about dear ol' Dad!:) I wonder who looked bloodier after the first bout... :lol:

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

And I take interest. I'll be showing a good friend how to shave with a straight this weekend and you are reminding me what to expect :D

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Thanks, Lee! Good luck with the lesson.

One more thing that I didn't see mentioned is that not only are you just starting out shaving with a straight razor, but you're also shaving areas that have been covered by hair for a year or two. It takes a few shaves with any razor for your skin to be conditioned to the blade. The longer you practice, the better your technique, and also the more comfortable your face will be in general since it will be used to the feeling of shaving.

Good on you for keeping with it. I'm sure that things will keep getting better with time.