Thread: first shave

I am not sure where I went wrong, probably too many to list, but I got a new Wapi (prehoned and shave ready) and didn't have a strop so I thought (first problem, "I thought" LOL) why not try something else, so I took a stack of printer paper and layed it flat and "stropped" the razor on the paper lathered up and tried my first shave. Well that didn't go too well or I wouldn't be typing this right?
I am not sure if I ruined the edge with the paper or didn't hold the razor correctly or what of any number of things it could be but it just didn't seem sharp and really gave me a bit of a rash with only one tiny nick. (didn't even use stypic) So what does everyone think, should I have it rehoned, just buy a good strop and try again, sell it all on ebay and stick to cartridges?
Help and thanks,
Photoguy67

where are the photos, photo guy?

Still on my shelf, I don't do digital. I do old fashioned film.

Give a razor at least 10 shaves before you give up on it. It is possible that you screwed up your edge somehow, but most of the time for a new shaver it is an issue of technique. If after 10 shaves or so you hasn't had a single one that is better, then it's quite possible that you rolled your edge or something to that effect. Chances are you will have a shave where the angle and pressure just seem to "click" and suddenly shaving gets a lot easier.

Wapis are great shavers but you may have rolled the edge if your downward pressure was excessive and/or lifted the spine. All part of the learning curve.
A perfect edge is delicate and whether honing or stropping the pressure should only be enough to keep the razor flat & in contact. You will feel more resistance on leather but it is more linear rather than downwards.

You should definitely buy, beg, borrow, or make a good leather strop. It is essential for maintaining your edges.

It will all come together in time. Hang in there. Your first good shave will make it all worthwhile.

Well I am up to my 5th shave now and I definately have a learning curve! I finally got a leather strop and gave the razor a good stropping and it truely seems alot sharper and my technique is getting better I had some severe razor burn and finally figured out to stop trying to shave and just cut the hair off my face, sounds silly but it works for me!! LOL I figured out that I was pressing against my face way too hard and just let the razor glide along the surface and that seems to have made all the difference in the world. Thanks to everyone for all your advice!
Photoguy67

what you said makes perfect sense. When you use a Mach 3 you smash that thing down against your face, and commence to dragging it. With a real razor you effortlessly slice those mean old hairs right off your skin. If you want to slice 'em so close your face feels BBS, so be it, you can do it, because you are just gliding that tiny edge of metal against the hairs. With a Mach 3 I truly believe the edge is quite a bit thicker. I have had razor burn for over 15 years. As soon as I started with a straight, I have had no issues, even with 3 passes. WTG XTG ATG

I am hoping that I won't have to relearn the act of not pressing the razor, just let the razor do the work. I used those plastic things for a number of years. You know, the kind that just bounce on the beard. I finally bought a nice safety razor and had to learn to let the weight of the razor do the cutting. I will have to keep that in mind for my first straight shave (am waiting on my leather strop, and Lynn's CD). I purchased my first straight here in the classifieds.

Dan