Thread: My first straight razor shave

Maarten, I'm very "not left handed", too. You might want to check out Xman's videos on one handed shaving. The only time my left hand is allowed to touch a straight razor is to close the scales.

Not sure what hand I used to cut myself.. it was probably my right hand.
I was pulling faces and put the blad on my skin in the wrong angle..
The second cut was surely my right hand in a poor attempt to do a XTG pass on my upperlip..wrong angle.. its the same story over and over again

I've seen xmans video before but I'll make sure I'll watch it again before my next shave. I think I'll wait until the cuts have healed a bit..

I got some comments of my colleagues today if I had a fight with my girlfriend...

Maarten

This morning I had a great shave, completely done with the shavette.

first took a bath, along with my three year old son (when is a good time to learn him to shave with a straight?) and his Lightning McQuen soap bottle car. then put a towel soaked in hot water on my face.. lathered up.. and shaved without a nick (well.. ok a small cut on my chin) I still only shave wtg and on my cheeks and neck ATG.
The shaving results are getting better.. the upper lip isnt BBS but the rest is pretty decent.

After shaving I cleaned up with hot and then cold water and put some Sanex aftershave balm on my face.. also cleaned up the cut on my chin. the spots I cut tuesday evening are still a bit soar but thats ok..

Reading your post I'm going through the same experiences you are living through. I got a bit ahead of myself and started shaving my neck, chin and mustache area before I was really comfortable (despite reading all the advise to start slow). I almost completed (stress almost) a nick free shave with the long blade. I understand from reading and other input that the shavette is more unforgiving than the straight for little nicks and cuts. I'm looking forward to a real straight razor shave! thanks for sharing!

Thanks Autarkic,

Today I had a new learning experience.. I felt how a dull blade felt...

I started fine... after a shower went to shaving..
Lathered up and then shaving.. I had a two day beard and I felt the hairs pulling..I used a bit more force to cut the hairs and figured that wasn't the way to do it.. I just did one pass...and called it a day..I didn't do too much damage... so I'll try again tomorrow.

Maarten

Yesterday the mailman brought me a small parcel from Don with a Crown Razor!! (just 5 days after ordering the item from the classifieds!!!!)

so yesterday evening when the kid and girlfriend where up to bed I decided to give it a go.

Made my face wet with steamy water, lathered up.
I stropped the crown carefully on the paddlestrop (leatherside)
rinsed my face..
lathered up again.
did a wtg pass
rinse
lathered up again.
xtg and some touchups
rinse
cleanup
dried crown
some stropping
done

The difference with the shavette are amazing..
the shave is not as close with the crown but thats probably just technique.. its also a lot more comfortable and less bloody..the shavette is way more agressive and unforgiving.

the good thing about a not so close shave is that I can shave everyday... yeahaaa...

Maarten

Thanks for the info, Maarten. I'd been wondering about the Shavette, almost to the point of buyiing one just to compare it to a regular straight. After hearing your results, I think I'll pass.

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

Thanks for the info, Maarten. I'd been wondering about the Shavette, almost to the point of buyiing one just to compare it to a regular straight. After hearing your results, I think I'll pass.

Well... I do like the shavette because it's very very sharp.. and after a couple of shaves I did get some BBS spots on my face..and the bleeding wasnt that bad either..nothing alum couldnt fix. I'm sure I will be happy to use it on vacation when I dont want to take along a strop and a hone.. the shavette also works great atg because its so sharp... I'm having more troubles with that with my "new" crown..

I wouldnt recomend it to newbies like me ... although it does force you to not use force on the blade and use the right angle (or else you will bleed). It has been a great learning curve for me..

Maarten