Thread: My first straight razor shave

This morning I had my first shave with the shavette.. It wasn't too bad.. it wasn't smooth either.

I first made a practice run without a blade in it.. especialy because I'm verry not left handed and I decided to trust that hand with a knife on my face..
Took a shower and made some lather.
This went better than the first time.
Lathered my face and started on the cheeks. Then the neck and after that the chin.
That didn't work out that well. So I shaved under my nose firt and did an ATG on my neck.
Right under my chin was the biggest problem. I didnt get it shaved very smooth but I decided to call it a day.. cleaned up my face, put on a nice aftershave balm and let my face rest.
The results are not very even.. but no cuts and no burn.

Maarten

Maarten, I highly recommend that you start with just the areas between the sideburns and jawlines, and WTG only. Get a feeling for how the razor feels in your hand, the blade angles and the feel of it against your skin. I went directly from a safety to a straight. I didn't want the intermediate step of the shavette (no reason to add to the costs).

Once you are comfortable with manipulating the blade you can start adding other facial areas, and XG and ATG too. Take your time. Don't expect immediate results. The results will come with time. And the results will be spectacular!!

Thanks Dan,

When I mentioned the results I probably also shoud have mentioned that the results where better than I expected..
I was planning on only doing the cheecks and sideburns with the shavette but It was going pretty well so I fininshed it off anyway without a scratch or burn.

So even with the shaving results not being very smooth I'm pretty satisfied

Today I will probably get my first real straigt but as I don't have a hone or a strop yet I wont be able to use it for a while..

Maarten

+1 on what dward said ...

Time and practice and you will be on your way to the closest shave and leaving your skin in great condition.

The art is learned and a lot of fun as well as therapeutic.

Take your time learning the ATG technique that works for you. SMOOTH controlled strokes is what its all about. As you learn your face better then you ever thought you could you will find the balance !

The second shave was worse than the first...
The chin and area around the mouth is still hard to do.. sideburns and cheeks are easy..
so after some struggle on the chin and neck I finished it off with the DE and cleaned up..

still need a lot of practice

Maarten

Hi Maarteen, and welcome to SRP!
It sounds like your first few shaves weren't all that bad, considering. Might I offer a few tips? For left hand practice, when you use your DE, use your left had as if you were using a straight - I did that for a good long while in preparation for using a straight, and it really helped.

Only go WTG for the first few times. Use light pressure, a shallow angle, and unlike a DE, you really have to STRETCH the skin properly to avoid irritation and get a smooth shave.

Keep at it - using a straight is the counterbalance to the immediate gratification world we live it...you have to earn a good shave with a straight, it definitely isn't a given. Enjoy the ride!

Mark

Thanks Mark,

No they weren't that bad at all..

I'm having a great time shaving.. and I think thats the first time..
cant wait till tomorow morning.... third straightrazorday...

Maarten

This morning I just did a quick shave with the straight after taking a shower..began shavind between the sideburns and jaw (strechted it good so also under the jaw) left and right... cheecks end neck..

then cut myself a bit under the nose.. wrong angle...wasnt too bad though
did my chin a bit and lip under the mouth and finished it of with the DE..

Cleaned myself up and now waiting for the hair to grow back so I can shave again

Maarten

Sounds like you're doing great! Keep up the enthusiams, keep reading, watching the videos...and most of all, straight shaving! Practice really does make perfect!

Good job, and keep us posted!

Mark

P.s. the moustache and chin areas are the trickiest to learn, so no shame in getting nicked.

Yesterday evening I changed the blade of my Shavette from the standard Dovo one to a Feather... This one is very unforgiving... I cut myself twice... Now I look like my cat jumped on my face

The shaving is getting better though. I'm now able to do a WTG pass on my whole face inlcuding the chin..It was just a matter of pulling the right faces and pulling the skin in the right directions. Next is in the learning process is XTG for a Baby Bumm smooth shave..the last shave I didn't even use the DE...

I'm getting there.. slowly but surely...

Maarten