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Someone has been kind enough to "loan" me a straight. It is shave ready. But am I?
I know I'm going to cut/nick myself. I can live with that. I've checked Lynn's video, lots of good stuff there, can anyone tell me something to keep me wanting to try this?
How was your first shave?
Were you scared? (I am)
How long did it take you to get the "hang of it"?
I know we are all different, that is why I hope a few of you will answer so I can kind of get a curve.
Thamks,
Ken.
Hi Ken, welcome to SRP. My first couple of weeks I did as Lynn suggests and just did down passes and I finished the shave with a DE (double edge). I didn't even try to do my chin and mustache. Took a few weeks and I was off the DE and have been ever since.
Years ago I tried straight razor shaving and gave it up. Back then one thing an old barber told me that stuck was to hold the razor firmly but gently so that if it pulls the razor gives and not the skin. He also told me that if it pulls it isn't sharp enough and never force it. I practice that and rarely get a nick. Lots if good info in the Wiki at the top of the tool bar and in the video section of the forum index, Let us know how you make out. :gl:
Hello Ken,
safety first! Don't let the blade's edge come to rest on your skin at anytime, and don't ever slice sideways. Always move the edge in a perpendicular direction from the edge :)
Also, keep the razor out of reach and out of sight of youngins!
Check out the shaving portion of this guide by Chris Moss, it is what I used. The skin stretching bit is important as well, to help minimize irritation and get a closer shave at the same time. I was scared too, but once I started moving the blade down my face I gained the confidence I needed to finish.
Thanks guys. I will check out all the videos and text I can.
JimmyHAD, thanks for the tip about starting out just one way.
Hogaloo, thanks:).
Sure. Start slow and precise. Speed will come without really trying.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfat1
The more I shave with a straight, the better I like it...Quote:
I know I'm going to cut/nick myself. I can live with that. I've checked Lynn's video, lots of good stuff there, can anyone tell me something to keep me wanting to try this?
It was better than a DE, except around the chin, only one very small weeper. My first decent nick took a month or two; i.e. once I started to get a bit careless.Quote:
How was your first shave?
The first couple of strokes were a bit shaky (was definitely nervous). Once I realized that I really could remove hair without heavy bleeding, it went a lot smoother.Quote:
Were you scared? (I am)
That happens in plateaus. Shaving, honing, stropping, lathering, etc... I got comfortable with straight shaving in maybe 8 weeks? That means putting it all together; lathering, stropping, figuring out how my face wanted to be stretched, experimenting with angles and length of strokes, gripping the razor, etc...Quote:
How long did it take you to get the "hang of it"?
Note that my first decent nick came after I thought I had the hang of it. :D
Good luck and enjoy.
i was a little nervous for my first shave but it went wxtremely well i was only going to do the sides of my face but after i got that done i wanted to do more i ended up shaving my whole face except my chin and moustache but i onle made one pass and it turned out great i did not even cut myself :D needless to say ive been hooked ever since just take your time so you get a feel for the blade in your hand and adjust your angle as needed until you get the best results and of course the sharper the razor the better the shave oh and welcome to srp
Trust me. The first time you shave your neck, you will never in your life be more aware of your blood pulsing through your jugular vein!
You really know how to encourage a guy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
@oldfat1 just get all the information you can and GO FOR IT! Happy shaving!
DO IT!
just be careful and take your time. i am stubborn so i thought i could do a full shave the first time and i was fine. the shave wasn't that great but i didn't bleed really at all. i have since but that is different ;)
pay attention to your angle and prep and start reading up on here. there is lots to read and learn. keep an open mind.
I wasn't really scared my first time and I never thought about hurting myself. Then again I played rugby so take that into consideration :p
In all seriousness I ended up doing my whole face without a cut the first time. It wasn't super smooth, but it was fairly irritation free (everywhere but the neck was fine).
If you want to use a straight then you're going to love it. it's worth any time you have to put into it. It will make your skin look better, too
:gl:
Thanks to every one who took the time to post.
Sunday moring wiil be the big day! Should I do anything different to prep for a straight than I do for a DE?
That depends on how you prep your DE shaves... do you already use a brush and soap?Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfat1
Use a hot towel for several minutes. A brush and most any cake soap, or brushless cream, is better than canned goo. (Ivory soap beats canned goo)
If you don't have a brush yet: Many chain stores (Walgreens, CVS, WallyMart...) carry an inexpensive boar brush and Williams or Van Der Hagen cakes.
:OT Is that a young Pekingese in your avatar?
Hi Steven.
I dont use a hot towel. I can if you think I should.
I had in mind. Wash face with "Clean and Clear oil free face wash". "Mama Bears, Bay Rum" soap. Vintage "Mohawk" badger brush. "Royall Bay Rhum" aftershave.
As an edit, I will probably need my "Clubman" styptic pencil.
I saw the hot towel in some of the things and not in others. Do you reccomend it?
BTW- half Pek , half Lhasa Apso.
I like to use a hot towel even after my shower. If there is no shower, there is no shave for me.
The hot towel can make a really noticeable difference for many folks. I usually shave before the shower because I think the natural oils on my face help a little (I have oily skin). Think positive, surely you won't need that styptic pencil until the 5th or 6th shave?
I'd recommend the hot towel for 3-4 minutes for your first shave or 3. Try it without later to compare the difference.
Sometimes I'll hot towel twice, like so: 3 minutes hot towel, lather face, strop, coupla' minutes hot towel again, lather face again, shave. I sometimes just use the hot towel before the first face lathering, but always lather twice. Just experiment a lot and you'll find what works the best for you, that's the fun part of shaving with a straight.
I'm gonna' try shaving after my shower now, too.
Cute dog.
Oh, definitely try the hot towel. I must warn you, though, it is addicting. I like to use a hot towel before I lather, shave, use another hot towel, splash on cold water, then after shave. Some folks like to hot towel, lather, 2nd hot towel over the lather, re-lather, shave. The hot towel adds a new dimension; it really improves the shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfat1
Now if I could only fit a LazyBoy into my bathroom so I could really enjoy my hot towel.
Dave
Don't worry after the plastic surgery everything can be right as rain and they can even sew ear lobs back on. Besides women love scars.
Actually all kidding aside when I shaved for the first time I went too slow and was probably too careful for my own good. No cuts just massive razor burn. Like everyone else just keep working at it and you'll be shaving like a pro in short order.
Like the good people said - do it! At your own pace
I wasn't scared - I was very excited :)
My first shave went... well, it depends how you look at it. Some might consider it terrible. Others, including myself - a success, even if not optimal.
Don't remember how long it took me to master - it definitely was not something short and easy-peasy...
Cheers
Ivo
I don't know if this will be helpful or not. If you are nevous about putting the straight to your face try using it somewere else. I'm not joking some people get shaky about putting a sharp edge to thier neck. What I mean is try shaving your chest or shins. this will give you an idea of how smoothly a straight will feel. You will also learn not to slide the blade sideways on a body part not readily veiwed. So at work the next day they wont ask what the hell happened.One other thing. We've heard this all our lives. Respect the blade and it will respect you. Good luck and happy shaving.:tu
If you have looked at Lynn's CD and follow the suggestions, you will do fine.
Just go for it and take your time. Really, don't rush it!!! Shave your cheeks until you are comfortable with the angle, pressure (or lack thereof) and stroke. You will love it once you get started.
Just to give an update, it went very well!
While it was not a pretty shave, slow, short, somewhat uneven, strokes, the results were good. Only one small nick (my own fault it was at the collar line on the right side and I just did not have a good angle, needlees to say I found the right one after that:D) and rather smooth. When I used my DE for the XTG pass it felt much the same as any second pass, so I guess the WTG was about the same. That could have been the hot towel, it was the first time I used one. I am going to use one again tommorw with the DE and see.
If I haven't hit the little "thanks" button, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to post their ideas and share their knowledge with me.
Well I think I may be hooked! After the spending....errr I mean holiday.....season is over I will have to start looking into finding all the tools (toys?) needed to use what I think will my new shave system.
Again, many thanks to all of you,
Ken.
It went much better today! I was more sure of my angles and strokes. I really enjoyed it. Only one little nick again, this time under the chin (still an angle thing, oh well I'll get it). A bit of redness but I think I may have been over stretching the skin a bit.
Again thanks to everyone,
Ken
My first time I was very excited but at the same time afraid. All I kept thinking was I have HUGE razor scraping my face. I even had visions of cutting my throat and dropping to the floor, unable to yell for help. (Horrible I know!) But I did it! After my first shave, I think I was left with a minor cut on my chin. Then my second shave, I had another minor cut on my neck. My third shave was my first successful shave! All my other cuts, including the one now on my chin, was my error due to doing a rush job or not paying attention.
Ken,
Good for you! I hope you continue to enjoy your straight razor shaves. Have you tried stropping it yet? When the holiday season is over, get yourself a good one if you don't have one already.