Thread: First Shave: Hmmm

Hi Folks,

Well, this morning I tried my first straight shave. It wasn't really bad or good but that sounds like par for the course. The first time that I lifted the razor to my face... boy... I've never noticed before how HOT it was in the bathroom .

I did a downward WTG pass with the straight and finished up XTG & ATG with the DE. No nicks but I'm a bit red on my neck. Additionally, I have no idea how a "sharp" razor should feel. I purchased an inexpensive shave-ready (& honed) blade so I'm trusting that the resulting pulling/tugging was due to my own inexperience and not the fault of the blade.

I had a few questions: is it common for newbies to be TOO tentative with their strokes? I think that if I went at the shave with more "purpose" the results might be better. Also, how do you know if your stropping technique (or lack of) is helping/harming the blade? I stropped the razor slowly at the beginning and end of the shave. When stropping I kept the strop taught, used light pressure and tried to always keep the spine and edge in contact with the leather. Is learning to strop well really a trial and error process?

Anyway, I'm out of the gate! Hopefully I won't find the mud on the track to be too thick!