2nd Shave!

So today I had my second straight razor shave and it turned out much better. Than the first. I actually completed the full shave using it only! I ad a few minor cuts i think due to improper angle but for the most part it went well including the cop de maitre. One part that does cause concern is the neck as I have a skinny but muscular neck if that makes sense and therefore have a lot of crevasses and it is very hard to maintain the same angle the whole pass while doing the neck especially just under the jaw! I felt and looked like I had scratched my neck severley all over my kneck. No bleeding though and after 6 hours they are starting to go away the vertical red streaks! Anyone else have this problem?

I also learned that if you start the pass at the right angle (as it is very hard to tell if you have it at 30 degrees) the pass is smooth and cuts easily. When I don't seem to put it at the right angle it drags immediately and feels just AWFUL!!! Will this just need more practice or will I always have a few passes that snag, drag, and burn the skin?

Thank guys, for the help last time as it really helped and made it a lot more enjoyable this time!

Cuts usually occur when you apply too much pressure. You will likely experimenting with different grips useful, too: Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki. When I started out, I applied a far too tight grip; holding the razor with the least amount of strenght needed gives you a lot more flexibility, you feel the razor's feedback better, and you are less prone to get nicks.

As far as crevasses are concerned, skin stretching is key. While written for the advanced shaver, you might also want to read this article: Advanced shaving techniques for the straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

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Originally Posted by stainer3

... No bleeding though and after 6 hours they are starting to go away the vertical red streaks! Anyone else have this problem?

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Ii used to when I would use my left hand. The red zebra jawline. :D It's a product of the wrong angle and too much pressure.

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Originally Posted by stainer3

I also learned that if you start the pass at the right angle (as it is very hard to tell if you have it at 30 degrees) the pass is smooth and cuts easily. When I don't seem to put it at the right angle it drags immediately and feels just AWFUL!!!

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Ain't that the truth. You can tell right away if you're paying attention.

X

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Originally Posted by stainer3

When I don't seem to put it at the right angle it drags immediately and feels just AWFUL!!! Will this just need more practice or will I always have a few passes that snag, drag, and burn the skin?

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You got that one right. When it happens, you just stop, take a breath, relather and continue. If it happens again, stop and finish that section with whatever you used to shave with before you started with the straight. There is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing for you right now is to develop your technique, and only practice would do that. However, if you feel bad about your shaves, and feel bad about the way your face looks, etc. you are less likely to develop that needed confidence. Aim for comfort rather than closeness. As your technique develops, the closeness will be there. No sense in scraping your face too much (but a little is needed to develop technique). The neck is a particularly hard area. I am sure that a lot more people than you think share the same problems, even if it is at a different degree.

Al raz.