Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    15
    Thanked: 3

    Exclamation Lastnight was my first shave!

    Well, lastnight I finally had everything together and I went for it! Needless to say I'm a little cut up and didn't exactly get the best shave. My razor has been honed and I stropped before and after. Could it be my angle? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Tiredofbumps
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    DePere, Wisconsin, USA
    Posts
    508
    Thanked: 52

    Default

    practice...practice...practice...

    take it slow...i have only had one "Straight" shave but have been using a shavette for 6 months...

    take it slow...if it doesnt feel right stop and trya gain the next day...at first dont shave every day...take at least a day off to heal and let the hairs grow...i found it easier to shave on two days growth than every day...

    watch your stropping...you could actually make your razor duller with bad stropping...

    i am a newbie so others will have better suggestions...

    very light strokes...and have fun

  3. #3
      Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri, United States
    Posts
    8,454
    Thanked: 4942
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    I'm thinkin' I should record this message for posterity...............

    Strop your razor 30-50 strokes and then practice for a few days just shaving from one sideburn down to the jaw on that side of your face. The angle should be 30 degrees or less. Get the feel of the razor and it's cutting angle. Get used to very little pressure on the razor. As you become comfortable add the cheek on the same side of the face for a couple days. If comfy with that side, do the same on the other side of the face and practice with your non-dominant hand. Sideburn to jaw and then cheek. If you are feeling pretty good after a week or so, then do a with the grain stroke on both sides of the neck. Now to the chin. The chin shape for some reason naturally flattens out the angle of your razor. Make sure you keep the 30 degrees or less. Take on the chin over a couple days starting under the lip then the sides of the chin and then the chin itself. Remember, light touch. I usually only shave with the grain on the chin, but you can go cross grain once you have the hang of it. Mustache the same. Last, you can try across the grain on both sides of the face and against the grain on the neck and under the chin. Don't be in a hurry.

    Depending on your face shape, you may find advantages in stretching the skin around on your face and neck. Watch some of the shaving videos in the forum.

    Remember to to make sure you are doing good prep work on the beard and have a really nice lather.

    The couple weeks you spend learning here will be lessons that will last a lifetime.

    Have fun,

    Lynn

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Lynn For This Useful Post:

    Hillie (04-25-2009)

  5. #4
    Senior Member blabbermouth coachmike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Bergen County,N.J.
    Posts
    4,339
    Thanked: 832

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lynn View Post
    I'm thinkin' I should record this message for posterity...............

    Strop your razor 30-50 strokes and then practice for a few days just shaving from one sideburn down to the jaw on that side of your face. The angle should be 30 degrees or less. Get the feel of the razor and it's cutting angle. Get used to very little pressure on the razor. As you become comfortable add the cheek on the same side of the face for a couple days. If comfy with that side, do the same on the other side of the face and practice with your non-dominant hand. Sideburn to jaw and then cheek. If you are feeling pretty good after a week or so, then do a with the grain stroke on both sides of the neck. Now to the chin. The chin shape for some reason naturally flattens out the angle of your razor. Make sure you keep the 30 degrees or less. Take on the chin over a couple days starting under the lip then the sides of the chin and then the chin itself. Remember, light touch. I usually only shave with the grain on the chin, but you can go cross grain once you have the hang of it. Mustache the same. Last, you can try across the grain on both sides of the face and against the grain on the neck and under the chin. Don't be in a hurry.

    Depending on your face shape, you may find advantages in stretching the skin around on your face and neck. Watch some of the shaving videos in the forum.

    Remember to to make sure you are doing good prep work on the beard and have a really nice lather.

    The couple weeks you spend learning here will be lessons that will last a lifetime.

    Have fun,

    Lynn
    +1..... I have heard this from Lynn many, many times and truer words or advice could not be given to new straight users starting out....
    Having Fun Shaving

  6. #5
    Tiredofbumps
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    DePere, Wisconsin, USA
    Posts
    508
    Thanked: 52

    Default

    Youve now heard it from the horses mouth...take lynns advice and it will be a piece of cake

  7. #6
    journeyman SR shaver Henrico's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    44
    Thanked: 8

    Default

    Also invest in Lynn's dvd. It is well worth it.

  8. #7
    Senior Member TheBeardedCommodore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    154
    Thanked: 21

    Default

    Practice makes perfect, my fist week was rough but then i was able to realize the directionality of my hair and intricacies of my face and the angel tat worked best for me.

  9. #8
    Senior Member singlewedge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    PDX
    Posts
    1,568
    Thanked: 203

    Default

    If at first you sorta succeed, cut, slice and try again.

    Glad it was good for you, well sorta.

  10. #9
    Senior Member BHChieftain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    San Jose, CA, USA
    Posts
    509
    Thanked: 108

    Default

    I've been shaving str8t for over a month-- first week was pretty rough, cut myself a few times, shaves were not all that great. But after that, things started to come together, reading the wiki and watching the videos were a fantastic help. Now I get BBS shaves, and am now working on honing skills.

    Best of luck,
    Chief

  11. #10
    Professional Pedantic Pontificator
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Monmouth, OR - USA
    Posts
    1,163
    Thanked: 317

    Default

    My first straight have was less then 2 weeks ago, and I turned my neck into hamburger.

    My second shave made less hamburger, but I nicked myself 4 times, one of which bled like a stuck pig.

    It's pretty common, and nothing to be concerned about in the slightest.

    Lynn's advice on this topic is peerless, and what he posted for you is no exception. Read it, and follow it to the best of your ability.


    That being said, my shave before work today got my cheeks BBS (baby butt smooth) and my neck noticeably smoother than my old mach 3 ever did, and I did it with absolutely no nicks or razor burn.

    Just relax, and find what works for you. Start with the advice of Lynn and the other old hands around here, and pay attention to what works for you and what doesn't. You'll be an old pro in no time.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •