Thread: 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!

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

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

Originally Posted by Lynn

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....

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

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

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.

Originally Posted by Lynn

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.

Glenn mentioned the same thing last week. That's how I learned, and am thankful for this sage advice. However, I can understand the strong desire to just keep going on your first shave. Sometimes the temptation can be so overwhelming...

Definitely follow Lynn's advice, but most importantly just keep at it.

It comes to you quickly, believe it or not. The difference from shave #1 to shave #6 is HUGE just because you become more familiar and comfortable with the process.
Shave #6 still won't be perfect, but it'll be a *lot* better than your first.

Slow and steady wins the race. I've only used a straight razor for about 3 weeks myself but thats all I've used.
You have to lean your face and develop your own style for shaving it.
These guys know what they are talking about! Listen to them and you'll improve quickly.