Thread: Is this really shave ready?

Hey Alps, I agree with these other guys. You're trying too hard too soon. Lighten up and take it easy. Read my sig below to help avoid nicks and don't forget to stretch the skin. You don't have to pull it as tight as you possibly can. Just tighten it up a little.

In response to all the folks who have been telling you to curb your enthusiasm, I have two things to say:

1. I can't really blame you. I did the exact same thing and turned my face into painful hamburger my first couple of shaves.

2. They're all completely right, and in retrospect, I wish I had done what they are telling you to do.

After just over two weeks, I'm doing all three passes on my cheeks getting them BBS every day with only the occasional nick. I still can't go ATG on my neck, and may not ever be able to because the direction of hair growth (center to side, almost level) makes it nearly impossible. However, with just two passes, I'm getting my neck smother than I ever could with my mach 3.

Some excellent advice. I think everyone is obsessed with BBS at first. I found that once I ignored BBS and shaved for comfort, I progressed much quicker and the BBS just magically appeared. And I was no longer frightening small children with my bloody visage.

Comfort first and everything will fall in place.

This is right on, have fun and all will fall into place.

Rick

Originally Posted by Tonsor

Some excellent advice. I think everyone is obsessed with BBS at first. I found that once I ignored BBS and shaved for comfort, I progressed much quicker and the BBS just magically appeared. And I was no longer frightening small children with my bloody visage.

Comfort first and everything will fall in place.

On my second shave I sliced my chin. Exactly what these guys are saying. I shouldn't even be touching my chin. Now that I'm a few more shaves in I can get the chin WTG but I don't bother going XTG or ATG. I do WTG only also on the upper lip. This really helps keep tabs on my frustration until I'm feeling a little more skilled/daring to go a few different ways in those areas. I'm having fun though.

Shaved again today. Went slow, focus on keeping my face/beard slick, went WTG and XTG. Some spots I went again. Stropped linen 30x & leather 70x halfway through. left some areas (upper lip and part of neck & chin), a little rough and forced myself NOT go go back for 4 or 5 passes (which for this Germanic blooded, anal retentive, type "A" dude is saying something!).

Two nicks, no cuts, aftershave with the Clubman (orig.) at the bottom of the ninth.

Thanks again all for the encouragement, you all are great!


Peace,

The Alpsman

Taking it nice and slow helps indeed. After very first few times I rerererererereredid some areas and it looked like I was serving lobster from my neck. That was a good lesson, and I purchased the Nivea balm too, which calmed it down a bit.

Depending on the area, I 'patch' problematic spots, but in general it's enough for me after two passes.

I'm also a complete imbecile when it comes to using a mirror and coordinating my actions. Hooray for using cartridges blindly in the shower for 15 years or so. One thing I've actually done is pick up one of my practice razors (some el-cheaperinos to start honing with) and do a few dry moves in front of the mirror spine-first. Except for under the nose, that works quite well in figuring out good moves and hand positions for me. If you try it, keep in mind that the back is now, well at least close to, razor sharp!

Originally Posted by Tonsor

Some excellent advice. I think everyone is obsessed with BBS at first. I found that once I ignored BBS and shaved for comfort, I progressed much quicker and the BBS just magically appeared. And I was no longer frightening small children with my bloody visage.

Comfort first and everything will fall in place.

Exactly my experience too (right down to frightening small children, of course when my Mother saw the results of my first attempt, she just laughed on and off for a day or two).