Help with Anxiety

Hello Everyone,

Well, it's happened. My excitement to try a str8, has turned to flat out anxiety.

I'm on the edge of chickening out, not even opening the package, marking 'return to sender', and leaving it all behind. Then the regret and shame would set in and I would be really po'd at myself for not even trying.

Other than a good pep talk, if someone could answer these:

1.) How nervous should I be about stropping? My SR8 is a brand-new Dovo honed by none other than Mr. Abrams himself. Should I just give it 20 strokes before my 1st? More? Less?

(Fear: If strop wrong, I'll hose my blade beyond repair.)

2.) I'm going to take this REALLY SLOW. I'm only going to do one pass on the right side of my ugly-mug. What can I do to avoid getting nicked up?

Is there a similar, everyday type of thing that can give me an indicator of how much pressure to use? Something like slicing through mashed potatoes?

(Fear: I'm a manual labor kind of guy, and I won't have the right pressue, which will absolutely bludgeon myself the first time out.)

3.) How difficult is straight razor shaving to get to a point where I can do it like driving? Meaning, I don't think as conciously about driving anymore, since I can just do it.

Is this something like learning the ways of intimacy (c'mon people, we're all adults here ;) )? Any other good analogies?

(Fear: It's too hard and I'll get discouraged.)

I understand there will positively, absolutely be a learning curve. The only thing I have been a natural at was singing, anything else in life I had to learn to do and I ain't no natural. You do not EVER want to see my on a basketball court.

Thanks everyone.

hehe, you are wayyy hyping it up dude.
its not like anyting you do will result in this
http://msp36.photobucket.com/albums/...oven/Mason.jpg

its easy man, if your afraid to strop, practice your stroke with a butterkinfe. just so u dont hack ur strop.
amount of pressure: none. jsut enought to hold the blade to the skin, notenough to push the skin in.
the forums are full of stuff makin it look hard, look how easy this guy makes it look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruuuv...layer_embedded

If Lynn honed you r blade...don't strop it at all the first time. Any slight benefit you might get is outweighed by the cahnce of messing up the edge.

You neailed it already...ONE pass, only on areas you feel really comfortable with. With good, slick lather (practice making it before hand it you'd like), and NO pressure and a good angle (two spine widths max), you're pretty safe...jsut keep the balde moving whenever it is touching your face!

You can, eventually get it to that point of "not thinking about it." But, here's the cool part....you won't WANT to. It is so much fun (and admittedly, paying attention is always a good idea when you have a razor-sharp...uh, razor, on your face) that paying attention and really working on that fun and close shave....you'll enjoy paying attention to it! ReallY!

It's easier to learn than you think....but there is a learning curve....like that, uh, other thing you mentioned. I mean, you can get by well enough to not hurt yourself...then you can get good enough to feel proficient, then good enough to be damned proud of (not that you might not still get a nick now and then), but it might take a long time to be a MASTER.
I get the best shaves of my life with a straight....and I love the fact that I KNOW I will keep getting better for a while.

Hello and welcome, Since it's been honed by Lynn do not strop at all before first shave, it's already been done. Read the WIKIs on shaving, watch the videos provided on this site, do a good prep, which is also described in the wiki, then have at it . Start slow with only sideburns and cheeks as advised by Lynn and many others. If comfortable with that continue, if not stop and finish the way you usually do, then start again with next shave. It will become more and more comfortable and enjoyable.

Dude relax!
this ain't rock science and it ain't going to go out of its way to bite you.
just go slowly while stropping until you get the rhythm down. You can't ruin your razor from stropping but you might ruin the edge. Try shaving the first go round with out stropping and see what happens, just be sure to strop before each shave after that.
Don't use any pressure on your face let the razor do the cutting.
Keep your angle fairly flat to much angle leads to weepers and razor burn.
Start small just shave the flats of your cheeks for a little while then slowly start to add other parts of you face. Keep your hands dry to better control the razor and have fun. Don't be afarid of the razor and just take your time.

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

1.) How nervous should I be about stropping? My SR8 is a brand-new Dovo honed by none other than Mr. Abrams himself. Should I just give it 20 strokes before my 1st? More? Less?
(Fear: If strop wrong, I'll hose my blade beyond repair.)

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I'd say don't strop before your first shave. Although stropping can make a significant difference, the chances are you aren't going to improve on what you have right now - a shave-ready razor.

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2.) I'm going to take this REALLY SLOW. I'm only going to do one pass on the right side of my ugly-mug. What can I do to avoid getting nicked up?
Is there a similar, everyday type of thing that can give me an indicator of how much pressure to use? Something like slicing through mashed potatoes?
(Fear: I'm a manual labor kind of guy, and I won't have the right pressue, which will absolutely bludgeon myself the first time out.)

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Don't use pressure at all. Lightly stroke your cheek with the blade. Keep the blade at a 30 degree angle away from the skin, or even flatter.

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3.) How difficult is straight razor shaving to get to a point where I can do it like driving? Meaning, I don't think as conciously about driving anymore, since I can just do it.

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You shouldn't aim to shave that way with a straight. You need to pay attention to what you are doing. It's OK to be relaxed, but stay focused. Having said that, you develop motor skills within a few shaves, that may be more what you are thinking of.

On second thoughts maybe you're right, there are similarities with driving a car, you need to allow your motor skills to handle the small movements while you keep an eye on the overall control of where to go.

+1 to all the above. Its not that scary. If lynn honed it it is gooooood to go the first time. Take eveything slow...you will know right away if you press to hard. Just let the razor slide over you skin...start just with cheeks and progress slowly...thats the way to go...have fun half the fun of straights is learning...im only about 20 shaves in but its going better every time...

one tip i have is to spend enough time on prep. good hot shower or a few hot towels lather and rub it in real good then relather and shave...

You will be fine once you get started. Here is a post by Lynn with instructions for the first few shaves. Follow those pointers and you will be fine. Read my sig line below to help avoid cuts and nicks. What the previous posters said is all great advice. In a month or two you'll be shaving like a pro. :gl:

....or you can just write my address on the package. i promise i'm not going to be anxious at all and will keep it safely in case you change your mind :)

People make way too big of a deal about how dangerous it is or whatever. There is no reason at all to be nervous.

Treat it with the respect that the sharp blade that it is deserves, and there is no reason to be afraid at all.

To answer your specific questions.. I agree with above, don't strop before shaving the first time. You'll probably nick yourself no matter how hard you try, but the amount of pressure should be maybe like the amount you would use writing with a magic marker. Don't worry about the nicks... they will be like paper cuts basically. Go to the local drugstore and get a styptic pencil or styptic nick relief. This will sting for a second, but stop the bleeding, no big deal. I think it took me 4-6 weeks of shaving every day before I could reliably never nick myself and get a comfortably close shave. Now a couple months later I'm still nailing down the intricacies and I'm sure I will be for several months (years?) to come. I don't know how long it takes to get to where it's like driving a car or walking. I sort of hope it never does... I enjoy it too much for it to become mundane.

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Originally Posted by pjrage

I don't know how long it takes to get to where it's like driving a car or walking. I sort of hope it never does... I enjoy it too much for it to become mundane.

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That is what I MEANT to say above with my ham-handed babbling response!

I've only been doing this for about a week, but my anxiety is all but gone now.

I'll admit I was very nervous the first time, it's easy to let your imagination run wild and start picturing some nightmarish scenario that ends with you bleeding out on the floor.

What finally took away all my apprehension was actually giving myself a decent nick. These things are so sharp you really don't feel it, you just notice you're bleeding a bit. Once you get it out of the way, there's no need to worry about it any more.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

You will be fine once you get started. Here is a post by Lynn with instructions for the first few shaves. Follow those pointers and you will be fine. Read my sig line below to help avoid cuts and nicks. What the previous posters said is all great advice. In a month or two you'll be shaving like a pro. :gl:

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Hello Jimmy,

First, thanks for the reply. After reading everyone's posts here, guess I'm freaking out a wee too much.

Second, I had a quick question about your sig line:

"An old barber told me to hold the razor securely but lightly enough so that is if it pulls the razor will flex in your fingers and be less likely to nick. He also told me to never force it if it does pull. Following that advice I have rarely gotten a nick."

When you mention that the 'the razor will flex in your fingers...' do you mean like a skew? I guess what I'm thinking, is that if I'm moving the blade down my skin with very light pressure, and the blade begins to pull, it will sort of 'hang' and spin or skew. Basically the blade would stop, and the handle would drop towards the floor. Is that what you mean? I was thinking a flex would be like the blade having a bow to it.

NooB question...

Thanks again,
WP421

I think what it means is that if you are too tight with the razor you will force your way through the hair and cause burn and cuts but if you use a light grip if the razor isnt cutting properly it will just get hung up in the hairs and you know you need to change your technique or sharpen or strop your razor...

Jimmy or anyone else correct me if I am wrong

basicly, if you dont nick alot with other razors, your unlikely to nick much with these, as long as you keep track of the blade, its easy to focus on the toe, and let the heel get close to your nose viceversa.


its easy, what are you waitin for?

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

When you mention that the 'the razor will flex in your fingers...' do you mean like a skew? I guess what I'm thinking, is that if I'm moving the blade down my skin with very light pressure, and the blade begins to pull, it will sort of 'hang' and spin or skew.

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I think this demonstrates the kind of flex needed, albeit on an exagerated scale:
YouTube - the rubber pen/pencil illusion

When I was first learning, I made an invocation to the razor before shaving. I think something like, "please don't cut me" will work just fine.

I've been shaving with a straight for a long time now and I rarely cut myself. Fortunately/unfortunately, my 7-day set arrived last Wednesday and I just completed my first full cycle of all 7 razors. What I learned is that, before agreeing to be your razor, all new razors demand a blood sacrifice. So, my advice is to give the blood willingly. It will teach you good technique and it will form a bond of love and respect with your new razor.

One thing to remember is that for many years,EVERYBODY shaved with a straight razor,including 13 or so year old boys when they were starting out.The worst you'll do is nick yourself and I'm sure you've done that with your regular razor.Just think about scraping off the whiskers and don't slide the blade sideways.If you do you'll get a nick,that's all.

Going slow is good. Keep breathing. This really helps relax you. And when you start shaving use the least amount of pressure you can imagine to start and then back off to see how little you really need. You'll do fine!

X

You'll do just fine. The advice above already
covers thing, so I'll just add this: straight
razor shaving is a skill that will take a while
to develop, but will last a lifetime. Don't be
too worried about your gear, there are
always recourses if you nick your strop or
dull your blade.

- Scott

You will screw up. We all do.

You will nick and/or slice yourself. There will likely be no pain. You will learn a great deal from this.

You will mess up your first strop, and do some minor damage to the edge in the process. This will give you the opportunity to learn how to hone.

You will make soap that is too thin, too thick, too small a quantity, and undesirable in other ways. In a few weeks you will be making great stuff.

Back to honing: this will probably be one of the most frustrating as well as one of the most satisfying skills you ever try to accomplish. You will never master it. It will be endlessly engaging.

What I'm trying to say is: what exactly are you afraid of? Failing? That is a given. You will fail repeatedly. But your failures will become less and less frequent. And each one will be necessary. Embrace all of them.

I totally understand where your coming from! I bought a shavette to start (i somehow thought it was less of a danger) I only did my sideburns first (shaking like a leaf) and that went well. Then I got over confident and tried my upper lip and nicked myself right beside the nose. I instantly knew that I dug myself, there wasn't any pain just a quick tug. The bloody pen hurt more! I have ordered my first blade now with a few shaves (very few) under my belt.

Just take your time and start with the side of your face.

Then try the fancy stuff. (upper lip, chin, neck) I am still figuring it out, but these guys are right, slow and steady. Once you nick yourself, and you will, the fear will be gone and you will laugh at yourself. I friend reminded me how many times I nicked myself with a safety razor, and how little it hurt.

One last tip. Look up "Straight razor accident" on a google search or even "straight razor death" the only hit you get is a guy in this forum who cut his thumb.

Cheers

After all, it's only your face. I have only been shaving with a straight on my face for three months, but with my job as a Hairdresser I've been working with hair since I was fifteen. Just keep your disposable Mach 12 nearby and just do what you can with straight. Then do your touch up's after. Also, shave at night. This is big, your aren't groggy from waking up. You have no rush to be anywhere, and you can bleed if you need to. As far as an adult annology; I hold off on shaving for a few days so when I finnaly do I feel like I just got my bell rung by Salma Hayek. Yeah, I think I'll go grab some time with my Bengall.- all the Best-J

Hey,

Being relatively new I remember when I first started it was more excitement than anxiety. If Lynn has honed your razor you're all set, just lather up and go! lol Just keep in mind to use a light touch and don't force the razor in any particular direction especially in the direction of the blade :P I nicked myself a bunch of times during my first few shaves nothing major tho I'm still alive. I did have to change my shaving time to the night before instead of in the morning but I really enjoy my shaves now.

Just follow the advice from above and take things slowly, just remember to keep a light touch and start with just your cheek areas since they are the easiest. Use your safety razor for the areas you're not comfortable with on your first few shaves.

Relax, have a hot shower and enjoy your shave!

- Tam -

Hi,
Follow the sage advice given in this thread.
I was in a similar place to yourself some two months ago.
For the first week I looked like an extra from 'Fight Club' !
As BluePrinciple said to me, these are the 'rites of passage' !
The first time I stropped my Wapi, I rolled the edge, and it had to go back for a re-hone :( My strop had more cuts in it than you can shake a stick at !
BluePrinciple sent me a reject razor and I practiced stropping it on the back-side of the strop. Success !!
You will be surprised at the speed of your progress, and in a few weeks you will wonder what all the worry was about.
Best of luck
regards
Russ

Holy!!?!? What the ?#$?@!@# How the @$@!$!

Damn! I mean that guy didn't just have a little stubble to take care of, that dood had some medieval friggin' shag to get rid of.

Guess I'm really sweating my first go of one side of my cheek this weekend.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the encouragement (<sniff> ...I promised myself I wouldn't cry... :) Nah, really though, it's really great to see how responsive people are in these forums. It really blew me away, so thanks everyone.

I received everything yesterday, and this weekend will be the test. I couldn't believe how much better a shave is just using the prep, lather, and something better than the crappy canned stuff. I'll never go back to my Braun electric (hey, I was young, I had a couple drinks, in a strange town...) or that crappy gel.

Thanks again to all, I'll report back asap!

WP421

Have you ever seen the new batman movie with the joker in it? First you just put the razor into your mouth and slice it out your cheek. Then wait for a few weeks until it heals.
After that you will relax because you know it is no way it could get any worse than what you did :P

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

Holy!!?!? What the ?#$?@!@# How the @$@!$!

Damn! I mean that guy didn't just have a little stubble to take care of, that dood had some medieval friggin' shag to get rid of.

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Don't worry, nobody expects you to match that level of speed and confidence right away. Allow yourself 3 or 4 weeks. :w

But seriously, that guy has pro skills, it's a bit cruel to show that video to a beginner. Plenty of people here are in awe of that performance. Stick to slow, enjoyable shaves and let the speed come with experience.:cool:

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Originally Posted by pcb01

You will screw up. We all do.

You will nick and/or slice yourself. There will likely be no pain. You will learn a great deal from this.

You will mess up your first strop, and do some minor damage to the edge in the process. This will give you the opportunity to learn how to hone.

You will make soap that is too thin, too thick, too small a quantity, and undesirable in other ways. In a few weeks you will be making great stuff.

Back to honing: this will probably be one of the most frustrating as well as one of the most satisfying skills you ever try to accomplish. You will never master it. It will be endlessly engaging.

What I'm trying to say is: what exactly are you afraid of? Failing? That is a given. You will fail repeatedly. But your failures will become less and less frequent. And each one will be necessary. Embrace all of them.

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And you thought this was just about straight razor shaving. HAH!

Look around. Everything he said is about life.

Good shaving,

Kev

Well... it happened. I did it this weekend, first straight razor experience ever under my belt... all I can say is "wow".

First, I want to thank everyone who posted in this thread. Trying something new like this is very intimidating. Everyone who posted had encouraging, yet realistic words. And in this world, that's all anyone can and should expect.

I cannot believe how a straight razor gives feedback when moving blade on the skin. There is definitely an auditory experience as the blade cuts the hair.

Yes, I got a nick. On my chin. How did that happen? Well, the first pass on my left cheek went great. Of course the first pass down wasn't BBS, I didn't expect to be. But, I also didn't dig a WW1 trench in my face either. Cool... So I did the right cheek. No blood letting there either. Double cool... So I started moving down my left cheek, vertical passes towards my chin. Then under my lower lip I got over confident and nicked myself slightly. Then I set the straight down and stopped. I says to myself, I says, "Self," I says, "... don't push this. Take 'er slow." So I rinsed and immediately dried the straight.

Then I finished with my Mach Quadrillion. And you know what? That p.o.s. nicked me twice! WTF??!?!

You's guys should have seen me shaking with that razor in my hand. I'm sure you would have been saying, "Holy <explative>, this guy is going to murder himself."

Ah well. Sorry for the wordy post. I'm giddy, what can I say.

Now, I need to nail the strop... <queue crummy horror music>

Thanks again everyone! I'll report back after my 1st strop... (as if anyone gives a rat's hiney! hahahaha....)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

Well... it happened. I did it this weekend, first straight razor experience ever under my belt... all I can say is "wow".

First, I want to thank everyone who posted in this thread. Trying something new like this is very intimidating. Everyone who posted had encouraging, yet realistic words. And in this world, that's all anyone can and should expect.

I cannot believe how a straight razor gives feedback when moving blade on the skin. There is definitely an auditory experience as the blade cuts the hair.

Yes, I got a nick. On my chin. How did that happen? Well, the first pass on my left cheek went great. Of course the first pass down wasn't BBS, I didn't expect to be. But, I also didn't dig a WW1 trench in my face either. Cool... So I did the right cheek. No blood letting there either. Double cool... So I started moving down my left cheek, vertical passes towards my chin. Then under my lower lip I got over confident and nicked myself slightly. Then I set the straight down and stopped. I says to myself, I says, "Self," I says, "... don't push this. Take 'er slow." So I rinsed and immediately dried the straight.

Then I finished with my Mach Quadrillion. And you know what? That p.o.s. nicked me twice! WTF??!?!

You's guys should have seen me shaking with that razor in my hand. I'm sure you would have been saying, "Holy <explative>, this guy is going to murder himself."

Ah well. Sorry for the wordy post. I'm giddy, what can I say.

Now, I need to nail the strop... <queue crummy horror music>

Thanks again everyone! I'll report back after my 1st strop... (as if anyone gives a rat's hiney! hahahaha....)

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We all give a 'rats hiney.' Thanks for sharing and good luck on the stropping. FYI, i nicked the hell out of my strop, the first few weeks, i started...some dude on here, suggested i just use a high grit sandpaper to buff them out and it worked great.

Peace,

Mac

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

You's guys should have seen me shaking with that razor in my hand. I'm sure you would have been saying, "Holy <explative>, this guy is going to murder himself."

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We've all been there. After all, as Swiss Toni would say,

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Originally Posted by Swiss Toni

Shaving with a straight razor is very much like making love to a beautiful woman... The first time is always nerve-wracking and messy, but once you settle in to the relationship it becomes mundane and predictable. Enjoyable but safe.

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Attachment 25329

Well, I had shave #2 down today. I was still nervous, not quite as bad as the first time.

Stropping was definitely awkward. It's really hard to describe how to do it to someone, who has never done it before. :shrug:

Man did I burn my skin something fierce. Ouch! I'm still trying to work out my angle. My problem is that I was actually too shallow, then I think went to the extreme and did a wee bit too much exfoliating.

Yep... I got a ways to go yet. But hey, I'm enjoying my 'Man Time'.

For after shaves, I notice a lot of them have rubbing alcohol in them. Doesn't that tend to dry the skin out? Or will alcohol help the burn, and then apply lotion a little bit after that?

Thanks...

Congrats on shave #2.

I always thought the alcohol was there to:

• help prevent infection
• gauge how well the shave technique/razor sharpness is doing
• remind me of the precise location of each nick...
• all or none of the above?

The more you do it, the better it'll get.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by warpigs421

Well, I had shave #2 down today. I was still nervous, not quite as bad as the first time.

Stropping was definitely awkward. It's really hard to describe how to do it to someone, who has never done it before. :shrug:

Man did I burn my skin something fierce. Ouch! I'm still trying to work out my angle. My problem is that I was actually too shallow, then I think went to the extreme and did a wee bit too much exfoliating.

Yep... I got a ways to go yet. But hey, I'm enjoying my 'Man Time'.

For after shaves, I notice a lot of them have rubbing alcohol in them. Doesn't that tend to dry the skin out? Or will alcohol help the burn, and then apply lotion a little bit after that?

Thanks...

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It sounds like you're on your way! Stropping is pretty simple once you get 'the turn' down, a great idea (though one I never tried) is to use a butter knife to practice. The key to it is holding the corners, and not the flat sides of the shank.

As for AS, I really like, and see them mentioned with some regularity, the Nivea AS balms. They're cheap, inoffensive and very effective against razor burn.

I remember my first shave. I was shaking! but now its just another shave I suppose. I am no pro by no means but you will see that a cut isn't as bad as you think. The styptic pencil hurts more than the razor.

The first shave left me sore since it was such a close shave. No problem since.

BTW the chin area IMO is a hard area to work with. You will learn your technique in time.

Good luck and keep your skin pulled tight.