First Shave--The Full Experience

Well, after much anticipation, the day finally arrived...my first straight razor shave! After buying my kit and requesting a shave-ready blade, I figured the Friday before father's day was as good a day as any for this memorable occasion. I took a nice hot shower, lathered my soap in a bowl (well, started to, but then realized I'd added a little too much water from the brush--let it soak for five minutes in the hot water first--so I then reached for a back-up mug and got a good little lather going in there). After applying the soap to my face, I reached for the blade...

...a Dovo Black Micarta Inox 5/8". I performed a final canvas and then leather stropping, then tried a "hair test", which it didn't pass, but I figured maybe I wasn't doing it quite right, and valor being the word of the day, I jumped right in. Oh, no, no simple shave your sideburns then wait 'til the next day and take it farther for this guy, heck no, I'm using a manly straight razor and I want the full treatment. So, venturing right in where many fools have opted not to tread (along with angels), I started by pulling my skin tight, slowly moving the blade downward at what I supposted to be a 30 degree angle, and going over it again...the first sideburn went okay, though I had difficulty seeing what I was doing because of my hand obstructing my vision. (Question here: do seasoned shavers get their sideburns right by feel/instinct, or can you actually see the line you're cutting over to the ear?)

So, on down the cheek...OUCH! My first little nick, and it's a little bit of a bleeder, but not too much. Besides, I wanted to try out the brand spankin' new styptic pencil that was recommended to me, but that will wait until after I finish, so, on with the shave. All in all, I found that as the dust settled and the fog of war cleared, I had around 6 minor nicks (one parallel to my ear, trying to angle the razor in there and one on my nose, where I got a little too foolhardy and gently swung the razor over a little too far shaving up under the nose). Then I had the utter joy of experiencing the styptic--not too bad, it's a good kind of hurt. Yep, I felt like Jeremiah Johnson, the mountain man, after killing the griz.

I then rubbed in some aftershave balm (I needed it--I guess I'm applying too much pressure or maybe going back over spots too many times, as my skin felt a little raw). I need to work on my mustache area--hard to get that angle-- and around my sideburns and chin--those are either hard to see or hard to hold the right angle. Overall my face is smooth, but inconsistent. I guess the right shave comes with practice, and I'll keep giving it a go. It took 50 minutes or so for me to complete the shave, so for now I may practice it mainly on the weekends until I build up a little more dexterity and speed.:rock:

Welcome from another newbie. You survived that's a good start. Spent much time with the WIKI? One thing I was told starting out was to slow down and do not use alot of pressure. There is an art to str8 shaving. You said you got your razor "Shave ready", From who? From what I'm to understand most shave ready razors aren't. There are those here who can fix that issue for you Check the classifieds. You will find here at SRP the folks are very knowledgeable and someone can usually explain something in a way even us newbies can understand. Whatever you do, do not get discouraged I believe we all bleed a little to begin with. (We learn more from failure thay we ever do from sucess.)

Congrats. Welcome to the right way to shave!. I'd recommend sticking with the area between the side burn and jawline only for the next few days, and only WTG. Get comfortable with the razor in your hands and the blade on your face. Work on your angles and pressures. Only when you feel good about should you move to other areas of your face, and with XG and ATG. It's not a race. It's the learning curve to get through. In no time at all you will be achieving the coveted BBS... :gl:

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Well I too ventured out this morning on my first trials with the straight razor, sure wish Dad was still alive to show me the ropes. I bought a Dovo special, readied by Lynn. Got most of the fixins, a mug and soap, a brush, strop and a hone. Used it just as received as it was already prepped by Lynn, so no stropping beforehand. Tried to shave this morning after reading lots for the past week or so. I survived with one small nick, but what a lousey shave. Had to finish things up with the Mach III. Somewhat disappointing, but I'll stay with it and learn this right. Not enough pressure on my part I think, and bad angles. Overly cautious, but I'll get it eventually.

Dan

Dodge~

I was speaking with Lynn at the NC meet-up and he told me that he sends his razors oiled. They need to be cleaned and properly stropped up before use.

That may be part of the issue.

Alan

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Question here: do seasoned shavers get their sideburns right by feel/instinct, or can you actually see the line you're cutting over to the ear?)

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Depends on the exact local of the burns, the height if you will. You can usually see them by turning the head sideways dramatically left or right. I have trouble because I wear glasses (bifocals to boot).

Alan

The razor was purchased from the Straight Razor Designs website and I asked that it be initially stropped by Lynn Abrams. I'm assuming it is as sharp as it will get and received other feedback that just because a razor doesn't pass the HHT it doesn't necessarily mean it's not sharp. I did view Lynn's DVD and other Youtube videos, which I found extremely helpful prior to giving it a try. Bottom line is I'll take it slowly and work on my angles and pressure.

Welcome Edgeworks!

Few thoughts;
1) spend time on stropping techniques. If yoru blade "hangs" on a hair, it is not sharp enough.

2) concentrate on cheek passes (WTG) at first. Finish with your traditional razor. Speed is not the key here; technique is key - speed will come later, and it is not the regular "speed" you are familiar with.

3) My first full shaves took a full hour . . . after the shower, etc. several passes, etc. So do not fret the time. Shave at night - NOT before you have to go to work in the AM.

4) Take your time! If this is a lifestyle change, your technique will improve after several months into it.

5) There is NO other shave like a SR shave. Stick with it and you will be rewarded. I remember the second month into SR shaving back in college. I had a particularly great shave the night before and the next day kept running my hands over my chin and cheeks because I got the coveted BBS shave!

I get the BBS after two passes all the time now. I will never go back to the mass; grab your money and throw it away cartridges!

WELCOME INDEED!!!

Alpsman

[QUOTE=Alpsman;402495]Welcome Edgeworks!
Alpsman, per your quote (partially extracted below), the hair didn't "hang" on the blade, it actually went over it without being cut. Perhaps I didn't apply enough force on the hair over the blade?

Second question: If I shave at night, will the closeness be sufficient to last the entire next day, without my getting a "5 o'clock shadow"? I'm usually in a professional business environment, and hate to say this, but my looks do matter as I'm in business development and a small business owner.

Thanks,
Mike

Per Alpsman:
"Few thoughts;
1) spend time on stropping techniques. If yoru blade "hangs" on a hair, it is not sharp enough. ...

... Shave at night - NOT before you have to go to work in the AM. ..."

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Originally Posted by EdgeWorks

...a Dovo Black Micarta Inox 5/8". I performed a final canvas and then leather stropping, then tried a "hair test", which it didn't pass

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If you purchased your razor from SRD it was honed to perfection. Lynn has honed all 5 of mine over time. The best thing to do about the HHT? Forget you ever heard about it. It's my belief it is only good for impressing your friends, not an indication of shave worthiness. :)

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Originally Posted by EdgeWorks

Second question: If I shave at night, will the closeness be sufficient to last the entire next day, without my getting a "5 o'clock shadow"? I'm usually in a professional business environment, and hate to say this, but my looks do matter as I'm in business development and a small business owner.

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Perpahs not initially, or at least, not all over.

You could, if it's not too much hassle, shave your cheeks in the evening and whip round with the mach three in the morning.

Certainly the process will be quicker if you can do something on a daily basis, or every other day or something.

Hello, everyone! Long time listener, first time caller so I'm a bit nervous, please be gentle with me.:)

I had my first shave last weekend and then realised that my razor that was supposed to be shave ready was not shave ready at all. After several cuts and a very poor shave, I sent it away to be honed and ordered another at the same time from Home . My first razor was from Edwin Jagger, but from what I gather it is a rebranded Dovo Best Quality 5/8 razor, the other razor I ordered was a Dovo Best Quality 4/8 this time with blonde scales. I'm using a Best Badger brush and Mitchell's Wool Fat soap, which I ordered with the ceramic bowl. I did around a dozen strokes on my strop and I'm fairly sure my stropping action would have aroused laughter from most of you, but I took my time and I'm sure I'll get better with practice.

My second shave was today with the Dovo 4/8 razor and like others here I didn't just stick to my cheeks I went all in and tried to shave all over. On my first pass I basically brutalised my face and was left with several cuts and some red raw areas under my jaw line. After some touch up work with my alum block I thought I might as well lather up and have another go and this time I just concentrated on removing the lather, rather than trying to scrape the bristles off my face. I must say that I think I was much better on my second pass and I'm sure that part of my problem was I was applying too much pressure initially. I still find it awkward to see what I'm doing when my hand is pulling my skin tight and getting under my nose is causing me problems, but I already know that I won't be going back to my Mach III. I ran the alum block all over the shaved area after my shave and after patting myself dry I gently rubbed in some alcohol free shaving balm from The Real Shaving Company. I still have a rash under my jaw line and a few cuts are showing, but I did at least get a decent shave this time.

One thing I've noticed is that I appear to have some blood stains on the razor itself. How do I get these out? I've carefully dried my razor and put it back in it's case for the moment, but ideally I'd like to clean it without dulling the edge, or damaging the metal in any way. Any and all constructive tips will be gratefully received!

Edit: After taking it back out of it's case I'm sure that it's not blood at all and is in fact rust. How is this possible? This is a brand new razor that's been used once and thoroughly dried.

Did you check with the vendor to see if it was truly shave ready (i.e., professionally honed)? If, in fact, it wasn't pre-honed then the best thing you can do is send it to someone who truly knows how to hone straight razors, not a knife sharpener. Don't use it until it has been honed by someone who knows what they are doing. Your face will thank you for it. :tu

If it was already professionally honed, then your technique needs some work. Start with just the area between the side burn and jaw line, and WTG only. Get comfortable with the razor in your hand and blade against your face. Learn the proper angles and pressures. Once you have confidence in that then you can add other areas of your face, as well as XG anf ATG. Take your time. The learning curve can't be successfully sidestepped. It's not a race. In not time you will be getting that coveted BBS. :gl:

Danny - try using a metal polish like Maas metal polish - should hopefully clean them off. In the future though, wipe/rinse (carefully - don't want to ding it on the tap!) your blade off and dry it (and your scales, both outside and between them) before putting them away - should prevent those stains forming again.

+1 on forgetting the HHT. I got a blade honed by Lynn that failed the HHT, yet shaved beautifully. It depends on so many factors that it's just not reliable. The only way to reliably test a blade's shaveworthiness is to shave with it. If it pulls or is any other type of uncomfortable, it's not ready.

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Originally Posted by mosley59

Danny - try using a metal polish like Maas metal polish - should hopefully clean them off. In the future though, wipe/rinse (carefully - don't want to ding it on the tap!) your blade off and dry it (and your scales, both outside and between them) before putting them away - should prevent those stains forming again.

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I'm pretty sure I was careful about drying. :shrug:

If I can't find Maas will Autosol do?

Edit: Answered my own question as I couldn't find Maas anyway, Autosol works well and my razor is all shiny and rust free again.

[QUOTE=EdgeWorks;402588]

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Originally Posted by Alpsman

Second question: If I shave at night, will the closeness be sufficient to last the entire next day, without my getting a "5 o'clock shadow"? I'm usually in a professional business environment, and hate to say this, but my looks do matter as I'm in business development and a small business owner"

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I learned the shave at night trick in the army-- 1 less thing to do in the early AM while the drill sergent is yelling at you...(this was with a Bic disposible, mind you)

When I do a full 3 pass shave at night, it will last me all day-- by dinnertime it still looks good. Everybody's different, give it a go Friday night sometime, and see if it works for you.


-Chief

Well, shave number two was tonight, I skipped on trying it this morning and just used the Mach III as I was short on time and didn't even want to think about rushing it. This 2nd time tonight was actually much better than the first. I stropped with the canvas and then the leather, and lathered up and went at it. I was definitely more at ease and not so timid with the blade this time as I was the first time. Actually did more shaving than the first attempt and I think it was because this time I was better with the pressure and angle, and a little less nervous. I had one heck of time doing my chin though, and still didn't get my chin as close as I would like, going around the curves is quite difficult for me. Practice, practice, practice...

Dan

Danny, from what I've read in the wiki and in viewing Lynn's DVD, I'd recommend considering applying a light coat of camellia oil after using and drying the blade if you're not going to use it for several days, if it's a carbon blade (supposedly the stainless steel blade is much more rust resistant). If used, you should wipe off the blade prior to using again. I'm sure the more humid your area, the faster the blade would rust.

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Originally Posted by dannywonderful

I'm pretty sure I was careful about drying. :shrug:

If I can't find Maas will Autosol do?

Edit: Answered my own question as I couldn't find Maas anyway, Autosol works well and my razor is all shiny and rust free again.

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Thank you, Edge. I can't find any stockists of the oil near me, so it looks like I'll have to get some from eBay. I'm still amazed that a blade could rust that quickly, it must have been a matter of minutes!

While you're waiting for the camellia oil to arrive, you can use sewing machine oil as a temporary substitute, IIRC.

Mineral oil works well, too. And Johnson's Baby Oil is just mineral oil with a little scent; cheap and available everywhere....