Thread: First straight blade shave...did not go well at all. Im lost..

Originally Posted by shorynot

You really think i should shave with a dull knife first?

Thanks again, so i guess i really shouldnt be resting the blade on my face first. I plan on going to the local flea market here to pick up a cheap blade i can practice stropping with. Ill give my cheeks another go tomorrow and leave my lip and chin alone for now.

Sorry, your misunderstood. I don't think you should actually shave with a dull knife. However many people have used a butter knife as a no risk guide to get their angles down and commit the motion of a stroke to muscle memory.

Wow, this site is awesome...i go to bed and when i wake up my post is still at the top with 20 replies. Thanks very much for all that sound advice everyone.

As far as the "member map" goes, i live in Taylor Mill Kentucky, not too far from the Cincinnati area. Id completely be willing to have some hands on help. I actually think having a straight blade shave done would give me beneficial insight on the angles and the way everything should feel.

Im getting ready to hop in the shower now and head to my fathers for a belated fathers day present. But i plan on going over my cheeks for some practice. Ill be checking your replies from my phone and will post an update.

Thanks again everyone


***edit

Alright so focusing on the cheeks was definately a better start. I did a WTG pass and then ATG and the small amount of stubble i had in certain spots is gone. I actually had luck stretching my face for the WTG pass and kindof blowing, or puffing my cheeks out for the atg and it seemed to work. Does anyone actually do this? I was much more aggresive this time as far as letting the blade glide across my face. No cuts...but this is just the cheeks..I may try my chin and lip tonight, but im thinking i should wait till my strop arrives since ive shaved twice now. Keep up the good advice everyone.

Originally Posted by shorynot

I actually had luck stretching my face for the WTG pass and kindof blowing, or puffing my cheeks out for the atg and it seemed to work. Does anyone actually do this?

I've tried that & didn't like it. I just stretch with my other hand.

Originally Posted by shorynot

I was much more aggresive this time as far as letting the blade glide across my face.

You want to be confident, not aggressive. Smooth, unhurried strokes that have purpose, & no real pressure. Just enough to keep the blade in contact with the skin.

Originally Posted by shorynot

I may try my chin and lip tonight, but im thinking i should wait till my strop arrives since ive shaved twice now.

I'd advise you to wait 'till you've stropped it. You can strop on newspaper though, if the situation demands.

Originally Posted by Raudrive

How do we find this member map?
Rick

It's under the "community" button on the top nav bar.

Originally Posted by shorynot

As far as the "member map" goes, i live in Taylor Mill Kentucky, not too far from the Cincinnati area. Id completely be willing to have some hands on help. I actually think having a straight blade shave done would give me beneficial insight on the angles and the way everything should feel.

If you can, you should try to attend this http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...ravaganza.html

The plan is to include straight razor shaving demos, Q&A , etc. Lynn went last year and I think is planning to attend this year. I think Don is going and I am planning to attend. There should be a bunch of guys from the Cinci/Dayton area as well.

By the time this event occurs you will be past the basic questions and looking to refine your technique. Its a perfect opportunity to get help from some pretty experienced guys.

Shorynot
I'm pretty much in the same league as you are, just starting out. I received my new Dovo the other day. My first shave went just okay. The second day, a bit worse, not as close a shave and several more nicks. Today, on my third attempt, I used the pasted strop to touch up the edge just before the shave. It was 50 times better today than yesterday, stropping totally made a difference. Also, with regard to angles, I think it is just a matter of practicing. I liked the idea of practicing w/ a butter knife, I think I'll give that a try....though my wife already thinks I'm a little nuts with all this stuff.

Best of luck. Happy shaving.

~Iver

Hey all, i just got my strop in the mail today. The Fily

I guess i should be practicing with a butterknife so i dont mess up my new blade at all? The stropping process doesnt seem to complicated....the honing does though. Should i just give it a go with my razor?

Maybe "assertive" wasn't the right word to use in regards to my technique...i honestly think i was being a bit too timid with the blade like many seem to do at the beginning. I must admit that im nervous about taking it across my lip and chin though, no matter how many videos i watch or articles i read that show arrows in with the correct direction to shave...it seems like once the blade is on my face it doesnt move anywhere near as smoothly as the video.

But the cheeks went somewhat decent today...im hoping the cream i get in the mail, in combination with some proper stropping help me out. We shall see soon i guess...ill keep everyone posted

It's a good idea to practice with a butter knife so you don't mess up your strop as well as your razor!

I had trouble rolling the razor on the strop till someone on here suggested practicing rolling the razor in my hand, not while it's on the strop. Once I got the hang of holding and rolling the razor without using my wrist I felt a lot better about doing it on the strop. I still don't feel I've got a smooth stropping action yet though, so I'm undoubtedly too slow at the moment.

Originally Posted by dannywonderful

It's a good idea to practice with a butter knife so you don't mess up your strop as well as your razor!

I had trouble rolling the razor on the strop till someone on here suggested practicing rolling the razor in my hand, not while it's on the strop. Once I got the hang of holding and rolling the razor without using my wrist I felt a lot better about doing it on the strop. I still don't feel I've got a smooth stropping action yet though, so I'm undoubtedly too slow at the moment.

But you still feel like youre stropping the blade properly?

Yes, but I'm having to concentrate and pay attention. I'm not so comfortable that I can speed up and rely on muscle memory yet. It was mostly rolling the razor at the end of the strop that I was having trouble with as I kept turning my wrist and slapping the razor over on it's spine. I put a few nicks in my strop with my clumsy technique too.