Thread: 2nd shave: don't know how ya'll do it.

I tried my 2nd shave ever with my Bengall razor. I was scared straight. I had some trouble on my 1st pass (WTG), and a ton of trouble going XTG and then ATG. I missed some spots, couldn't find a flat enough surface other than my cheeks and did pretty much all touch up mode shaving to make sure I didn't miss anything or cut myself. It was very difficult. I have achieved my worst results ever so far using a straight compared to my Merkur DE and the old Gillette Fusion. How do I cross that gap?

When you're just starting, don't even consider doing anything other than the WTG pass. It takes a while to get used to simply holding the razor to your cheek at the right angle. It takes time to get the hang of this. Try to be a little more patient. It will come with time.

If you didn't cut yourself, you're doing fine. It just requires a little patience. The biggest problems are finding the right grip and angle for each part of your face. Also, stretching is very important. Putting it all together, grip, angle and stretching, takes a lot of coordination and some time to learn. Patience and determination are the key.

I'll second that call for more practice. Once you get your cutting and shaving angles working for you things get better very quickly. Always be sure your beard is well prepared (but as a wet shaver a;ready you know this) and that your edge is properly prepared.

X

My first few shaves were just like yours, probably worse. I tore my face to shreds for most of the first week.

I definitely agree with everybody else; don't try so hard, and don't expect so much for your first few shaves.


You said you had trouble with your WTG pass. That's not at all unusual for a first or second attempt.

I say, JUST do WTG passes until you can do one without problems. If you need to switch to your merkur for clean up, then do it. Once you've got WTG down pat, add an XTG pass, and so on.

The other thing to keep in mind, is your expectations for what the first pass should look like. You'll still have a bit of stubble, it will just be very very short stubble. After your XTG pass (once you get to that point) you shouldn't have and visible stubble, but you'll still be able to feel the stubble. After your ATG pass (once you've mastered WTG & XTG) you should be nice and smooth.

I get a BBS or nearly BBS shave every single day, unless I deliberately stop at one or two passes. (Still get's me cleaner than my old mach 3 did, and it's good enough for work. Just not good enough for a date)

+1 to what everybody said. In case you haven't seen it here is Lynn's recommendations for starting out shaving with a straight razor. I did my cheeks and finished with a DE for a week or two before I started moving around my whole shave area. Took about three weeks before I put the DE away and I haven't touched it since. Wasn't long after that I realized that shaving with a straight razor really is superior to shaving with a DE but I had to walk before I could run. Take it slow but keep at it and you'll be shaving with the best of them before you know it.

When you first pick up a straight it can feel fairly natural in your hand, right up to the moment you realise you have to glide that super sharp edge across your delicate face! At that point you realise it feels completely alien & the process is awkward.
It takes time to build muscle memory & for the process to feel like second nature. One of the reasons it's recommended you concentrate on the flat areas is to give yourself the time you need to acquire the ability to pass a blade over the surface without doing any damage.
Keep it simple & keep at it & your hands will get the idea!

It's not as scarey as people who don't use straight razors make them out to be. Listen to all the others. Take your time and relax. Don't try to do it all at once. If you follow what guys like xman and Lynn say, you will be enjoying straight razor shaving the rest of your life and helping out other "Newbies" if they need it! Welcome to SRP! You will never regret starting to shave with a straight Razor! God Bless!

stick with it everything will come together in no time.

Personally I think that the term BBS should be stricken from the forum
Although it is attainable I have never tried for it, I just try for the most comfortable shave possible if it comes out BBS more the better, if it doesn't so what... I will gladly give up a skoosh of closeness for no iritation...

Concentrate on comfort the closeness will follow on it's own

I spent 2 cents