Thread: First Complete Shave

I got through my first complete straight razor shave. I picked up a razor from the forum here that was shave ready. So today was the first shave I finished where I didn't feel a need to touch up with my DE.

I cannot, however, do one pass down and then one pass up. After a single pass down the razor skips on the up pass. I did a WTG then XTG and then on my neck an upward pass. But I cannot do it on my cheeks. Only West/ East passes.

How do the barbers and people I see in youtube do such quick strokes and only two passes. Sharper razor than mine? Is it just the angles of the blade are better?

Anyway it felt great doing it all with my straight. I'm hooked.

Originally Posted by joscobo

I got through my first complete straight razor shave. I picked up a razor from the forum here that was shave ready. So today was the first shave I finished where I didn't feel a need to touch up with my DE.

I cannot, however, do one pass down and then one pass up. After a single pass down the razor skips on the up pass. I did a WTG then XTG and then on my neck an upward pass. But I cannot do it on my cheeks. Only West/ East passes.

How do the barbers and people I see in youtube do such quick strokes and only two passes. Sharper razor than mine? Is it just the angles of the blade are better?

Anyway it felt great doing it all with my straight. I'm hooked.

This is to be expected from your first shave honestly. Im still very new to all of this, and im sure the experts will be around to comment too. Let me ask you...are you stretching the skin at all? Have you read the wiki here, there is tons of useful information to help you out.

To give you some perspective, my first 10 shaves or so took me 30-45 minutes. After shaving everyday and getting more comfortable with the blade, im down to about 15. Probably straight shaved 30-40 times now.

My biggest issue was i was being a little bit too timid with the razor, i was very nervous that one false move would slice me open, and although THIS IS possible..the risk was much exaggerated in my mind.

Just keep doing what your doing, get some more shaves under your belt and stick with WTG right now. ATG is a bit of a more advanced pass that i still struggle with. Once you realize the correct angles of everything, and how it should feel when youre shaving youll be in good shape.

Welcome aboard

Originally Posted by shorynot

This is to be expected from your first shave honestly. Im still very new to all of this, and im sure the experts will be around to comment too. Let me ask you...are you stretching the skin at all? Have you read the wiki here, there is tons of useful information to help you out.

To give you some perspective, my first 10 shaves or so took me 30-45 minutes. After shaving everyday and getting more comfortable with the blade, im down to about 15. Probably straight shaved 30-40 times now.

My biggest issue was i was being a little bit too timid with the razor, i was very nervous that one false move would slice me open, and although THIS IS possible..the risk was much exaggerated in my mind.

Just keep doing what your doing, get some more shaves under your belt and stick with WTG right now. ATG is a bit of a more advanced pass that i still struggle with. Once you realize the correct angles of everything, and how it should feel when youre shaving youll be in good shape.

Welcome aboard

I've scoured the shave wiki here and on other forums. I'm stretching the skin, but find a new, better way to stretch the skin now and again.

Originally Posted by joscobo

I've scoured the shave wiki here and on other forums. I'm stretching the skin, but find a new, better way to stretch the skin now and again.

Right, im still going through that too. Theres quite a bit of trial and error involved in finding the smooth strokes and clean shaved results.

The only thing you can hope for is that the "error" part doesnt involve too much razorburn, or too many cuts. I consider myself luck in this aspect, out of my 30-40 or so shaves i have knicked myself twice. No worse than a papercut

Originally Posted by joscobo

How do the barbers and people I see in youtube do such quick strokes and only two passes. Sharper razor than mine? Is it just the angles of the blade are better?

Could be both those things plus certainly practice practice practice.

Congrats on popping your cherry so to speak.

X

Yes I concur, its just practice and experience. You are off to a great start and it will only get better.

Pabster