First Shave...sorta

Well I had my first shave today and it went alright! I really had my first shave last night but I won't count it since I didn't have proper cream and I was really just testing it out.

I don't have a strop yet so today I started the shave on an unstropped blade. Needless to say I felt a little bit of pulling but my technique probably added to this. My biggest trouble area was right on my jawline. My hair grows forward toward my chin and I found it hard to go WTG without cutting myself at that weird angle. Should I just try XTG and shave down towards my neck so I can minimize nicking my self?

BTW the blade is very nice and I have a pretty smooth face after 1.5 passes. Thanx to TreyDampier. If you see his blades in the classified don't be hesitant to buy!

Thanks for the suggestions,
Gabe

3 things: First of all, welcome and congrats on your first shave! Second, Get a strop. Soon. You can get away with a couple of shaves, but your blade will deteriorate quickly without regular stropping. Last, I'd avoid the jaw line, chin and lip area at first. Work on your cheeks and sideburns until you're comfortable, and then move on.

Welcome to SRP!
+1 to VeeDubb65's advice. You will find tons of useful information here and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Exactly what VeeDub said! Take your time and get comfortable with the razor first. That way you wont worry about cutting yourself. If your anything like me, if I think about it while I'm shaving, I will eventually do it! And Welcome to SRP and congrats on the first shave! There are many more, and better ones to come!

Thanx guys. I got a strop in the mail, it should be here in a day or two. I'm looking forward to my next shave!

Welcome to SRP. Here is the beginner's guide in the SRP Wiki. A lot of info to start you off on the right foot in straight razor shaving and maintenance. If you read my sig below it may help avoid cuts and necks. It's always worked for me.

You have already been given some great advice. So welcome and enjoy, it takes time so don't expect the world when you first start. :gl:

The jaw line chin area is the hardest part to learn, I didn't worry to much about that area at first. I did the best I could and finished up with a DE until I got the skills I needed. The touch up areas kept getting smaller until I didn't need the DE anymore. Just take it slow.

When you get the strop, practice with a butter knife for a bit to get the feel and technique down. I learned the hard way and nicked my strop with in 5 min of using it, luckily it was near one end and didn't affect the strop much.

As a relatively new straight razor shaver (yes, I am officially declaring that here and now!), I've been using the straight razor for the past couple of months on and off (in the evenings or as I have ample time in the mornings). When I first started, I nicked myself several times--the stiptic pencil was a very wise investment in that regard--it stops the bleeding pronto. From the wise advice from this forum, I re-assessed my approach and decided to go with the grain at first until I got my technique down to the point that the blood stopped flowing. Being somewhat of a perfectionist and someone who takes pride in his work (not to mention downright stubborn as a mule sometimes--just ask my wife), I've never finished the shave with a safety razor; it was the straight razor all the way for me. I have always gotten a decent shave going with the grain and have started going across the grain as well. I'm almost to the point where I'll start breaking my teeth on the against the grain shave.

The nice aspect of straight razors is that if you take your time and focus, they are accurate enough to target a single hair for removal. This means that around the lips and edge of the chin, if you can get the right angle you can get any spot. I also have had a difficult time negotiating the chin area and have successfully overcome that by pulling the skin gently to get the hairs raised a little and also by re-applying some shaving cream/soap if the original application has dried or is not nice and creamy. I've switched between several shaving soaps and a cream I bought, and each has a different texture and result. I've found the cream is creamier ;0) than the soaps, which lets the blade glide over the face smoother than with the soaps. That may just be the specific cream I tried--the Jack Black brand.

Though I purchased three straight razors initially, I've stuck with the one I started out with, to be able to gauge how quickly the blade dulled (it was honed by Lynn and is still sharp as I strop it on plain linen strop then on the leather). I agree that when Lynn sharpens it, it is sharp enough to shave with and then some. I tried a hanging hair test at first and was afraid it was not sharp enough, but then a friend showed me the error of my ways--the test is not always accurate. The first shave I went with the grain, across and then against the grain--and had several nicks. I then went back to the basics as I mentioned above, and have seen a vast improvement in my technique without pushing it--I experimented with a couple of ways of holding the blade, switch hands, and the time needed to shave has decreased without my rushing it. I also have not had any nicks the past month or so, so I can attest that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. :) I also put a little clock radio in the bathroom tuned to a classical music station, and that has a calming effect--it helps me focus on the shave and feel instead of what I need to do at work to put out any fires.

Didn't mean to ramble here, but stick with it and your technique can only improve. I read somewhere that it takes around 100 shaves to become proficient, but everyone is different, and it takes just a few to understand how the angle of the blade in relation to your face, how to maneuver your trouble areas, etc. affects the shave.

Cheers,
Mike F.