Thread: First Shave.

My friends..

I received an old american knife co. razor in the mail today, purchased from the SRP classies., along with it I also received a dish of fine marl. D.R. harris soap, and a super badger ed jagger brush.

I was so very excited to finish my duty day, and on arrival at home, headed straight for the shower and shave.
Impatience got the best of me, and I did my entire face, im not so disatisfied. The overall shave is almost as smooth as my gillete mach would get shaving WTG and ATG, which ends up very smooth.
I went with and against the grain, ended up with one small slice on my cheek, but other than that, the shave went well. It was grabby at first, so I stropped a few more times, altered the angle, and used just the lightest pressure, cut like smooth butter after this. My face burned towards the end, especially after the alchohol, but a little aveeno took care of that, overall I am very pleased, the only thing I really wish to work on is the lather, I'm finding it a bit complicated to get a good lather in that small D.R. Harris shaving bowl, and this brush is so much bigger than my last, its really very nice, and dries quickly.

Thank you all for taking the time to pass on this special art form to the next generation, I'm sure that I will be showing my children, when I have them.. much appreciated.

Congratulation on your first shave. Be patient and better days will come. i have to say don't shave against grain. it will take time to get used to straight. Including your skin is learning. GL

Congrats on the shave. Be patient and it will get much better with more practice. Remember to always stretch the skin and do NOT apply pressure to the blade. The lather making will take time also as it is a trick to get the right mix of soap or cream(or both) and water.

That's good to know. I am anticipating my first shave. I just got a shave ready in the mail today and I am waiting for my strop and brush. It was suggested for me to get a straight shave from a barber so I will do that this weekend before I start. I'm very excited and looking forward to learning the art of shaving.

Originally Posted by ribbs

...It was suggested for me to get a straight shave from a barber so I will do that this weekend before I start. I'm very excited and looking forward to learning the art of shaving.

Another suggestion is to take your straight with you and have the barber use it. This will tell you how your razor should feel when you shave yourself later.

Congrats on yer first. My first & many after weren't very pleasant but persistence pays.

Congrats and welcome, mate

Did I read that you whip the lather in the D.R.H bowl? I usually use separate bowl for the lather whipping since it's easier to control how much soap I will be using (and considering the bowl hasn't that much of depth with the puck set).
I usually put some water on my puck (DRH Arlington) when I soak my brush (I use synthetic or boar brush). Then I tip the excess water from the puck to my separate bowl (just a cocoa-bowl I had), if there's any (usually isn't). I'll give the puck a good whirling to pick just some soap for lather. Then set my puck aside and continue beating lather in the separate bowl, adding water if needed.

There's a pictorial in the wiki from another member. Please see, http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ic_soap_lather

Hope this helps