Thread: I did it!

Okay, so this was actually my 2nd time with a straight to my face.

I was in there, and did a nice long stroke on the cheek. Then onto the other. Then I said, let's do under the lip. And the chin. All downward N-S, mind you. I said, go for it! Let's do the neck. I ended up doing short strokes on it.

I got done and said, WOW! My face is still attached. Now, for an attempt at another pass. How bad can it be? So, I relathered and went for it. This time, S-N...going up. MUCH slower. Everything was a short pass. Hard to find out how to angle the blade and where to place it, not angle it per se. But, coming up the cheek you have to really keep in mind the size of the blade, otherwise part of it will go across your ear. Or somewhere else you don't want it to.

I think it was my pressure, or lack thereof; but I felt a tugging or pulling of the hairs. The blade was shave ready. I did a few practice passes on my strop prior to my shave, surely I didn't dull it down...could I have? It did cut hair though. Should HHT be done after each strop?

The chin was a pain. I could shave down, but not up. Just couldn't figure out how to angle the blade and hold it right. So, I came in from the sides to knock that down.

Trying to not dig the blade into my skin and find correct placement, along with anxiety had me a touch shakey. I got 3 teeny weeny nicks on the 2nd pass. I can live with that.

I had no bumps but just a little irritation if you will. Not bad at all.

When you are finished...what is the best thing to do? Some strop. But is just wiping your blade down real well good and ready for storage? Or should it stay out a little to dry? How would you store it? I'd be afraid to leave it out and open for fear of it falling and damaging the blade.

Thanks everyone! Happy Shaves!

Congrats Rick. If you haven't seen it here is Lynn's post on beginning shaving with a straight razor. Sort of dipping your foot in the water rather than diving in. That is the way I went about it and it worked out well for me. Within a couple of weeks the DE was put away and it was smooth straight razor shaving from there on out.... well most of the time. The more practice the smoother it got.

I dry my blade with a tissue. I strop it maybe 20 round trips to get micro gunk that I can't see out of the bevel and then I wipe it with a rust preventative and put it in a drawer.

I wouldn't worry about the HHT. If the razor is shaving well whether it will cut hanging hairs is of little consequence.

As far as the chin I go down or side to side. I haven't had much luck with coming up from under and going up the tip of the chin. Some guys seem to have no problem with it. As time progresses you will find what works for you.

If you want to avoid nicks or cuts read my sig below and follow the advice. It has always worked for me when I followed it.

Sounds about like every ones first, second, or thirteenth shave.

Stikwidit brah. (as I imagine Lynn would say.)

Great advice. Yes, I had looked at Lynn's post. And, likely I will again and again along with a few other things. Stropping is a bit intimidating. Question: while shaving, where do you wipe your blade? I used a cloth or my palm. It seems it would be easier to shave someone else.

Originally Posted by rickboone

Great advice. Yes, I had looked at Lynn's post. And, likely I will again and again along with a few other things. Stropping is a bit intimidating. Question: while shaving, where do you wipe your blade? I used a cloth or my palm. It seems it would be easier to shave someone else.

I rinse mine under hot tap water. Stressing hot. The barber manual and other shaving instruction sheets recommend hot water on the blade so I do it.

Another thing I thought of in regards to pulling... if you are trying to get down to bbs with one pass don't. See this here on the gradual stubble removal technique.

There was also post by Lynn about this after he received quite new razors with fair amount of rust on them. Unfortunately I just can't find it anymore.

I usually wash the blade (tang if soiled, not pivot, not scales) and dry with tissue after each pass. And it has worked for me the short duration I have been doing this. Used wet towel too, until I read Lynn's post. Palm never worked for me, since I like to keep my hands clean for stretching. After shave, cleaning of the blade with hot water and tissue, then some stropping and leaving out to dry.

Hi,
I noticed you said your second pass on your cheek was S-N? That is likely an ATG stroke-- after you do the first N-S stroke (WTG), the second one should be E-W (Ear to mouth) to get XTG. The third one can then be against the grain (ATG), which would then be much smoother.

Happy shaving!

-Chief

Originally Posted by BHChieftain

Hi,
I noticed you said your second pass on your cheek was S-N? That is likely an ATG stroke-- after you do the first N-S stroke (WTG), the second one should be E-W (Ear to mouth) to get XTG. The third one can then be against the grain (ATG), which would then be much smoother.

Happy shaving!

-Chief

I will try this. Thanks.

Good advice here. As for clearing, I give the razor a swoosh in the bowl of water. After I finish shaving, the straight gets a firm cleaning. All the soap scum is removed without disturbing the edge, it gets stropped to clean the edge off a bit, wiped a little more (blade and scales) until it looks great again and stopped more to be ready for the next shave. Then I leave it in its container with the lid open to air it out for 12 hours. I clean it so well that I don't think this needs to be done, but I do it anyway.

Take good care of your tools and they will last a lifetime.

Welcome to straight shaving!

Pabster

You're on a long trail.
There's tons of great help here on SRP, shaving masters some with decades of experience.
Before you know it you'll look back and remember when you used to be a newby.