Just Finished My Second Shave

Hey Guys,

For anyone who read my first post, I figured I'd post my second shave just to see how things have changed. Again, I'm not trying to give any advice here. I really just want to give any other newbies a little encouragement for their first few times.

Since last time I've had to buy new gear, and I looked around SRP to figure what to get. I purchased a Dovo 6/8 Best Quality from Straight Razor Designs and the Filly Strop from Ruprazor. Straight Razor Designs suggested that stropping the new razor is optional and I chose not to do it, just in case I messed up the blade. I really enjoyed using the razor, but can't comment on the strop yet since I haven't used it.

I know the experts are gonna hound me about this (and maybe a bunch more) but I broke Lynn's major rule and went through an entire shave with a straight razor this time. I DO NOT recommend doing this. I got a few nicks near my left chin that might have been avoided if I paced myself. In my defense, I was too excited to do anything less.

First, I prepped with a hot towel, then lathered up. I went with the grain down the right sideburn, did the right cheek and right neck with my right hand. That went really easy and there is a HUGE difference between a good, sharp razor and a crummy, dull razor. The sharp razor glides across your face with little to no resistance. You don't need to apply pressure. Many thanks to Jockeys for making that video - he really explained what to expect and how to "actually shave" for lack of a better term.

I went with the grain on my left side with my left hand, as suggested by most folks. It was a little tricky to find the angle in the mirror, but going with the grain with my left hand was much easier than expected. I did my left neck with my left hand, too. I used my right hand to do my upper and lower lip and chin area. I basically copied what Jockeys did in his video with pretty good results, so you might as well watch him do it than hear me explain.

At this point I decided to go against the grain on my whole face because it felt like the beginning of a 5 o'clock shadow and I had no nicks.

After re-lathering, I started on the right neck with my right hand. I found myself using much more of the blade going ATG. I followed up to the right cheek and sideburn. When I moved to the left side I didn't switch hands because the blade felt comfortable in that "backhand" grip. Next time I might use my left hand on my right side ATG so I can use the same grip. When I did my upper lip I went more XTG, from the center out. (I later re-lathered and went ATG by going from corner of the lip towards the center, but that was a lot trickier.)

Going ATG on my chin used a bunch of different angles because the hair grows down the middle and out from the center along the sides. It's here that I got some nicks.

I used my normal post-shave routine, using more of that styptic stuff than I'd like. I gently dabbed the blade on a towel to dry it, and I stored it in my closet outside the bathroom so it isn't in the steamy environment all the time.

Here are the results: My left jawline and the corner where my right jawline meets the sideburn are still a little rough. So are my upper lip and a small section of my neck near my Adam's Apple and to the left. Compared to what I'd get from a Mach 3, it's similar except that I can get my jawline really smooth by buffing. When I rub my face it feels nice and smooth except for those spots. I will admit, I'm pretty critical of my shaves - I don't want to feel stubble even when I push into the skin. Of course, there are a few whiskers here and there, mainly under my chin, on my neck and the very edge on my left sideburn.

Final thoughts: I'm really happy with the results save for the few nicks, and I'm excited to work on the places that need improvement. The 3 nicks are on my left chin area and are about 1/8 - 1/4" in length. They aren't deep and the styptic stuff cleaned them up really quick. In hindsight, I'd say they're from the blade touching at too steep an angle when I went ATG for the sides. (ATG in this area makes my blade nearly vertical and the nicks are in that direction.) I also found out the hard way when to use the heel, middle or toe of the blade for different areas. As for the rough spots, I think going XTG on my jawline should be easiest and clean it up just fine.

I'd definitely like to hear some feedback on what I did right/wrong. What I'd really like to hear are tips for switching hands for different parts, and if you guys have certain areas that are always XTG vs ATG. Also, do any other guys get blind spots from either the scales or you hand being in the way?

Thanks again for everyone's help! The feedback on my last post was awesome!

EDIT: I just want to point out that I bought my razor from Straight Razor Designs and it was honed by Lynn. Based on the other SRP members' posts I knew I would get a well-honed razor that was truly shave ready. For any other newbies, read around and you'll see you can rely on Lynn's honing.

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Originally Posted by BingoBango

I'd definitely like to hear some feedback on what I did right/wrong. What I'd really like to hear are tips for switching hands for different parts, and if you guys have certain areas that are always XTG vs ATG. Also, do any other guys get blind spots from either the scales or you hand being in the way?

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Please understand I am a newbie as well, just finished my 8th shave with a str8 this morning. I can say what you are doing right is having a good attitude about the learning experience. I can't offer any advice because I'm in that slow learning curve myself except stopping. I recommend that you practice the movement and since you don't have a practice strop like I got when I bought my Tony Miller, you might practice with a butter knife or something that will not tear up your strop, because you will do that until you learn. Start slow, the speed will build over time.

I think I probably have the forums record on how quickly one dinged the practice stop!

Cool beans that you're enjoying the shave. There is a barber manual excerpt in the SRP Wiki help files here that gives good tips on learning the right way to strop. Practicing flipping the razor between the tips of the thumb and forefinger without bending the wrist is a good thing to learn well before actually doing the stroke. The stropping part is in the last couple of pages.

Learning to manipulate the razor was awkward for me for the first shaves. I gradually got the hang of it. I shaved with the dominant hand for a long time.... over a year before a post from forum member dannywonderful gave me a great tip.

Take a dull razor or tape the edge of a beater razor (don't do it with your main razor) and practice while you watcn TV or are sitting at the computer. Doing this I was able to get the feel of manipulating the razor with my off hand better than when I tried to do it looking at it in the mirror.

As far as blind spots.... I found that gradually I was able to see around the hand and or the razor and what I can't see I can shave by feel with no problem. Keep up the good work. :tu

Yes good on you for sticking with it, and as the others say you really need to strop the razor a really good strop will enhance it even more.

Stropping can be a little tricky but I have found it has a lot to do with the quality of the leather and how taught you keep it while stropping.

You do not need to slap the razor up and down the strop creating an image blur as is seen on the TV!

A medium pace of say the whole length of the strop in around one seconds while making sure to keep the blade totally flat to the leather.

A good tip is if you can here a gentle hiss or brushing sound then its doing the job perfect.

I think you were in luck that the razor you bought was already honed to perfection other wise its like a cheese grater even when they say shave ready.