Thread: First Straight Shave

With my first straight shave in the books, I'd have to say that it's a good thing y'all set an expectation for a steep learning curve. Without it, I'd be back to my DE tomorrow. Since I don't expect perfection for a month or so, all in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful outing. The paramedics were not called, and I'm not writing this from the ER. All that said, I have identified two problem areas that I could use a little help with.

My razor is sticking a lot. I'm not sure if it's a sharpness issue or if I'm too timid. I bought the razor "shave ready" from an SRP member. I was under the impression that it did not need to be stropped for the first shave, so rather than subject the razor to what would likely be sub-standard stropping technique, I started in. Leveraging my DE experience, I held the blade lightly but firmly and attempted light even strokes. When the blade grabbed, I didn't force it, I worked with it. Ultimately, I was able to get a complete shave just slightly worse than I used to get with a cartridge, but it took a lot of cajoling. As I worked my way through it, the blade didn't really grab and pull (although I didn't really pull once it started grabbing). Once I got it cutting, it cut pretty well. Actually less pulling than my DE. I did take a break part way through and stropped the blade. It didn't really help, but being my first strop, I can't guarantee how effective it was.

My prep consists of lathering with soap from the shower (not my shave soap) in the shower. I leave the lather on for the duration of the shower then give my beard a good hot rinse. When I dry off from the shower, I leave my face wet until I shave. I even splash my face once or twice while I get ready to ensure it doesn't dry out.

My second problem is with my neck. My neck is fairly lean and I have a fairly prominent wind pipe. This gives me a pretty sizable valley between my windpipe and the muscles on the side of my neck. I never really learned how to flatten this area since my DE allowed me enough margin of error to work the razor in there. I tried a similar approach with my straight and ended up pushing the tip into my neck a bit. No flowing blood, but a good solid abrasion. Do I simply need to find a way to flatten this area (any suggestions) or as my technique improves, should I expect to be able to shave through this crevasse?

Any advice?

welcome to SRP.
wit time you will discover the best way to shave your face for smoothest shave.
you need to stretch the skin very well, and keep your angles accordingly.
as far as hard regions, you might ot might not find a way to work them with the straight, but there is nothing wrong with a DE touch up if needed.

I found that actually starting from an angle of 0, then slowly increasing the angle in my very first passes really helped me learn the proper angle. The first time I put razor to face it pulled all over the place, as I was trying to stick to the 30 degree guideline. I would repeat this idea on every area of my face, to try to learn the right angles for all the different spots.

Welcome to your first shave from another newbie! I've got the total of eleven under my belt and all I can do is offer encouragement and the thought that things do get better. Getting through the first shave, regardless of the results is a tribute to your patience and concentration.

I have found that after my first couple of shaves, I would latter (hours later) sit and rub my face, chin, and neck, finding areas that have stubble. I do this thinking about how I would handle the razor on the areas on the next shave. The next shave comes, and I have a better idea on how to address these areas, and often more than not, I eventually figure it out.

The raw spots are easy..... lighten that area up. I have to keep reminding myself that it is beard reduction, not removal, ESPECIALLY on the first pass!

Good for you, we have another convert. You will quickly surpass the quality of your DE shaves. Like me, you will never go back, I'm sure!

Good work!

Welcome to SRP. Sounds like you know what you are doing in prep from your DE experience. Assuming the razor is shave ready the blade angle and stretching techniques need to be dialed in. It just takes time and practice.

I too have the valleys on either side of my windpipe and the direction of the whiskers in that area adds to the difficulty. I have found that in my particular case pulling the right side towards my right shoulder gives me the stretch I need for that side.

Oddly enough to do my left side I've found that pulling the skin in the direction of the right shoulder does the trick on the left side as well. IOW, my fingers are on the right of my windpipe pulling to the right to adequately stretch the left side. Of course when doing the right side my fingers are of necessity further back.

This may or may not work for you. Finding what works is just a process of elimination. Angle of attack and perhaps a scything motion are also considerations. Another thing that I've found effective in some areas is a swooping stroke. Visualize a bird of prey swooping down to grab a field mouse. That sort of stroke done with care until you get the hang of it is effective in some areas.

BTW, I used a DE to get the tough areas for my first couple of weeks so as mainaman said there is no shame in that.

It gets better, as said above. And, I think you are asking the right questions. Don't hesitate to get back with the SRP member you purchased the razor from with questions that can't be best addressed here. I am sure they would be glad to advise and assist.

Hi and welcome to SRP...as always, I recommend the shaving videos found in the Wiki, under shaving/shaving videos, look at the Jockeys video it's in two parts. Notice most important the techniques used when shaving the neck area and pay close attention to blade angle and streching of the skin. I had a problem shaving the mustache area until I saw this video. Good luck

Congratulations on skipping the trip to the ER on the first shave, take confidence in the fact that things only get better from here. It should never be as bad as the first shave, and sounds like you did pretty good. Some good advice about technique already posted, pay closest attention to shaving angle and good stretching of the skin. I know that in the first week or two I had multiple a-ha moments when not even shaving where I sort of started figuring out how to shave my problem areas. I'm sure this will happen for you too. I would sort of be frustrated after shaving because I couldn't get my neck area good, but about an hour or two later I would think of a slightly different way of trying things, and sometimes these things actually worked better! Also relax, and realize that you will start picking up these techniques a lot faster than you may think at first. It really doesn't take too long. I tried to read a lot on how to use the straight razor and watched all the videos and demos I could, but really it took about 2 weeks of actually shaving to really start clicking. Just stay relaxed and go slow, and you will surely pick it up.

Welcome to SRP.

I had the same types of difficulties. One other thing that I didn't see mentioned is that when I used a DE for my shaves I would shave down my neck and then up. I never had a problem with shaving that way, never any irratation at all.

When I started using a striaght I would shave down and then up and I would get a little irratated on my neck and for the longest time couldn't figure it out until I changed directions by shaving up first then down, specifically on my neck. My hair in the valley's on either side of my neck grow in different directions.

So try changing different directions for first, second passes etc and perhaps that will help. It really can take quite a while to learn the best way to shave, even after you have been doing it years.

Originally Posted by mbrossar

My razor is sticking a lot. I'm not sure if it's a sharpness issue or if I'm too timid.

....

As I worked my way through it, the blade didn't really grab and pull (although I didn't really pull once it started grabbing). Once I got it cutting, it cut pretty well. Actually less pulling than my DE.

Yes sounds like you are too timid. You want smooth and confident strokes but not applying pressure. And it takes time to build the muscle memory for that.
You should have some momentum to the razor, i.e. don't position it and start pushing, but start moving the razor from slightly away so that it is not in contact with the skin/hair.
You have to be careful, of course.

A month is way early for 'perfection', that's about when you'll start feeling you're getting the hang of it, but you probably wouldn't be really comfortable doing it for another 6-12 months.