Thread: First Straight Razor Shave - WOW!

Well, I finally got all my things together ready for my first straight razor shave.. I showered, prepared my face with the preshave oil, made an adequate lather, and lathered up my face.

I was actually shaking a bit when I brought my new straight razor to my face.. I bought a nice straight razor from Bob Keyes, one of SRP's members, he helped me find the right strop and helped me with the correct razor as well. I recieved it "shave ready" and man it looked great.. Its a restored London Cutlery 5/8.. with black scales... He does great work...as many of you do....He has been very generous with his time and knowledge...

I shaved my right cheek and sideburns first..only one spot of blood, from an old scar on the right side of my face... I'll be more carefull with that area next time. I brought out my styptic pen from conk's and continued. I shaved close to my mustache and down to my chin... Thanks to Lynn's DVD or I'd have never figured out how to hold the razor in those sometimes awkward positions..

Then I shifted to my left hand and repeated the process on the left side.. somewhat less smoothly then the right but every bit as close.. I was totally surprised.. I had let my beard grow for a couple or 3 days and was expecting a little pulling or tugging and discomfort as always. The right side of my face hurts all the time anyway from previous surgery and its hard for me to shave by any method. I have a facial neuropathy from cancer surgery.. I can't stand touching the right side of my face much.. So shaving is kind of an event. I'd grow a full beard but just don't have the hair growth for it. So I always wince when I shave. But for me.. the very light touch that is needed with a straight razor makes shaving 10 times easier than with any other method!

I felt I did great on my face so I continued to shave my neck on both sides as per Lynn's DVD and other instruction written and recieved from all of you! I have to say I got a real nice shave first time! What a thrill!!

I made a feeble attempt at XTG or ATG, but I just couldn't get the positon of the blade right and decided to quit while I was ahead... I'll get back to the DVD and website videos and written instruction to try and figure that part out again sometime later...for now I am totally happy and can't wait to try it again.. probably in a couple of days because my face is smoooootheee.....

Thanks to all of you for your help and advice... you've all been great..

Maq

Congrats Maq ... from a fellow newbie anyway. There really isn't any shaving method that compares is there?

Tonight I completed my first entire-face-WTG-shave. I'm more or less retarded with the left hand but all the beginner practice Lynn recommended has made my right hand equally adept at all angles on both sides of the face.

Although I don't share your shaky hands, I do suffer from what can only be described as homicidal hands. Occasionally while shaving I'll notice that my blade angle is almost perpendicular to my face. Needless to say if I weren't practicing the calm zen-like mantra everyone recommends on SRP, I'd have some serious battle scars.

Best of luck, and again, congratulations on the shave!

MrLlende,
Hey tnx and congrats on your first shave... It was great.. My hand settled down after the first 30 seconds... It wasn't the fastest shave ever... I didn't time it but it may have taken 30 minutes... anyway.. It's close.. it doesn't hurt and I'm not bleeding... good luck with your practice... I'm going to view the video again and try to figure out how to take a xtg swipe next time... I just couldn't get the razor or my hand.. either one .. in a position to xtg my neck...

Have a great weekend and thank you for the comment.. Maq

I've read a lot of first shave posts with a straight razor, and this one really impressed me. I can tell you have researched and applied very thing you have read in to your first shave. Nice going!

Congradulations! You handled it really well!

You will do well with your new found hobby -

Steve

Well done to both of you on your first shaves!

I would often take up to an hour for a shave when I first started out, but you do find yourself finishing quicker as each shave goes down. I wouldn't worry too much about going XTG or ATG for the first few shaves, I'd try two WTG passes if you're keen to carry on practicing with your razor. XTG and ATG will come when you're more used to gliding that thing around your face and you're ready to experiment with other grips and shallower angles.

Dannywonderful, Tnx for the comments... That first shave may have been longer than 30 minutes.. I was nervous for the first few strokes and then settled down. I'll follow your advice and stay with the grain for a couple passes a few more times. There is a lot to get comfortable with and no sense in being dangerous. It is amazing how sharp "razor sharp" is! The next hurdle to me is being able to maintain that sharpness with good stropping. From what I read you have to be careful but not too careful.. Stropping too slow can dull your blade also. Tnx again.. staying WTG for a while I think is good advice. Maq

Congrats to both of you on your first shaves...from here it only gets better!

Congrats, at least your face didn't end up looking like pestrami (mine did a bit when I first tried a blunt razor I thought was sharp). After finding this place I learnt what 'sharp' was and the techniques needed to get a realy nice shave.
Practice slowely, it's not a race. Never rush and you'll soon be swathing away like a seasoned pro.

Thanks everyone for the great comments...

I shaved my second straight razor shave this morning... I was worried that it wouldn't be as good as the first ... I thought maybe the first time was a fluke or something.. and I was afraid I'd dull the blade by some poor technique in stropping.. that blade was perfectly honed and stropped by an expert the first time and my first shave proved it..

I have a brand new strop, Illinois 361, and I worked my palm over it for a couple of days and practiced a few times with an old razor. Then I took my "shave ready" razor and gave it a shot....

The second shave was as good as the first.. Only difference was that I nicked myself only once the first shave and 4 times the second... I'm sure due to the added confidence that I don't yet deserve.. That first time I was so slow.. I glided the razor oh so carefully across my face afraid I wasn't coordinated enough and would make a big cut somewhere and end up in the Emergency room..

Can you imagine.. what the hell happened to you.. nothin .. I just cut myself shavin... well anyway in went fine... still shaving WTG for now.. I'll watch Lynn's video a few more times and try to figure out how to hold the razor and my hand to do a xtg or atg across my neck someday..

Have a great day!! thanks everyone for your help and support.. You've all been great..

Maq