Thread: 1st Compete Str8 Shave

Well I shaved this morning with my usual set up Gillette Tech Astra Blade. While sitting around in an empty house this afternoon I heard the straight calling me from the bathroom drawer again. This razor was just back from a honing and I have been intimidated by it since. Everyday when I shave I get some of my sundries from this drawer and the razor just stares up at me taunting me.
With no one home to bother me I decided to just go for it. Gave it a thorough stropping and built a fine lather of VDH soap nice thick lather slathered it all over my face grabbed up that razor adjusted my grip took in a deep breath and proceeded.
Finding the right angle for the blade quickly the first pass went well along with the second and third. Feeling confident I pressed on passed my right cheek to my point of my jaw bone and slice. A trickle of red. Not getting rattled I moved on to my neck with no problems.
Now to the left side and I was doing well. Got to the jaw bone and slice slice. Two traces of red. Okay It's to be expected I told my self. Finished off the shave Cleaning the void areas of my goatee below my lower lip. Got a tip nick for being careless repositioning the blade while it was to close to my face.
When I first started shaving with a double edge I had razor burn and nicks. Now that I have shaved with it for a while I get a picture perfect shave. I guess only practice and time will get me a perfect straight shave.
This is what I learned from my first shave. I must stay confident and not get rattled. Do not adjust the blade while close to the face. That tip will get me! Pay attention to what I'm doing. Might have save me from my jaw bone cuts? Can you believe I actually said pay attention, shouldn't that be implied when working with a straight razor?
My 13 year old daughter came home and asked what I had on my face I told her straight razor cuts and she told me I was crazy for using that razor!
I will continue my straight journey after a letting my face rest for a few days. I can only get better right? Well if not chicks dig scars!

congrats on your first shave! keep at it!

Hello, Iceman,

Welcome to SRP, the domain of gentlemen shavers.

That first shave with a straight razor is always momentous. Yours obviously was. Congratulations. You're on your way.

Regards,

Obie

Congrats! I still remember the first time and razor I shaved with . Been great every since!

With practice makes perfect.

Congratulations!

Keep shaving with the Str8 it will get better!!


Lu

Congrats sir. I have been at it almost a month and today I had the best shave yet. Once you get your stropping and angles down it will be a snap. Its not that hard to learn, just takes a while to master as with many things.

Jared

Congrats and don't give up. You can always make more blood!

Congrats on taking that first step! One thing that I've discovered is that you should never have the razor on your face when it's not moving. Confident strokes are key (not meaning pressure or super tight grip on the razor, but rather decisive movements)

Enjoy the process. It gets great from here!