Am I being over ambitious

hello SRP. Thank you again for the warm welcome.

I'm about 5 or 6 shaves into it already, and unfortunately, I found this wonderful information resource, after I found a 5 dollar disposable blade shavette.

Being bullheaded, and not having known all that I do now, I started with a full face shave (WTG and ATG) right from the start.

As expected, I was cut all to heck and razor burned up the wazoo. I'm happy to say that my technique has gotten better, and the shave has become more comfortable.

I'm wondering though, should I go back and start from sqaure one by shaving sections of my face as recommended, or push onward in the same fashion I have been.

any and all advice would be greatly appreciated

I started the same way, before I found this wonderful place. I just pushed on through, following the rest of the advice.
If you want to go back and start over, the way Lynn and the others suggest, that is up to you.
Either way, whatever you do, make sure it is comfortable and does not hurt, if it hurts, it's wrong.

Welcome, and :gl:

In for a penny, in for a pound; if you ask me. Some guys don't heed that good advice of doing just a section at a time and dive right in to full face. They sometimes butcher their face like you did, they sometimes get away with it. I think (but not sure) the advice of a section at a time is to prevent cutting up your face (which you already experienced and got past).

If you already got to the point that you are getting comfortable shaves, I'd say just keep practicing and don't worry about going back to square one.

I'd probably work on the cheeks, wtg and maybe atg; not a hard area to work on. I'd suggest going slowly assuring that you have plenty of time with no distractions. If it goes well, start on another section, but stop when your confidence tanks and things start to get rough.

The learning curve is steep; you will be surprised how it will fall into place rather quickly. Working on your cheeks and getting good shaves there will make you more prepared to hit the more difficult areas. The skills transfer.

Another reason to lay off some areas is that you won't get good feedback because it will hurt even if your doing well. Hard to tell what your doing when your face is already red and burning! Feedback is critical.

This method worked for me. I was full face shaving in a few weeks. But there is no ONE WAY here. Viva la diference.

Best to you, Jim

I started a section at a time, and when I get into trouble I back up and work on the problem sections slowly. I might even finish off with a DE razor.

It takes time to get it all right, or even close to right. IMHO you're not a failure if you back up to a DE so you can concentrate on certain areas of your face. I've even pulled out an electric to get around sections that I've butchered for one reason or another.

I did the same thing and tried to shave the whole face on my first try. I wasn't getting BBS results due to the technique and my face felt roughed up along with a few small cuts.

The upside was that I knew how the razor felt all over my face and I wasn't afraid to do so again. The downside was that I was at the bottom of the learning curve and needed some better shaving tools.

I would recommend just doing the sides of the face and getting very good results so you know what it feels like. Then venture another step, then another. There is so much on SRP to help you with your next step of Straight Shaving.

Good Prep, good shaving soap, and a good brush go a long way. I used my M3 to clean up each shave while learning. Each shave got progressively better and the M3 was being used less and less.

However, I think this initial experience will help you move up the learning curve a little faster as there is no substitute for experience and learning from experience.

Welcome to SRP and straight shaving!

Pabster

If there are parts of your face that are easy for you now, I would keep doing those parts. Then on those harder spots, break them down and work on the angles a little at a time until they become comfortable. You might also want to do a face map and use your index finger to imitate the strokes with the razor before laying razor to skin and practice from there.

Keep us posted.

Lynn

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Originally Posted by Lynn

If there are parts of your face that are easy for you now, I would keep doing those parts. Then on those harder spots, break them down and work on the angles a little at a time until they become comfortable. You might also want to do a face map and use your index finger to imitate the strokes with the razor before laying razor to skin and practice from there.

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"Mmm, yes. To Obiwan you listen".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by freyguy

Being bullheaded, and not having known all that I do now, I started with a full face shave (WTG and ATG) right from the start.

As expected, I was cut all to heck and razor burned up the wazoo.

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Try working in an XTG pass before ATG, might help with the irritation,

-Chief

great advice, and I have to say, how exciting it is to be receiving advice not only from all the other experienced shavers, but also from the man who started the website. Thank you Lynn for throwing your two cents into the pot, and not just being a silent observer. And thank you to all the other members who have been kind and helpful. This website rocks.

SO.... I was looking forward to taking another crack at the full face shave today, I've come this far and the results seem to getting better. However, My face has broken out a little bit (partly to stress, and partly to razor burn/ bumps I would imagine) so I think I will take this opportunity to work just my sideburns.

That part of my face is pretty clear and smooth, and I had great success shaving that area with my non dominant hand last night, and would like to test those waters again.

I will let you know how it goes.

Since you said that you are bullheaded, a type I know well(been living with one since I was born), I think you will manage going forward. I dont find as much satisfaction in the easy way and have always loved a challenge, the tricky parts of the face are where I have learned the most and gained the most confidence, of course I have paid for that in discomfort(never a cut) but can you put a price on knowledge? :) When I started I went right for the whole enchilada, but I only went WTG for the first few shaves, then added the XTG. I tried the ATG but I didnt feel like the price was worth that knowledge just yet(guess you can put a price on knowledge), then as my skill level increased I found that my shaves were very close to BBS and I added a second XTG in the opposite direction and I am very happy with the closeness(BBS, for the most part, but doesnt last as long as I have heard it would if I did ATG) and extremely happy with the comfort. I did allow 2-3 days in between shaves at first so the shaved area could fully recover. For me it was about 5 or so shaves before my face felt fine, and about 15-20 shaves before I got my neck down, but I have never regretted going for it from the first. Pay lots of attention to your prep, quit pressing the razor so hard against your skin(I know your not using much but it is still way too much, trust me), learn which direction at which your whiskers grow, and dont forget to stretch and before long you will be saying WOW!!! instead of OW!!!. Good luck and have fun.

Edit: Woops forgot to mention the angle.

Here is another tip that may be applicable..... take the blade out of the shavette and practice manipulating it , making the moves on your face while you are watching TV or at the computer.

This was an idea posted by forum member dannywonderful and by doing that with a dull razor I was able to learn to shave with my non dominant hand. Adding that practice to the relative few minutes of the daily shave got me over the hump. :gl:

So last night I shaved only my side burns and only with a WTG and XTG pass. I'm happy to say that I didn't nick myself, and I had minimal irritation, which is great considering how much I had before.

The shave wasn't BBS but, it was about as good, if not slightly better than what I was achieving with my gillette fushion. and it was certainly much more enjoyable then shaving with the gillette.

I'm soon to order a proper wet shaving set from SRD, but until then, does anyone have any suggestions for building a decent lather without a puck of soap or a brush?