Thread: Bad first shave

I bet more of us could testify to a rough first shave than not. I know mine were. For one thing the technique of using a multiblade razor requires sort of pushing it onto the skin. The technique of using a straight razor is quite different. The edge should glide along the skin rather than pushing into it.

With the old Gillette 'Good News' two bladed disposables I shaved with for years my aim was to get it all in one pass fast. When I first heard of 'gradual stubble removal' and multiple pass shaving I was mystified. I couldn't believe people really lathered, shaved, lathered again and shaved again in one session. Some repeat this 3 or 4 times.

Gradually removing the stubble rather than trying to get it all in one shot is the way to shave close, smooth and without irritation. So all of the issues previously mentioned by other members, prep, stropping, lathering are parts that have to be gradually learned and mastered. Skin stretching, blade angle, direction of attack, correct stroke are all parts that have to be learned as well.

Next time you shave ease the blade onto the whiskers and do a pass without trying to get under the roots and flush with the skin. Do another and maybe another and my guess is you'll find it will begin to work for you. For an extended period you may not get as good a shave with your straight razor as you've been getting with your multi but the day will come when it will be better and better consistently. Just hang in there and pay the dues and it will come around. Here is SRP founder Lynn Abrams suggestions for the first shaves. If you haven't seen it give it a once over and give Lynn's method a try.

Try stropping the razor more. Do at least 40 laps. If you're shaving at too much of an angle, it won't feel very nice.

Don't get discouraged, you will be amazed at how different your 5-6th shave will be compared to the first.

My first shave was terrible. I am on shave 18 or so, and i can get a pretty decent shave with 2 WTG passes.

I will wholeheartedly agree with what has been said so far. You didn't need to strop the blade before your first shave, but you will before your next. Strop long and slow. I like 20-30 on the fabric and 40-50 on the leather. It makes a real difference when you strop your blade for a longer time. No pressure on the blade either or you will risk rolling the blade and be sure to hold the strop nice and tight so you have good tension. It will take a bit to get used to but this is the foundation to the rest of your shaving career.
I think the tutorials are great and you should read them all multiple times. However, for me there was nothing quite like seeing someone actual shave with a straight. Make sure to check out Joel's videos (youtube) and there is a great video of a 30 year veteran (Chimensch) on Badger & Blade. These videos will show you exactly the right way to shave. Study them and imitate them and you will be shaving well in no time. It will take some time and dedication but before you know it things will start to click. Good luck on your future shaves and may your ah ha moment come sooner than later!

I already prepped by taking a hot shower for those who asked.
The reason I stropped only 20 times was to get the feel and I was curious. Naturally I would do more being I actually shaved with it now.
BODY,.aolmailheader {font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:Arial;} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} I tried messing around with making lather today. I tried getting the feel of what was too think and what was too thin. I applied the lather to my face every time I added some water and tried shaving a few spots. It was definitely my angle I would say. Another problem I had was the soap lather on my face seemed to dry out rather quickly and became sticky while shaving. Any idea why this is also happening?

I had the exact same complaint 1 month ago.

I found that the solution is a combination of a slightly increased angle, slightly more pressure, shorter and quicker strokes, and more moisture! I can't emphasize enough the need for a very moist lather. I ensure that my face is dripping wet before applying lather (I use Proraso).

Also, pay attention to the direction of hair growth. For example, my hair grows straight down from the sideburn/ear area, but changes 90 degrees half-way down the cheek! At that point it starts to point to the area behind my ear (back of the head). I didn't notice this for my first few shaves, and did my WTG pass straight down..... now I stop halfway down and do a WTG pass from lip to ear. Makes a big difference with respect to hair pulling.

It's a shame you stropped a shave ready razor first shave as you have introduced another variable to the problem. Your bad first shave may well have been due to a combination of factors but ideally get the razor assessed before shave #2.
No offence but as light as you think your strokes were the "swiftness" of your strokes may have changed either the angle or pressure giving you a less than optimal edge.
If you spent dozens of hours stropping a practice razor beforehand I stand corrected, maybe you have the co-ordination for perfect stropping but IME correct stropping is one of the biggest challenges for 99.999% of beginners.

I wouldn't worry too much about stropping before your first shave unless you did it really badly. I got my shave ready strait a month ago and if I strop it for 50 or so laps it is sharper than the day I got it.

I think your lather drying on your face is a sign that it is too dry or that you are shaving very slow. Not a big deal either way. Just add a touch more water or lather part of your face as you shave.

You will figure it out if you stick with it and continue to study the art.

Well thanks again to everybody that helped and gave me more pointers. I really appreciate it. I will give it another go tomorrow and will post the results. I have been practicing stropping more slowly and messing around with making lather so between that and everyone help, I should do better tomorrow.
Once again, a BIG thank you
-Anthony

+1 to onimaru advice

stropping is the biggest challenge, when I first start, I believe I've stropped right, it seems easy after all, but then the shave is terrible, I simply ruining my edge...now I only strop with slow start and constant speed, carefully assess my hand to not giving any pressure to the blade, and it shaves good...that's is my learning curve.

about the lather...Alraz's advice really help me having a good lather from my CM, the real point for me is to hydrate the lather, however like all other folks said, you might shave slow enough to let ur lather dry in ur skin, this happen a lot in my case.

In terms of all the tests you're hearing about here, dont do any of them! These tests (HHT, TPT, TNT and so on..) are all used to gauge the progression of an edge during the honing process, not as a final assessment of the edge.

The ONLY real test for a shave ready edge is to... wait for it... shave with it! If you do a TNT on a shave ready edge, you'll dull the blade. The TPT could result in a dull blade, a sliced thumb or both and the HHT is only any good once its been calibrated for your hair. And the only way to do that is through experience, so picking up a razor for the first time and doing the HHT will tell you nothing.

If you go through old threads there are loads of new guys saying "I've got this razor and it wont pass the HHT and it pulls when I use it, so I honed it/ used a pasted strop/ both (delete as applicable!) and now it wont shave anything at all, what do I do?"

Its a very common problem! What it comes down to is that you're not used to the razor and your shaving technique is not up to scratch yet. It wont be the razor if you got it from SRD, and the CF lime is a great cream. One of the best in fact! What you need to do now is learn how to use them.

Try upping the stropping strokes. I do 30 material and 60 leather before each shave and this works great!

You say this was your first time lathering? Try making some lather to practice. Just go whip some up and see how it comes out. Is it thick? Too thin? Is it a lather or just a cup full of light foam? Start lathering with almost no water and add it drop by drop until you get the right consistency.

Watch your angles of the razor on your skin! Less angle is definately better than more, so make your angles shallower. Hopefully this will make the razor pull less and also make it less likely that you cut yourself.

Good luck and keep us posted!