Bad first shave

I figured tonight would be a good night to try straight razor shaving for the first time. I showered first while soaking my brush in hot water. I got out and lathered some castle forbes lime cream (first time lathering also) and applied it to my face. Making lather and knowing what the right consistency is was harder than I thought. I took out my razor and stropped it about 20 times. It is a Dove best quality 6/8 from SRD. I put the razor to my right side burn while stretching the skin. When I started shaving, it hurt like hell. I felt like it was pulling. I guess thats what pulling means because it felt like I was ripping the hairs right out of my face. I did nick myself but not bad. I figured it was the cream so I put more on my face and the samething happened. At this point I obviously knew something was wrong so I stopped, pulled out my mach 3 and using the same lather that was already on my face, I was done about 15 seconds later.
Any tips and pointers except reading wiki which I have done already about 3 times on everything in there and reading the stickys which I have done also?
Thanks,
-Anthony

First, Nice choices for a first shave, CF Lime is awesome...It does take some time to get the consistency down. CF is very dense, and does not take much to whip up a lot of cream...Since you got the razor from SRD, it's a safe bet that it's your angle and not the blade. If the angle is not correct, it will feel like it's ripping your hair out rather than shaving it. Have you done anything to the blade? How did the stropping go...?

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Originally Posted by zib

First, Nice choices for a first shave, CF Lime is awesome...It does take some time to get the consistency down. CF is very dense, and does not take much to whip up a lot of cream...Since you got the razor from SRD, it's a safe bet that it's your angle and not the blade. If the angle is not correct, it will feel like it's ripping your hair out rather than shaving it. Have you done anything to the blade? How did the stropping go...?

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The stropping went fine. I tried the webbed fabric for about 3 laps followed by the leather. I have the IV bridle long so it's long and wide for a first timer. I just used the weight of the razor. I slowly placed it on the spine and rolled the edge down so I can get used to the feel and did nice swift movements once I did that. I did try several different angles on my face, some more in and more out to try to achieve a comfortable shave and couldn't.

+1

Since SRD did the honing, it's certainly not your razor...it'll be your technique. Don't worry about it, my first shave was about the same. After even a couple shaves, you'll start making self-discoveries and your shaves will improve dramatically. You're entire life, you've had the razor decide which angle is best for you. Now, you have to learn the best angle for you. I've discovered that what looks like thirty degrees isn't...when I look in the mirror, I shoot for forty-five degrees and get great shaves....of course YMMV. You've got the gear, but the true price of admission is patience and perseverance.

Sorry to hear about the rough times.

This site certainly helped me when attempting my first shave, there are tons of threads on it just soaked in advice. What I did was simply learned how to make a proper lather first, using my fusion to shave until I decided thats how I like my lather. Next I followed the noob instructions on the wiki and only shaved the easy parts of my face after watching many videos. Finally after I was able to shave each part of my face individually over a period of a couple weeks I attempted my first full shave and the rest is history.

Best of luck in the future, persevere and win.

I had the exact same experience last night with my first shave with the exact same blade from Vintage Blades. I felt like I was scraping the hair off rather than shaving it. Vintage Blades says all razors are honed by Lynn so I assume it is sharp. However, I just tried the hanging hair test on my razor with a strand of my girlfriend's hair and it did not cut the hair. The hair just bent when I pushed it onto the blade.

Is it possible that our blades are not sharp?

Is the hanging hair test nonsense?

I will try stropping and shaving again tomorrow to see what the outcome is.

Here are the three things you have to get together for the perfect shave; blade prep, beard prep and technique. Providing the razor is good(and it is), here is what you need to work on, correct stropping keeping the blade flat and not rolling the edge or lifting the spine, about 50 laps linen and then leather. Beard prep means to get those whiskers soft, using good hot water and getting a good lather and applying it generously and work it in. Technique is getting the blade at the correct angle no matter where it is on your face. Take your time(relather if you have to) and a mental review as you go along and don't expect phenomenal results the first couple of months. It is just a matter of time and you will be a pro.

One more tip to help you along, when you look at the contours of your face break them down into smaller flat planes(this helps especially on the chin) and then you can adjust the angle and the stroke to accomodate your needs.

Good luck and happy shaving!

Anthony,

++1 on nun2sharp's advice. Blade prep, beard prep and technique are all very important in str8 razor shaving.

First, how did you prep your beard? Hot Shower? Splashing hot water from the sink on your face? Hot towels? Any of the preceding mehods will help soften your whiskers before the shave. Good beard prep will even compensate somewhat for a poor lather which takes some time to master.

Second, given the fact you purchased your razor from SRD you probably didn't need to strop your razor for your first shave. That being said, 3 laps on the fabric and 20 on the leather is, imho, too few laps on the fabric and leather. I usually give my razor 50 laps on the fabric and 55 on the leather before shaving.

Finally, is technique. Hold the blade at an angle of 15-30 degrees when shaving. Too flat and it won't shave at all. Too steep and you'll cut the heck out of your face.

Above all all, go slow and be patient. Over time and with experience your shaves will improve.

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Originally Posted by Fbones24

However, I just tried the hanging hair test on my razor with a strand of my girlfriend's hair and it did not cut the hair. The hair just bent when I pushed it onto the blade.

Is it possible that our blades are not sharp?

Is the hanging hair test nonsense?

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I don't think the HHT is the be-all, end-all of sharpness tests. My hair is very fine, as it is with everybody in my family, and I've never gotten such a test to work, even a blade freshly honed by Lynn. I wouldn't set too much store by it.

I like a gentle thumbnail test myself, but the only real test is the shave itself.

The straight razor shave is a real skill, and must be acquired with care and practice. Don't expect even your first dozen shaves to be a revelation in what the shave experience should be!

Aside from reading all the material for beginners here (and possibly finding a local mentor to help), be sure to check out the videos on YouTube by Jockeys. Nothing like seeing it being done close up to help understand how it's supposed to go.

Do be careful when stropping. Some Dovos are very hollow ground, and you can easily roll an edge with bad technique.

Good luck!

Fred

I agree with nun2sharp and jhenry on the three components of a good shave. From what you described, My bet is on the stropping. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it and when I started, I rolled a lot of edges. It's true that if the blade was freshly honed, the stropping wasn't necessary but it would be on subsequent shaves. As for the hanging hair test, to me it's a parlour trick. I've rarely seen one of my razors pass it. I also get great shaves with the blades that failed the HHT.

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!