Thread: Well... that could have gone better...

First of all, welcome. Second, Congratulations on your resolve to stickwithit. Third, you didn't say what kind of soap you're using. Something like Williams will dry out faster than a nice glycerin soap. As for getting used to the cumberson practice of using both hands and not blocking your view, read the wikis, watch the videos (Lynn's is on the opening page of the site) and practice slowly. Something I've always thought might be helpful although I didn't try it when I was a noob, since I didn't think of it until I was well practiced, would be to fashion a dummy razor out of paint stirrers, cut down to size and practice wiping the soap off your face to get used to holding it. Just a thought.

Pat

Yeah, I was actually only planning on shaving one cheek but, once I started, I just thought "in for a penny..." and kept going. Possibly a bit too optimistic, in hindsight. Oh well.

I think Ill just practice doing a little bit at the start of each shave, gradually expanding the amount of face I do with the straight each time.

i was so slow the frist few months that i would lather my chin ,lather right side of my face. lather left side,right neck, left neck.broke it down to 5 patches. and it was awile until my left hand came into play also.give it time and it will all come togeather for you. theres a boatload of things to learn and imo. frist comes getting your stroping down then lather making and then figgiring how to whip that so very sharp piece of steel around your face and only cut wiskers. use your mk.3 when you feel you should.

Originally Posted by cutalot

i was so slow the frist few months that i would lather my chin ,lather right side of my face. lather left side,right neck, left neck.broke it down to 5 patches. and it was awile until my left hand came into play also.give it time and it will all come togeather for you. theres a boatload of things to learn and imo. frist comes getting your stroping down then lather making and then figgiring how to whip that so very sharp piece of steel around your face and only cut wiskers. use your mk.3 when you feel you should.

I'm about half way there (well, a quarter) since I have been collecting and using DE's and SE's for years, so my lather making and prep is pretty good. But yeah, the actual shaving part is a whole new story. I'll get it. I just have to remind myself that it took me a little while to get a BBS shave with a vintage safety razor and that is easier than this. I just have to go slow and be patient.