Thread: first shave nightmare

Have you watched the videos on shaving with a straight in the wiki section. 99.999% of the time it is the person new to shaving with a straight not the equipment. If the razor came from SRD I would bet it is shave ready. Watch the videos and follow the advice of only shaving your side burn area until you have mastered that do not move on.

I can almost guarantee you that it is your technique, no matter how right you think you're getting it. It takes time and practice. Start slow. Do one cheek only for a little while and move on to two when it starts to feel and look right on the first. Move on from there. My first cutthroat shave was just bloody awful, and I didn't have anyone to show me, guide me, nothing. This forum wasn't invented at that time and I didn't have a computer or any of the associated helpful things like YouTube etc. I just battled on knowing that it was supposed to be possible, getting by on sheer bloody pig-headed-ness. So if I can work my way from that to having great shaves with a cutthroat without assistance, there is no reason why you, with all the youtube videos, this forum, and the great advice from the more experienced members here, should ever fail. Read this thread titled http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...here-i-am.html, that's my personal story.


Mick

The are few things more annoying than recounting an issue to someone who responds by talking about themselves, but here goes:

I have been using a straight razor for about 2.5 months. I have only been using one proficiently for three weeks, and only been receiving 100% really good shaves the last three. (Upper lip......argh)

Don't give up, the first shave is downright unpleasant. I honestly was expecting to get my kit in the mail and shave like a pro from the get-go. This did not happen. It takes a lot of time, effort and razor burn to get where you want to be.

There is a good reason there are so many people on this forum - this is a skill that requires a craftsman's touch and a unique approach. It sucks - it does! But it is really worth it. There is a "magic" touch to straight shaving, and it seems like the only way to truly learn it is trial and error. Just my take and YMMV, but it does get better.

Don't give up! and Happy Shaving!

P.S. A good AS Balm will help immensely!

Please read THIS recent thread. While it won't help you with your technique, and it doesn't answer the question of whether or not your razor actually is adequately honed, it WILL give you a sense of what you are dealing with.

The fact that you bought another razor after this trouble indicates your willingness to keep trying. Odds are that you will have the same problem with the SRD razor initially, but it should get better. Not everyone sticks with it long enough to get the hang of it but I suspect you will.

Regarding the professional honing of the razor that you already have, you should contact the seller. Most of them deal with this all the time, unfortunately, and most of them seem to have the patience to offer to re-hone the razor even if they are confident that the razor already is shave ready.

Keep trying!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Please read THIS recent thread. While it won't help you with your technique, and it doesn't answer the question of whether or not your razor actually is adequately honed, it WILL give you a sense of what you are dealing with.

The fact that you bought another razor after this trouble indicates your willingness to keep trying. Odds are that you will have the same problem with the SRD razor initially, but it should get better. Not everyone sticks with it long enough to get the hang of it but I suspect you will.

Regarding the professional honing of the razor that you already have, you should contact the seller. Most of them deal with this all the time, unfortunately, and most of them seem to have the patience to offer to re-hone the razor even if they are confident that the razor already is shave ready.

Keep trying!

Oh, I will definetly continue with this until I can shave my entire face and head without blemish, I am just naive and n00b enough to have been fooled by all of the 'skilled' people shaving on YouTube that make it look like wiping butter off your face.

I will stick with this until I get it, no doubt about it. Thank you much.

Bodach

Hi Bodach

As someone with only a few total shaves under his belt I feel your frustration. It takes proper technique and patience. It may sound weird or funny but I took my laptop in the bathroom on my first few shaves to copy the technique from the videos.

The best advice as stated from other members is to read or reread the wiki and Lynn's sticky on the first shave and watch the videos.

Good luck and take your time

Lot of great advice given. Please hang in there it is worth it.
BTW nice username.

-G

I get the same thing if I just shower, lather up then put the razor to my face. When first starting out if you have a tough beard try soaking with a bar towel, if you have one, with hot water and put on your face about 3 minutes and see if that helps. It is hard to say what is going on until you get the SRD razor because it will be "shave ready" when you get it and that will be the true test.

I bought thick bar towels and soak one and put it in a microwave for about 1.75 minutes, even today. I can not shave just jumping out of the shower, it would ruin me.


Take Care,
Richard

Bodach

I didn't really read all the replies, so I don't know if what I'm going to tell you has already been told by somebody else.

Anyway, here we go:


At the beginning, expect the worst.
Don't shave in the morning. Don't. You read me? Don't.
Be patient. really. if you're *truly* interested in straight razor shaving and i may assume you are if you bought serious equipment from SRD, you will learn quickly enough.

Then again, I'm a noob myself and I have nothing to back up my arguments with. Except for my puny experience.

Maybe the only valid argument I can provide: I've been doing this for 2 months and it's become a real pleasure within very short amount of time.

But I did expect the worst. I kept my interest in it. I took my time. etc. bla bla.

So, don't give up, once you're even just slightly accustomed to straight razor shaving you're gonna love it ;-)

another thing that comes to mind:

watch as many youtube vids as possible. yes, obvious advice is obvious.

let me explain why i think it helps:

it helped me obtaining different inputs. every man shaves differently. what works for John, doesn't work for you. except maybe that one 'thing' he's doing. then there's Luigi doing some really neat stuff, but also stuff that does not work for you.

get the picture? there are so many techniques, or may i call them 'tactics', around, that by simply knowing about them and figuring out the ones that work for you and those that don't, you're going to improve your shaving experience very quickly.

sorry for double post.