Thread: Incredibly uncomfortable - not getting better.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

It takes several months to develop the skill to shave with a Str8. Until then you need to go slow, follow the wiki and the advice of the members on SRP. Someday you will shave and find yourself with a close, comfortable shave. How long that takes depends on how you learn and if you follow the advice your given and the wiki.

Keep trying, it is worth the effort.

As a fairly new str8r I can say that many times finding info here on the forums is difficult becasue there is no ONE way, no ONE technique, therefor alot of advice is conflicting. I think it important for the OP to continue his quest by trying different recommendations, but only varying one thing at a time. I would advocate a disposable, only to remove one variable from the equation...his stropping technique. Even if he has his blade re-honed, one bad strop is going to create a bad shave regardless of technique.
My conflicting recommendation would be as follows:
Start with just shaving the cheeks, skip the jaw/chin/neck for now.
Shave with a DE. How light can you shave with it and still get a good pass? Now try that with your Str8, WTG only. Try different angles, try to duplicate the sound the DE made. When you have success, stick with that and duplicate it several times before moving on to the more difficult parts.
Then move to the chin and neck and jawline, but only as a second pass WTG after using a DE for the first pass. If you can do this successfully, then try a first pass on these.
Like Mvcrash said, go slow. Try not to get too many variables at one time. Prep/soap/lather. hot or cold, all of these are secondary to Razor, angle, touch, stroke.
Hope I haven't confused the issue. But being a NOOB it is fresh on my mind what has brought me success when starting out. I can get BBS on 95% of my face without feeling like I fell face first into a den of vipers.

well put...we have to use the basics/fundamentals but in the end, it's a blend of art and science and we all have to find our oen way that works.