Thread: First shave

So... I got my straight in the mail yesterday, and got my brush (and strop, but I knew that since I got it from the Classifieds here as "shave ready" I wouldn't need to strop) today. Already had everything else I wanted/needed, it's Saturday and I had time, so...

First run through, again, knowing that the blade is much sharper than it will be when I start trying to learn to strop, so I figured I'd just suck it up and go until it either felt *all wrong* or I did as much as I can. So, although I know it's a "no-no", I shaved the whole face. Actually, tried a couple different passes as well... all WTG on the first pass, some XTG and even some ATG on the second. I think I actually did quite a bit better than I expected to, although the shave ultimately still sucked... pretty much everywhere. Had to do some significant clean up with my cartridge razor. I was surprised that my mustache and soul patch areas actually worked out well, didn't expect that. A couple small nicks and one good one, although interestingly enough, all were on the first (WTG) pass, none on the second.

Next step... stropping. No idea how that will go... We shall see tomorrow.

Well done! In time, you will get great shaves, the best shaves. I promise. But before you strop that razor, I do recommend practicing instead with a butter knife on your strop. Get the feel for flipping and turning the razor/butterknife up and down the strop. I wouldn't want you to roll the edge of your new razor or put a nasty slice on your new strop. Shaving with a straight razor and care of, are not things meant to rush.
Read the threads, and feel free to Private Message me or any other Veteran Mentor for advice. Welcome to the fold fresh cut (no pun intended).-John

Sounds like just about everyone's first shave. Good work though and keep up the good work.

Gave it another go last night. Tried stropping out - I know I didn't hurt the blade, but I don't think I helped it much either. Seemed to still be pretty sharp though. I really need to find a reasonable place to attach it to... that was the major problem.

That said, the shave went miles better than the first one. Way better. Only one tiny nick, which actually caused me to fully understand how I'm doing it in the first place. It has a square point, and when I'm coming down the front of my cheek (near my mouth) the corner is grabbing the back of my cheek (nearer to my sideburns). Had a styptic pencil on hand though, so it's unnoticable. I once again did my whole face, but took my time and paid close attention to everything. I can honestly say that other than my chin (which I spent a lot of time trying to figure out), this shave was as good as any quick shave with my cartridge shaver. On my dominant side, upper cheek (where my whiskers are pretty thin anyway), I actually got BBS... only about 2 square inches, but I got pretty pumped about that. The chin is done well enough for me to be willing to wear it, although it's a bit scruffier than I'd prefer. The most interesting thing is that I think I do a much better job (comfort, effectiveness, etc.) when I go ATG in most places than WTG. Weird. But when I was done, I felt like the whole deal was good enough and didn't need to clean up with the cartridge.

Seriously looking forward to my next shave! It may be tonight, may wait until tomorrow... we shall see.

The only weird thing for me is razor burn... I don't notice anything while shaving - it isn't uncomfortable (or if it is, I stop, figure out what I'm doing wrong, and fix it), and there's no discomfort when finished... but about 20 minutes later it started to burn a bit. After shaving I used both a bit of witch hazel and an after shave lotion. A bit of burn putting it on, but not bad, and lasted only about 15 seconds. The burn started, like I said, about 20 minutes later, and actually is still a little raw feeling today. Definitely not bad, wouldn't notice it if I hadn't had the burn last night. Any thoughts? Is it the witch hazel?

I think its the amount of pressure the razor is putting on the skin. Ease up, Light Touches.

+1, great advice so far, and Welcome to the forum. It sounds like your doing great...
I can tell you, most of us had to to some clean up, either with a DE, or disposable when we started...but, like the others said, once you get the hang of this, you will get the best shaves possible...You won't be able to keep your hands off your face...!

Stropping....Take your time, be slow and methodical about it, it's not a race, Right now your going for accuracy. Try to get the rhythm down. Speed will come later. Practice with a butter knife, or what you can. You can even use an old leather belt to practice on. Door knobs make great strop hangers...I have a walk in closet with those metal rack shelves, I have a rack I hang my strops off, that's the perfect hight, about waist high...

Shaving, Sounds like your doing great. It won't be long before your getting really good shaves, and will be on here asking where you can buy J nats or Eschers...or something...
This stuff is very addictive...Pay attention to your angle, and make sure your not pressing to hard, that will lead to irritation. Make sure your stretching your skin properly. Check out Mantic59 on youtube. He has awesome videos on everything from lather building to shaving...He's very entertaining...

(From what I've read, you may have been pressing the razor to hard to your skin last night by the burn your describing...let the razor do the work, just guide it, don't press it. Your still going to have stubble areas until you get it down....)

Nicks/Cuts...Will happen..styptic pencils and alum are great. When you done bleeding, apply a small amound of some kind of anitbiotic ointment. It will help prevent scarring and speed healing, then apply aftershave balm...
Good after shave balms go a long way to relieve burn...
Speick Intensiv after shave balm is great.....

Pm me if you need any help....

Rich

Originally Posted by zib

+1, great advice so far, and Welcome to the forum. It sounds like your doing great...
I can tell you, most of us had to to some clean up, either with a DE, or disposable when we started...but, like the others said, once you get the hang of this, you will get the best shaves possible...You won't be able to keep your hands off your face...!

Stropping....Take your time, be slow and methodical about it, it's not a race, Right now your going for accuracy. Try to get the rhythm down. Speed will come later. Practice with a butter knife, or what you can. You can even use an old leather belt to practice on. Door knobs make great strop hangers...I have a walk in closet with those metal rack shelves, I have a rack I hang my strops off, that's the perfect hight, about waist high...

Shaving, Sounds like your doing great. It won't be long before your getting really good shaves, and will be on here asking where you can buy J nats or Eschers...or something...
This stuff is very addictive...Pay attention to your angle, and make sure your not pressing to hard, that will lead to irritation. Make sure your stretching your skin properly. Check out Mantic59 on youtube. He has awesome videos on everything from lather building to shaving...He's very entertaining...

(From what I've read, you may have been pressing the razor to hard to your skin last night by the burn your describing...let the razor do the work, just guide it, don't press it. Your still going to have stubble areas until you get it down....)

Nicks/Cuts...Will happen..styptic pencils and alum are great. When you done bleeding, apply a small amound of some kind of anitbiotic ointment. It will help prevent scarring and speed healing, then apply aftershave balm...
Good after shave balms go a long way to relieve burn...
Speick Intensiv after shave balm is great.....

Pm me if you need any help....

Rich

As cliche as it sounds, you can read these tips all you want but it all comes down to blade time on the face. I have been reading these tips every day for the last couple months (which are incredible btw) and each time I start the shave, the only things that stick in my mind are the results of prior shaves.


And then one day you hit that BBS and realize that these guys are telling you exactly the right way to do it, you just never knew what the right way was lol.

Congrats. The only advice I give is to follow the advice of the senior members who know what they are doing.

the best adviced anyone gave me was that all the rule of thumb about razor angle are good starting points; however, each razor has it's own unique sweet spot that you can feel. At first I thought that only a master ninja shaver could tell this but I will be damned if on my very first shave I could "feel" the angle that was best for the razor. This angle also changed by direction and part of the face. find this spot and keep it in the zone and you'll do great. Oh yea, and the pressure should be so light its as though you are trying to take off the lather without touching the face....or like you're tickling yourself with a feather...I mean....liiiiiiight.

I'm a newb too so unlike the other posters don't PM me with any questions as we'll both fall off a cliff.