In Pain!

To begin, Hello my name is Joshua and I am 18 years old. For my Chanukkah gift my mother got me a straight razor that I've been asking for, for the past few months now. I have read and watched as many videos and posts and instructions on it as one possibly could.

Today I used my straight razor for the first time, for some information I have a DOVO Solingen blade and it is very sharp. I started with the top of my face by the side burns and I was happy with it in the beginning, soon though when I reached my chin line I had some difficulty. I began with WTG, then XTG, and finally ATG. And my cheek and under my neck is very smooth and I am happy with it, but the real problem is my chin, my hair there is very thick and I have a very distinguished chin and jaw line, any recommendations?!

-Joshua

start slowly - probably best is to shave the easy flat area (sideburns/cheeks) and slowly expand it as you gather experience
aim for comfort not closeness

+1 on going slow

Don't try to do it all at once. Re-watch the videos if you need to.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Oh yeah and Welcome

First thing, welcome to the club!

As Gugi said. I usuallly recommend learning WTG for the first few shaves for sure.

You didn't mention if the razor was shave-ready, i.e.: honed by a pro. Second, are you using a brush & shave soap after a shower? Have you seen lynn's video?

The learning curve is around a month for most. First few times you will want to shave wtg and maybe even finish up with your disposeable. Give your face time to heal up, shave only every other or even third day for the first few times as well. The most important thing I can mention while shaving with a straight is little to NO pressure, and attention to blade angle. The lower the spine is to your face, the less likely you are to cut and/or scrape your face. Other than that, it's a learning curve. You will get it if you keep at it. If you can find a straight user around you would also be a benifit...
Scott

Like the others have said, take it slow and give it time. For what it's worth i've been shaving with a straight for 2yrs and my chin is still the most difficult and never BBS everytime...but when it does come together it's a great feeling :)

Welcome to SRP jtepper.
The chin area is the hardest for many men. I would not go ATG on the chin area. Go WTG and as you get better moving the str8 around on your face go XTG on your chin. Everybody's face is different.
It's important to stretch the skin tight. I either wrap a piece of paper towel around my left index finger or use alum on both hands. Alum helps to grip the razor too. I start my XTG motion right about where you would have a goatee. Little buffing / chipping motions towards the center of the chin.
Always keep the spine or back of the blade down flat against your skin and then adjust to cut whiskers. GO slow like the guys said. As you get better you'll feel frisky and nick yourself. I know I did. It's about the angle. Have fun.
MIke:)

First of all I want to join with the others and say welcome to SRP! It sounds as if you are off to a good start and I want to encourage you in your new endeavor. Heres my two cents worth in helping you to tackle the chin. Picture the contours of your chin as a series of inter-connected planes, shave those planes individually. Be sure to adjust not only your stroke but your angles as well. It will take a good number of smaller strokes to conquer the contours of the chin in comparison to the sweeping strokes that can be made along the jawline, cheeks and neck. Have fun!

Sorry, but yes it was honed by a pro and i stropped it right there with him, he taught me how to do it and everything, and he said it was shave ready. I did shower before the shave and had a nice lather up, rubbed that into my beard, then took a hot wet towel to my face and let the pores open up and soften the hair, then reaplied the lather, then shaved.

Thank you all for the information and the welcomes!

Can't wait to really get into the groove here:)

Welcome to the club. As everyone said, go slow. Patience will pay off with minimal blood loss and a lifetime of close, comfortable shaves.

+1 on everything that has been said and welcome to SRP.

It's really great to see other younger guys getting into straights. You are now miles beyond our peers who drag plastic across their faces!

As others have said, it's all about practice and patience. Straight shaving is like playing an instrument - it takes a finesse that is only obtained with time. Took me a month to get decent shaves, two months to actually feel like I might know what I am doing, and about four-five to think I may actually be able to tell people that I truly shave with a str8 without them telling me my face looked like a badger attacked it. :)

Angle and pressure (as in zero pressure) are key. JimmyHAD has a great saying in his signature that really helped me with my grip. Keep at it and you will pick up "the touch" that works for you. You will achieve shaving nirvana!

Ditto all the previous advise. Straight shaving is so reliant on technique that the beginner is never going to get the beautifully smooth shave that an experienced straight shaver will get.

Just keep your focus on maintaining proper angle, keeping your skin nice and tight, and keeping the touch very very light. You will be getting BBS before you know it.

Oh, and I would also skip ATG for awhile. Your face needs to adjust to the straight as well, so go WTG for the first few weeks and your face will thank you for it.

Welcome Joshua,
I'm new like you, except a lot older. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have on this web site. These guys are really experienced and some of the most helpful people I've encountered anywhere. I'm too new to offer you any advice except keep the skin tight, go slow and use little or no pressure and let the blade do the work. Keep it up.

I always had a hard time in the chin area, cuts, redness and bumps from ingrown hairs. Here's the solution.....grow a mustache and goatee like I did.:)

All kidding aside. That was always a problem area with a safety, DE or straight. I grew a goatee about 16 years ago and have never shaved there since.

Welcome to the club,i had the same xperience,just be 'gentle' is the way.

Welcome to the group and take it nice and slow. I just WISH I started so young. You have a long time to enjoy this wonderful way to shave. Good luck and stick with it.

Joshua,

Welcome to SRP! As others have said, it's great to see young men like you learning to shave with a straight. I wish I had as many years of straight shaving in front of me as you do.

I had a goatee for the first several months that I learned to straight shave. When I decided to shave the goat, I discovered a whole new series of challenges. It's all about learning the intricacies of your face and peculiarities of your facial hair growth patterns. Be patient and enjoy the ride.

Greg

Welcome to SRP. Make haste slowly.

Like many others have posted start slow. The best advise I have read was that when you start to feel uncomfortable retreat and finish the shave with your old way of shaving. I am a little over a month into shaving and as my shaves continued to not go to bad I finally moved to my chin. Just take your time the chin is the hardest spot since the hair is so thick, it will come if you keep trying.

Take it slow man! start with only WTG passes. Your face will take a while to get use to a straight razor shave. Spend some time studying how your hair grows and make sure to properly prepare your beard too. (good lather) I personally use the cold water method and find it very nice for my sensitive skin.

JF