Thread: Another newbie's first shave attempt

Alrighty! I received my restored "CU Day" razor in the mail from whippeddog.com today, (FREAKING SHARP!) and tried straight razoring for the very first time. (at age 48!)

I have chops (long sideburns) right now, so I needed to trim a week's growth from my upper cheeks, chin, the areas around my mouth, as well as my entire neck.

I used a hot washcloth on my chin, smeared on some cream, and tried it out. With Larry (whipped-dog) and others' advice, I laid the blade flattish and tried a few beard-shortening strokes. Kinda worked. Then I enbravened a little and angled the blade a bit more. Hmmm...not bad. I stopped without shaving the knob of my chin - too chicken to try that yet.

Then prepped and creamed upper cheeks. Totally sweet. Then I went for the smoother part of the moustache area. A little more delicate, but I had success there as well. I did NOT go for the center groove between nose and upper lip (philtrim).

I also bailed on the whole neck, which seems like a place where a quick mistake could literally kill me. I finished up with my (hopefully last ever) disposable razor.

Questions:
How DO you shave the philtrim (center groove between nose and upper lip)? Just press harder to flatten it?
How about the neck? Downward first, I assume?

Anyway - I like it.

First off welcome and congrats on your first shave you are moving in a good direction.

Now the upper lip DO NOT PRESS HARD!!!! this would end bad. You should try to stretch the skin to get it flat. I just pull the lip over my top teeth using the lip muscles. It's hard to explain how to do that. You may also try sticking you tongue in between you upper lip and teeth. You should be able to stretch the lip enough to get it flat.

The neck you should start with down strokes for sure unless your hair grows up on your neck. You will soon learn which direction the hair on you face grows and find out it's not always the way it seems. Just for now work on WTG passes. WTG= With the Grain

Good luck and enjoy

Welcome aboard!
Regarding your first question, I flatten the area by stretching and then shave w/ very short strokes (fractions of an inch). As far as your neck goes, the first thing you want to do is determine the growth pattern of your beard (something your should really do for your entire face as well). This way you know when you're shaving WTG or XTG. For example, the first couple of inches at the bottom of my neck grows up and to the right. The rest of it grows from left to right. Shaving downward on the first pass wouldn't be something I would want to do. For me that's more of an XTG pass.

I, too, am in my mid 40's and just got started in the SR shaving game about 2 months ago. Never too old to learn and enjoy. Welcome to your new obsession!!

Originally Posted by steveyo

Alrighty! I received my restored "CU Day" razor in the mail from whippeddog.com today, (FREAKING SHARP!) and tried straight razoring for the very first time. (at age 48!)

I have chops (long sideburns) right now, so I needed to trim a week's growth from my upper cheeks, chin, the areas around my mouth, as well as my entire neck.

I used a hot washcloth on my chin, smeared on some cream, and tried it out. With Larry (whipped-dog) and others' advice, I laid the blade flattish and tried a few beard-shortening strokes. Kinda worked. Then I enbravened a little and angled the blade a bit more. Hmmm...not bad. I stopped without shaving the knob of my chin - too chicken to try that yet.

Then prepped and creamed upper cheeks. Totally sweet. Then I went for the smoother part of the moustache area. A little more delicate, but I had success there as well. I did NOT go for the center groove between nose and upper lip (philtrim).

I also bailed on the whole neck, which seems like a place where a quick mistake could literally kill me. I finished up with my (hopefully last ever) disposable razor.

Questions:
How DO you shave the philtrim (center groove between nose and upper lip)? Just press harder to flatten it?
How about the neck? Downward first, I assume?

Anyway - I like it.

Congratulations with your first shave.
I am not sure why you have gotten such a advice -try to shave blade flat to your face first?
This will be ok if honer has taped your blade at least with 3 layer of electric tape.
then angle changes so much you will end up using straight razor almost flat.
if it is really flat your face that is really dangerous. what happen is you will have 2 surfaces contact with your face spine and edge. Wet resistance will bother you too much and you will end up skip shaving or cutting your face.
Try this instead.
When you use your straight razor try make small strokes in different angles until you will find best cutting angle.
then use that angle for that blade.
Next question?
Always make your first stroke WTG,
TRY avoid shaving AGT.
HOPE THIS HELPS.

Grow a Moustache....!

Welcome Steveyo and congradulations on your first shave. I wanted to share something with you. I'm only about one month ahead of you so take this with a grain of salt. On my first shave I was nervous about my neck as well and did cut my cheeks somewhat, but when I got to my neck something happened. I started the down stroke and heard the hair pop off. For some reason this relaxed me and I started noticing the angle and pressure a bit more. I actually put more pressure on the blade on my neck, but had a much better angle and DID NOT CUT MYSELF. I think this relaxed me even more and I felt the tension leave. My neck was much easier to shave than my cheek, at least WTG. It took me several days before I could try XTG or ATG on my neck, but at least for me it was much easier than the rest of my shave. Relax and try it, you may be in for a surprise.

I understand the concept of flat blades for extensive stubble, but like Bud, can't say the I would recommend it.

But, you did really well. That is a lot of stubble to cut down. The neck is easier than you might imagine, except it's hard to shave really close.

I don't think you were "chicken" to skip the chin area. The term I would use is "smart", perhaps reaching near "brilliant". But, that's just me.

I rarely shave my upper lip with a straight, but when I do I contort my upper lip to a position below my lower lip. Kinda flattening it out.

Well done!!!

Originally Posted by 1sgtscot

...when I got to my neck something happened. I started the down stroke and heard the hair pop off. For some reason this relaxed me and I started noticing the angle and pressure a bit more. I actually put more pressure on the blade on my neck, but had a much better angle and DID NOT CUT MYSELF. ...Relax and try it, you may be in for a surprise.

Try it? OK I will!

Oh yeah - a pic:

I went for the neck, too. A little burn on the left side. A couple "after" pics:

On your left? Did you shave with only one hand? Or did you switch. That could lead to razor burn.