Thread: First full shave/NOT SO GOOD!!!

Thanks to all that answered my post! Going to start all over again and take it slow till I get comfortable with each and every part of my face. Starting with WTG, then going to switch to XTG for each area then on to ATG for each area. This time nice and SLOW!!!!!! Again Thank you all!!

Originally Posted by jaybirdsdu

I'm trying to not be discouraged! Just thought it was going good!! I'm going to start from the beginng again and take it slow!!!!

Sometimes we get the worst shaves when we think things are going good and don't pay as much attention. For myself I tend to nick myself, give myself razor burn, or mess up lines on my goatee or sideburns when I think that I have got things down and get a little complacent. Everyone has good and bad days. Just as you get more experienced you haev more good than bad.

Yup. nice and slow, with a sharp razor and good stropping technique.

You're not going to get good shaves for a while, frankly. there are the odd cases, but so far as i can tell first shaves rarely live up toset expectations. it's gonna be rough for a while, but like most you'll se a steady improvement. that's what makes it fun, frankly.

My $.02 as a fellow beginner is to get really acute with the angles. avoid the chin and sides of the neck for now, as well as upper lip. managing angles in those areas is difficult, and there's no sense in agrivating the skin there.

Also, however hard it may be, you should give your face a good break in-between shaves. I realized this early on, as razor burn, weepers, and cuts take longer to heal than they appear. so while your technique may be improving, you skin will still flare up giving you bad feedback on your technique.

You'll get to know your styptic pencil well, and likely dull your razor. just something to forsee.

Also, i might suggest a dovo shavette as a backup. My uncle actually just got me one, as he heard i was shaving with straights. Shave with derby blades is smooth enough, and will always be sharp. You're likely to dull your razor (bad angles, stropping mishaps), and unless you plan on getting into honing (not everyone does), it'd be nice to have a backup.

good luck!

Straight razor shaving -- reclaiming man-time

yes, one more thing - aim for comfort not closeness. if your razor is sharp a single wtg pass will be quite presentable even if it may not be the closest shave ever. closeness will come as your technique improves over the next months.
your face will be very thankful too.

have fun and keep us posted with how it goes.

I must be at least 20 shaves in, and although I seem to have the hang of it, the shaves are nowhere near close enough.

It will come. Well, that's what everybody is telling me!

Ian

It look me almost 9 months to get a shave with a DE that was as smooth as I wanted and without my face looking slapped. I'm not expecting anything less now I've started learning to shave with a straight.

I agree with Startifartifast that the razor is probably not sharp enough. Many sellers will say their blades are shave ready when in fact, they're not even close. I would also add that you may want to try a different soap, as Williams evaporates rapidly. You don't have to spend a fortune. Wal-Mart carries and excellent soap for just a little more than Williams. I'd just like to add my voice to those who urge you to be patient. It does take time to develop proper technique. Good luck. I hope you stick with it.

yes, one more thing - aim for comfort not closeness. if your razor is sharp a single wtg pass will be quite presentable even if it may not be the closest shave ever. closeness will come as your technique improves over the next months.
your face will be very thankful too.

This is great advice! I started straight shaving in December and only did WTG passes on my cheeks at first, then cheek/neck, then cheek/neck/upper & lower lip. Luckily I have a goatee that I have been growing for 3 + years so I don't have to bother with my chin because I can foresee problems there. I have yet to do ATG, and only do XTG where necessary, until I get a solid technique down. My first couple shaves were BRUTAL due to an ebay razor and no honing experience. I visited a hand full of sites including coticule.be to read up on honing on a coticule and took advantage of a their free honing offer. When I got my razor back the difference was night and day in my results!!! My best HHT to date is a 4. I'm not there yet but I'm learning, and tweaking my technique every shave. I don't shave every day so I'm still a ways off. I think If you stick with it you will get there, and I'm hopping that I will also. Also something that helped me was making a map of my beard growth so I know witch way is witch (WTG, XTG, ATG) while my face is lathered.



Wishing you the best of luck,
Louis.

I'm very new to the straight as well (two or 3 weeks in - prob 8-10 shaves?) and it generally seems to be improving every shave. I have bad days (gave myself a nice cut on the chin last week), but then followed that up with a great shave (WTG, XTG, ATG) that was BBS in most places. This is partly due to a change in my stropping technique increasing the keen-ness (is that a word haha?) of my razor, but also improvement in technique. I used the "honing" side of my vintage strop (it just looks to be a slightly more textured leather) prior to the normal side and it was awesome.

I take it real slow though; if I don't have time to take it slow and enjoy it, I don't shave.

I'd look into getting that razor honed as well. Maybe email the vendor and ask if it came professionally honed?

Edit - Also, I never shave more than I'm comfortable. If you can get an OK WTG I would stick with that, and keep working on it. I believe closeness improves as everyone is saying haha... It is for me! Don't worry, relax and enjoy your shave!

Ben

Originally Posted by jaybirdsdu

What could be the reasons? Could I be holding it wrong, not sharp enough, just not my day? Any pointers would be great!!!!

My guess? You're holding the razor wrong and your "angle of attack" is not a consistent 30 degrees. No new straight shaver holds the razor right. I address these problems in this post.

But I say "Courage," my friend! You definitely can do it. Give it more time!