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

• Help!!! Today was my first full shave, and its was not what I expected!! I can still feel stuble and its nots so BBS. And to boot, got a nice cut on my left side of my face now. I had a better shave with a disposable bic!
• I followed the beginers instructions on this site and it was with good results 90% of the time. What could be the reasons? Could I be holding it wrong, not sharp enough, just not my day? Any pointers would be great!!!!

Originally Posted by jaybirdsdu

• Help!!! Today was my first full shave, and its was not what I expected!! I can still feel stuble and its nots so BBS. And to boot, got a nice cut on my left side of my face now. I had a better shave with a disposable bic!
• I followed the beginers instructions on this site and it was with good results 90% of the time. What could be the reasons? Could I be holding it wrong, not sharp enough, just not my day? Any pointers would be great!!!!

I'm only two days ahead of you, but I've found and highlighted the problem within your post. I think you are just expecting too much too quickly. I'm hoping to get to the same level as my DE after around 3 to 6 months.

Couple questions:

1) What razor are you using?
2) Where did you buy the razor?
3) Who honed it?
4) What type of prep are you using?
5) Are you using a soap/cream & brush to generate lather?
6) Did you try to do a multipass(WTG/XTG/ATG) shave on your first go?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Couple questions:

1) What razor are you using?
2) Where did you buy the razor?
3) Who honed it?
4) What type of prep are you using?
5) Are you using a soap/cream & brush to generate lather?
6) Did you try to do a multipass(WTG/XTG/ATG) shave on your first go?

1) Its a 5/8 DOVO
2) I got it at "THE ART OF SHAVEING"
3) They told me it was shave ready!!
4) As far as my preps....A nice long hot shower, then a little baby oil.
5) I'm currently useing Williams Mug Shaveing Soap and a good brush
6) yes tried a multipass WTG then XTG that were it got me!

I am guessing this is probably the problem. AOS does not do razor honing.

I have never owned a razor from them though, So I will wait for someone else to comment.

[QUOTE=jaybirdsdu;731357]1) Its a 5/8 DOVO

3) They told me it was shave ready!!
/QUOTE]

Don't be too discouraged. You have to realize that there is a whole technique to shaving with a straight. It's not idiot proof so almost no one will be able to get great shaves immediately without any problems, no matter how careful they are. There is a significant learning curve. We have all experienced this when we started out. For a couple of weeks I thought geeze this isn't really that great. After about a month (probably around 15 full shaves) I started getting really good results. Everyone's learning time is different, and even after you/ve been doing it for a while it's so easy to let your attention slip and cut yourself or give yourself razor burn. Just keep working away at your angles and pressure, etc. and you will improve. Good luck.

The first few shaves are about survival, not success. My first three were horrendous both in terms of cuts and razor burn and in the amount of whiskers left behind.

During the first ten shaves, you will make all the mistakes that we have all made, and they will guide you to better shaves in the future if you keep going and learn from those mistakes. It took me twenty shaves before I was even approaching being competent at it. You just have to keep going and learn from this forum. There's a lot to learn, and it does take time.

Originally Posted by 8BallAce

Don't be too discouraged. You have to realize that there is a whole technique to shaving with a straight. It's not idiot proof so almost no one will be able to get great shaves immediately without any problems, no matter how careful they are. There is a significant learning curve.

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!!!!

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