First shave and results.

So I got back my razors from honing today but unfortunately I still havn't received my gear from US, should be arriving at the end of this week.
But I went to the locale store and bought a Palmolive soap stick so I could try it out and I must say the for a first shave the result was quite bad. :(

There are three reasons for that:

1 - Razor not nearly sharp enough. Felt like using an worn out M3 blade or something. The reason for this is probably that we agreed that he should make one super sharp and the rest not so much to prevent cutting myself to badly. I will try the super sharp one next time.

2 - The Soap. Or rather the user behind the soap. :S I couldn't get a good enough lather so the razor didn't ran very smoothly across the skin. I will either wait until my soap arrives from the state or try my other brush.

3 - Technique. First time so the technique was none existent, but I just nicked myself two times when I wasn't paying attention to where my face was in relation to my razor. :D

But even with my bad experience I loved the overall procedure behind straight razor shaving and will keep practice honing and stropping (Once my hones and strop arrives), lathering and shaving.

Regards,
Magnus

Good afternoon,
I would recommend trying some pre-shave oil if you would like a nice smooth shave. I noticed a big difference when I purchased this a few months ago.
I am not sure who honed your razors, but even a honed razor that was purposefully not made "death sharp" should provide a nice clean shave.


I hope this helps!


Michael

Hi PMH

Just a small note, bad technique can and will mimick an unhoned razor, so it may well be a fine razor, and your technique needs tidying up. As for the shave stick, I found if you mush it good into the brush to get the brush all sudsy you can make a fairly good lather in a small cup or bowl.

Geek

Yes, no doubt I had a really bad technique shaving. That is something that will require a lot of practicing from my side.

I just honed a razor myself that pass the HHT so I will try that one tomorrow and see how it feels. I'm pretty sure I got the angle wrong etc so I will keep testing.

Having read many similar such posts, and despite still being in single-digit shaving counts as well, I have to agree that it is unlikely the razor isn't sharp enough.

First time out, it seems every newbie thinks their razor isn't sharp enough. I didn't bother to reiterate the same claim, as I've seen it written and proved false many times before. However, even though I'm still a newbie, it "feels like" the razor is getting sharper with every shave. Given my newbie status, the razor is probably getting dull very quickly due to poor stropping technique and most certainly not getting sharper. So the only conclusion is that my shaving technique is improving already.

Don't discount the razor before you've got a dozen shaves under your belt (not literally "under your belt", you understand).

I had my second shave today, this time with the soap I ordered and a razor I have been honing and this time the experience was GREAT!

Not the best shave I have had in any way but the razor ran pretty smoothly and I didn't nick myself. My technique is still really, really bad but I will keep practicing and continue with just shaving my right side burns until I feel comfortable enough to move on.

Regards,
Magnus

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PMH

I had my second shave today, this time with the soap I ordered and a razor I have been honing and this time the experience was GREAT!

Not the best shave I have had in any way but the razor ran pretty smoothly and I didn't nick myself. My technique is still really, really bad but I will keep practicing and continue with just shaving my right side burns until I feel comfortable enough to move on.

Regards,
Magnus

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They will get better!! Angle and pressure are everything. Keep the pressure light and the angle low

I started str8 razors about a month ago and have learned something with each shave. I was on my own for the first three weeks and didn't know this site existed. After reading what the more experienced shavers have posted, my shaves are getting better.

Before reading these posts, I wasn't consistant in my razor angle and was using to much pressure. In the past I shaved with electric razors and safety razors which required a lot of pressure to get a good shave. I am now working on becoming consistant with the angle and letting the razor glide across my skin. Since I quit using so much pressure I have stop getting cuts, razor burns and nicks.

If it wasn't for the advice I have read in these postings...it would have probably would have taken me another couple months to learn these things. Good luck...

I did my first full shave today. Two days ago I did a short trial on my first hone job. The result told me I needed one step finer grit.

Today however I used a quality lotion and then shave soap (Van DerHaven) took quite a bit of time and not quite the smoothest shave ever but the results are very smooth and quite satisfying. Followed with an alcohol splash and Gold Bond medicated lotion. Top flite. I Got some Nivea ASB today along with some Witch Hazel.

Oh yeah only one spot of razor burn.

Never go back?
Jeff

Keep at it! Things will improve. Good luck.

So I had my third shave yesterday and I must say that it was the most comfortable shave I've had so far.
This time I really took my time and stopped as soon as i felt any discomfort or tugging. I changed the angle or pulled my skin harder and continued when it felt right. This time I also shaved the whole right side of my face WTG and for the most part it felt completely natural.

I really love the soap I bought. (Taylor of Old Bond Street - Sandalwood) It gives a rich and full lathe without much effort and smells great. I will never be going back to electrical razors or safety razors again! :)

Great news. I'm a bit envious TBH. The TOBS sandlewood soap was the first soap/cream that I ever got (when I started with a DE). I spent a year on-and-off (mostly off) trying to get it to produce an acceptable lather. I recently gave it away because I just couldn't use it.

But I do live in London (UK), and the Thames water is very hard, so I put it down to that.

Ok.
We have an extremely soft water where I live (1,8 °dH) so maybe that is why it works so well for me.

Regards,
Magnus