Geek's first shave!

Ok...I almost have all my stuff...I think I still need an alum block and a hone as my blades have a few mini nicks....and I can feel a slight tug...I bought a travel pack from the AOS store this weekend in Sandlewood....so here's just some thoughts as I'm shaving.....

I need more practice with the strop...that is for sure! At first I was nervous to start my first stroke and sure enough I nicked myself! Not a major bleeder but first blood...just wiped it clean and continued on....I found that if the full body of the blade touched my face it would stick....so I knew my angle was too close? Also I found that the AOS shaving cream dried pretty quick (and I'm slow)...but all I did was add a little water to my brush and reapplied....once i got past the first nick it was all go! Did both cheeks...my neck...and my upper lower lip....I only did WTG not ATG as this was my first shave....the only sensitive area I feel right now is the upper lip....dang the neck is tricky as I can't see to see what the heck i'm doing looking up...and how in the heck can you stretch your face when you shave when the shaving cream is slippery? Well I love the shave! It's not BBS yet...but I'll get there with some patience....

thoughts? advice? I know I should read up more...but I'm more of a hands on type of learner...

Sounds like things are moving along for you. If your cream is drying too fast, then likely you're not adding enough water during the lathering process. Start w/ an almond sized amount of cream in your bowl or mug. Begin whipping with your brush that's had all the excess water shaken out. Add a few drops of water at a time until your cream resembles soft whipped cream. You should be able to form small soft peaks w/ it. I've used AOS as part of my rotation, even before I got into SR shaving and it's always served me well.

Once you're comfortable w/ WTG, you'll want to next move to XTG (across the grain). Don't immediately jump to ATG. There are some areas that you will never go ATG. For me, it's the moustache area. It's just too sensitive.

Just take your time. Read and practice. Things WILL get better.

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Originally Posted by geekinsyde

Ok... a hone as my blades have a few mini nicks
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Any nicks in the blade no matter how small I would be concerned about. There are so many new things at first. Trust me that they will all become natural after time.

IMO it is not wise to hone your own when still learning. You do not know what a smooth and sharp blade should feel like or work

Top notch honing services are available in the classifieds at very reasonable fees. It just doesn't make sense not starting with a known good standard

As far as stretching, start at side burn holding hair area, and work your down the face and over. You'll then stretch from shaved areas that's removed from soap

Under chin, or lower areas of face you can hold skin at neck or general collar bone area. Tilt head up and contort face into funny expressions to stretch

Staying away from atg until comfortable is good. Your on the right track. Take time learning. Once you got it, you'll have the skill forever. Enjoy the process

Congrats on the first go! All good advice given! It only gets better from here!

Awesome! I am eagerly awaiting my razors so I can join the first timers club!

Great job!

**Update** Day 2 of shaving!

Picked up a hone from some 2nd hand store today...have no idea what grit...but one is very fine and one is a heavier grit....anyhoos....I watched some vids on honing... and I watched some vids on stroping....wow...didn't expect to blow 3 hours doing this...but I managed to get all the nicks off my blades (woohoo!) and if feels a gazillion times sharper and smoother across the skin!! Now that I've done this much...I'm going to wait on a good blade that's been professionally honed so i can tell the difference...I couldn't help it....like I said I'm a go getter! I jump right in....and I didn't think I could feel the difference from stropping but man I really do!

I tried a different route this time on shaving...I picked up a 2 dollar soap puck and some bay rum aftershave from walgreens...the soap puck I need a little work on getting the lather good...last time I lathered...too thick....this time was just a tad too thin....had some glide but I had to reapply alot....but went through shaving all without any nicks...and was quicker this time with a sharp blade! and not afraid...still I can't seem to get my neck area very well...I think I need eyes under my nose or something!

Ok...so my other questions are...
Scents...my wife likes cool water cologne....so far she hates the smell of sandelwood and the bay rum.... :o( Anyone know of anything close to that cool water smell? My wife would be more appreciative to my new lifestyle of shaving...all in all I love it! Man I just can't wait to shave tomorrow again!!

Not certain if cool water is a brand or style, but Aqua Velva is what i vision that as, if looking for something to grab at a store. Just don't tell here that's it until she says she likes it, lol. Being a popular mass marketed product, sometimes the name is the butt of jokes.

Many more choices online, if willing to wait.

Sounds like your on the way. You might try Proraso cream and aftershave, it's the exact opposite of Sandalwood and Bay Rum. Hang in there and welcome to the club.

**UPDATE** Day 3
Well last night was able to shave 2x without any issues...I skipped the aftershave last balm last night and boy can I tell the difference...I won't do that again....Only one question I have is - Is there a picture on here that shows what proper lather should look like? I can't seem to get the right combo?

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Originally Posted by geekinsyde

**UPDATE** Day 3
Well last night was able to shave 2x without any issues...I skipped the aftershave last balm last night and boy can I tell the difference...I won't do that again....Only one question I have is - Is there a picture on here that shows what proper lather should look like? I can't seem to get the right combo?

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I tried to find something on google images. Who knew google images is becoming not safe for work ... anyway, a good lather should be thick and dense with a very small bubble structure....

Maybe you just want to spend half an hour or so making practice lathers.... Experiment with a bunch of different combos.

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Originally Posted by geekinsyde

Is there a picture on here that shows what proper lather should look like? I can't seem to get the right combo?

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Originally Posted by thecornerbooth

Who knew google images is becoming not safe for work ... anyway, a good lather should be thick and dense with a very small bubble structure....

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I've watched several vids on lathering, but am having trouble myself. I used a pre-shave oil the first couple times I used the brush and think that might have messed things up. I'm pretty sure I have the same soap (Van Der Hagan), and was wondering if the problem was that it was so cheap, but then I found a thread here talking about the effect shave oils have on brushes. Now my brush is soaking in some dawn to break up the oils. Hopefully it will lather better.

Does anybody know if a cream lather looks different than a soap lather?

After the first few days of using almond oil on my face, I stopped being able to get a decent lather, and decided it must be oil buildup in the brush and on my face. So, I shampooed the brush and the next lather was decent again. Of course, a couple of days later the oil again prevented a decent lather. So I had to shampoo the brush again. Too much oil definitely inhibits lather building.

My recommendation, though, if you want to wash the brush, is to use something you might use on your own hair. Besides concerns over reactions to chemicals and scents in other soaps, remember that the hair in your brush is natural and that means it needs similar care to your own hair.

You might also want to forego using the oils for a few days, until you get lathering down. Once you can get a good lather, then the oil inhibiting your lather building will be a sign to shampoo your brush, and you will not be concerned that you are doing something wrong.

All lather, I would guess, should look pretty much the same. Thick enough to build peaks, with very small bubbles. Not runny and doesn't dry too quickly. Whether a cream or a soap, swirling picks up and distributes throughout the bristles and across the surface, and a pumping motion aerates. Start with only a little water in your brush and add a little if needed. Follow the vids on here and you'll get it in no time at all.