B to B Tip

"Beginner to Beginner" Tip

I'm relatively new to SR shaving, but I wanted to pass along a tip that helped me. When I first started, I could get an OK shave but nothing near a BBS - I always left micro stubble on my face. This made subsequent shaves a bit harder and I got very frustrated very fast. Out of frustration one day I quit altogether and whipped out my Shavette and disposable twinblade (heresy!) and did my routine as I've done for years. To my surprise, the shave the next day was SOOO much easier. So my advice is to end each shave in full BBS using your tool of choice. May seem obvious but it really helped me avoid frustration in the beginning. Having to mow down one day's growth at most each day keep me in the game and eventually to develop my technique to a point where I no longer need the post shave clean up. Hope this helps my fellow newbies. Stay in game. Keep sharp.

I fully agree...

Even though I was able to get BBS cheeks, and close to it on the neck, I am still having problems with my jawline. And while I keep plugging away at it (and it is getting better and better), I still pull out a Bic to touch up that area of my face each time I shave.

Great advice Diyguy.

One of the biggest problems rookies have is the idea that from your first straight shave you need to do it all with the straight and scrape away until either you have massive skin burn or you get BBS.

You start slow with easy strokes and build on from there as your skill increases. Using another tool to complete the shave is highly recommended in the beginning stages.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

One of the biggest problems rookies have is the idea that from your first straight shave you need to do it all with the straight and scrape away until either you have massive skin burn or you get BBS.

You start slow with easy strokes and build on from there as your skill increases. Using another tool to complete the shave is highly recommended in the beginning stages.

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There was another piece of advice for beginners that I came across on here. It was to start slow, on just one cheek, and go from there until you start to feel uncomfortable. And not to spend more then 30 minutes on your first shave. For some the learning curve is very short, and for others it takes a little while. For me it just came natural and I was very comfortable doing the whole face 3 times.

Like Bigspndur says...slow and easy and use what you need to get the job done when first starting out.No rush to put on the superman cape as it all comes eventually .:)

I have ordered some straight razors but have yet to shave with one.
I have been shaving with a DE for a month or longer getting great shaves.
I think its very sound advice. Each shave I will get good practice with the straight razor, then clean up with the DE. Shaving more and more each time with the straight until I can do it 100%

I plan to stay below the frustration line and most of all just enjoy the process.

Thanks for posting!

When I was learning, and even today, I enjoy doing a single initial pass with a DE and then getting really close with my straight razor.

This way I don't have to stress about the shave and I can focus on learning how to get a BBS shave with the least amount of effort, only going with the grain, or any other straight shaving characteristic I'm interested in achieving. With the exception of heavy beard removal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

One of the biggest problems rookies have is the idea that from your first straight shave you need to do it all with the straight and scrape away until either you have massive skin burn or you get BBS.

You start slow with easy strokes and build on from there as your skill increases. Using another tool to complete the shave is highly recommended in the beginning stages.

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Yep, that was me when I started out, but I wised up quickly.

Pabster