Thread: Rough shave

I am new to straight razor shaving. I have been practicing with a magic razor (the kind that uses cut in half double edge blades) and it is rather uncomfortable. I was wondering if i should expect the shaves to get significantly more comfortable as my technique improves or is it always going to be less comfortable that shaving with a fusion.

Thanks
Matt

Hi Matt, welcome to SRP!

Using a straight razor is an art that takes time and patience to master, but it is soooooooo worth it! I will be frustrating at first (I know I was!) but with practice you will keep getting better and find "the touch" that works for you. Play with blade angle, keep the pressure light (as in none at all) and remember to lather up again if you want to take the razor there. I would highly recommend reading Lynn's stickies - they have a lot of good information - and check out youtube videos too. Jockeys41 has a good series.

Keep with it, it DOES get better. You will be in shaving Nirvana before you know it!

Thanks for the information. I have been doing a lot of reading on the site and have learned quite a bit. I think part of my problem is i could not help but shave my entire face despite being told to start with only my side burns.

Thanks
Matt

Being anxious is something we are all guilty of. On my first straight razor shave, I ended up doing everything except my goatee. I also got a rough razor burn my first time, but now (after 9 shaves), I can get it razor burn free!

There is a reason why 99% of all straight razor shavers NEVER go back to anything else. I guarantee that once you get the hang of it, and when the shaves get gradually smoother, you will see why so many of us are converts for life!

Welcome to the forums!

Hi Matt, and welcome to SRP.

Your shaves will keep getting better with each one. One of the great things is reflecting and remembering your shaves. Remember what was comfortable and what was not. Continue to do the comfortable things, and discontinue the uncomfortable ones. By doing so, you'll be able to mentally document your journey.

Good luck. I'm looking forward to some posts after shaves 20, 30 and 40.

It gets better. My first few shaves were a bloody mess :-P Keep practicing technique and in no time you'll find straight shaving more comfortable than a fusion.

Originally Posted by Maxi

Continue to do the comfortable things, and discontinue the uncomfortable ones.

I want to +1 that comment! I think many of us beginners ignore what our bodies are saying, and try to reproduce what we saw someone else doing because it works for them. However, they may have different directions of hair growth, or they may be holding the blade at an angle that works for them but NOT for you.

I have found that sometimes, a higher angle worked better when originally, I thought a lower one would (because of something I saw on a You Tube video from a pro). So do what's comfortable. If you start to feel like it's pulling too much, stop. Try a different direction, lighten your pressure, or adjust the angle (bring it closer or further from your face). Little by little, you begin to develop a pattern custom made FOR YOU and your face. You will know how to approach the neck, the chin, the mustache, etc. that feels the most comfortable for you!

Keep at it and listen to the advice above.

Straight shaving is a skill and an art and it takes time to master. So many components to learning straight shaving completely it can get a bit frustrating in the beginning.
Between honing, stroping, face prep, lather building and a 3 pass shave its a lot of things to master. As they said, take it slow and enjoy what you are doing. Keep it up!!
I have my 3rd straight shave today. I have not tried my upper lip or chin yet as I am still getting used to holding the straight. Check out Jeffs first shave video thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...r-shaving.html

and here is mine for humors sake! http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...-evidence.html

All the help has been great. its nice to use a forum that involves more than just childish arguing over pointless facts. I have now shaved three times with the magic blade and it is getting better. Still not comfortable or smooth but i do seem to get much less razor burn with the straight than with the fusion. Im looking forward to getting my shumate back from honing so i can try my hand at a real straight.

Since you are using a disposable the technique will be a little different since those are very unforgiving razors and a touch too much pressure or bad angle and you will feel it. It will also depend on what brand of blades you are using. Some are worse than others and some are just plain bad. However, in general like with a straight you should be able to get a good result from it with the only caveat being the brand of blades you use.