Thread: 1st/ 2nd shave......

1st/ 2nd shave... with a DE. I know you all where hoping for a post about someones first straight shave, but alas funds are limited and a DE was a more cost effective/ "safer" place to start and get used to the feel of cold steel against my skin.
To start I'm shaving with a Merkur 33C with Merkur super blades, and Wilkinson Sword soap. All in all I think I'm doing ok both times I've gone with two WTG passes and although the shave seemed close the night of by morning I seemed to have more growth than I was used to shaving with a cartridge razor. Also both shaves I got three nicks and both times in more or less the same spots. Specifically just below my jaw line where it transitions into neck, is there any particular trick to shaving this area or is more of playing around until I get the angle right? I don't know if it helps I have been doing the neck/ transition area S to N and now that I'm sitting here rubbing my chin I'm realizing to shave truly WTG I would have to be going more South by South West to North by North East
Any help would be much appreciated and I do promise to make a real 1st shave post probably along with a video when I finally get a straight.

Cheers
-Omid

As I recall from my DE days it is very similar to shaving that area with a straight in that you need to develop skill in maintaining the correct angle as you go over that rounded jaw line area. Sounds like maybe you are rounding the jawline and then the pressure increases as you transition to the neck at the same time the angle changes and the blade digs in a bit. Focus on very light to no pressure (just the weight of the razor) and maintaining the angle. Hope this helps. I'm sure some folks with more recent DE experience will be along shortly with other thoughts.

I've recently had success on the chin and jawline with both straights and DEs by not allowing them to be distinct areas and shaving them as I go from cheek to neck and ATG from neck to cheek. That is, I don't stop at the end of the cheek or at the jawline on the way up ATG. The secret is to use no pressure at all, just the weight of the razor itself (which in the case of the Merkur is plenty), and re-angle the razor as you round the chin and jawline. I used to stop at the bottom of the cheek and at the top of the neck, then I realized that I was actually 'creating' trouble areas that otherwise wouldn't exist. Lately, I've gotten in the habit of using much longer strokes and going from the sideburn area all the way through the neck, and, on ATG strokes, from the bottom of the neck to the top of the cheek. It takes some practice and some improvement in technique, but if done patiently and carefully tames the troublesome jawline and chin areas. I would caution that this is not something that can be done well without lots of practice, but it works well and can also make shaves go more quickly. Good luck!

thanks for all your input I'm sure it will prove tremendously valuable in the future and I will be sure to post a update in the next couple of weeks to tell you how my shaves have been going

cheers
-Omid

Practice skin stretching . You would be surprised how far above the jawline you can pull the skin underneath (at least an inch for me). Proper skin stretching is the art of shaving, be it cartridge, DE or straight. My shaves improved dramatically once I mapped the hair growth and began stretching correctly.

Looking back through this thread, my main thought was that nicking is usually a result of too much presssure. When one really limits the pressure applied to the skin with the razor, it is difficult to get razor burn or nicks.

Thanks for all the help guys. An update for anyone reading I've now got a few more shaves under my belt, and I think I'm starting to understand what is meant by shaving with only weight of the razor. I have to say that shaving is alot more comfortable save for my shave today though I think that had more to do with the fact that I was kinda in a rush and managed to nick myself pretty good a couple of times. Another question for anyone who is out there, I seem have a problem with lather getting really cold am I just not moving fast enough or is there a trick to getting it to stay hot, the water coming out of the faucet it very hot so I don't think it's the initial water temperature that is the issue. Also when I lather for my second pass by the time I get to the last couple of spots (in my sequence the upper lip) the lather is really dry so much so that I have to go back to the bowl, is this again just a function how fast I'm moving or is there some trick to completing a pass without lathering in sections?
Cheers
-Omid

. . . Another question for anyone who is out there, I seem have a problem with lather getting really cold am I just not moving fast enough or is there a trick to getting it to stay hot, the water coming out of the faucet it very hot so I don't think it's the initial water temperature that is the issue. . .

I use a thin ceramic bowl (a Japanese-style soup bowl) for building lather. It floats in a sinkful of hot water while I shave. The lather inside stays nice and warm.

Don't try and rush the shave -- not a good strategy!<g>

Charles

Hi Omid,
And grats for the switch to quality shaving. You're deep into the learning curve of learning your facial topography, and keeping a blade angle proper to the location. You've already found the lay of the beard is not fixed or consistent, and needs adjustment in your stretch and stroke. All of these are the same moves for learning a str8. Developing technique is most important, and you're doing it - seemingly well. I actually nick more w/ a DE than a str8, though I learned to shave on a DE.

Lather getting cold is less of an issue than it getting dry. It's more of a comfort thing. The beard being wet, saturated w/ water (swollen up, leaving the plates with their edges more exposed) is way more critical than them being 'softened' (according to the Gillete study posted earlier here).

Seems like all you need for great shaves is already in motion, and just more time/practice is all that's needed. Should you ever try a str8, you'll be pressed to learn all these same things, and when you do, your DE shaves will be superior also. Rather than spend alot on gear - maybe hook up w/ other members in your area to compare notes, techniques, maybe try each other's gear. Blades seem to have attributes that matter. I've had good results from the Derby Extras (reputed to be quite friendly).

Enjoy the journey. 'Sounds like you're doing well.

Lately, when I've used a DE, I haven't lathered for the second pass, which for me is ATG. By that time, the lather has already done all the hydrating it can, and the water provides all the lubrication I have needed.