Foolish newbie!

So I received my first straight kit today morning and was excited to try it out. I took a hot shower, did the hot towel (not hot enough though...because someone used the shower for an hour before me :banghead:) and whipped up AOS sandalwood with 3 drops of glycerin.

I stropped on the fabric about 25 times and then 50ish times on the leather and managed to produce two small nicks...it's not really a big deal since this is my learning equipment and it was expected. So on to the shave...it really wasn't too bad, and I ended up with a CCS.

The highlight of the shave, was when I did a fool's pass...I don't know what came over me but...I just went for it, and survived without having to go to the emergency department. My heart was pounding slightly when I went ATG on my upper lip, and even though I did okay, I would rather not have to take that kind of risk, so I'm hoping that in time I won't have to do the fool's pass.

I nicked myself above my upper lip on my second WTG pass and ended up with a little razor burn but that was the extent of the damage. Going WTG was pretty smooth but there was a little tugging going ATG, which I think is probably a combination of poor stropping and blade angle.

All in all, it was really not bad, and I can only look forward to improving.

Congratulations and welcome to the club! Your result was probably better than 95% of the first shaves people on this forum have gotten and certainly better than my first shave.

Questions: What razor did you use, and did you shave your entire face?

The Fools Pass can be controlled better with two hands on the blade. I try to go parallel to the skin,
kind of skating above it slightly, and don't worry about precise BBS. The second hand works to avoid
the blade slinging up into the nose.

Congrats! A first shave\strop like that has to feel very encouraging. Thanks for posting your first experience!

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Originally Posted by ace

Questions: What razor did you use, and did you shave your entire face?

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I used the Dovo best 5/8 full hollow and yes I shaved my entire face, but unfortunately I do not have much shaveable hair on my cheeks. My sideburns go pretty low but my cheeks are mostly bum fluff and most of my facial hair is on my chin and upper lip. My neck is empty too...the results of Asian genetics I guess..I still shave my entire face on the 1st pass hoping maybe in time the bum fluff will thicken into real facial hair :gl:

That sounds like a very bold and rather successful first shave.

The burn is to be expected, learning how little pressure it takes, takes a bit of time:)

The fools pass is a technique I don't use any more, I have instead learned to do an east to west, and a west to east pass on my upper lip.
That, in conjunction with some scything or Guilliotine strokes gives me BBS without the possible burn or blood-loss.

Seeing how you attacked this I should probably not mention those techniques though, because they require som dexterity and familiarity with the razor.
But, with the way you attacked this, I thought you should now that the Fools pass may not be necessary at all:)
Good luck, it will only get better!!

Yea I was really surprised by how well it went. I think shaving with feather blades in a DE was a big help in developing a light hand. The only thing is I just managed to nick the strop some more while practicing stropping. Do I need to sand them out? Or is it okay to just leave them, because I don't really care about the aesthetics on my first strop. If it's something that is going to affect the stropping I guess I should take care of the nicks but if not, I really don't care.

Also I noticed some little spots on the blade itself, I'm thinking they're water spots? They don't seem to come off no matter how much I rub with a microfiber cloth. Should I be concerned about that too? I just don't want any rusting...I bought the camellia oil but I was thinking I don't need to apply it unless I'm not going to use the razor for a few days.

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Originally Posted by esstothejay

...The only thing is I just managed to nick the strop some more while practicing stropping. Do I need to sand them out? Or is it okay to just leave them, because I don't really care about the aesthetics on my first strop. If it's something that is going to affect the stropping I guess I should take care of the nicks but if not, I really don't care.

Also I noticed some little spots on the blade itself, I'm thinking they're water spots? They don't seem to come off no matter how much I rub with a microfiber cloth. Should I be concerned about that too? I just don't want any rusting...I bought the camellia oil but I was thinking I don't need to apply it unless I'm not going to use the razor for a few days.

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You are right, if they are merely cosmetic and not affecting the blade, leave the cuts alone.
To be safe though, you could lightly sand them out, using a pumice stone or some fine grit sand paper.
Then apply some neetsfoot oil to it. Use very little. Or you could just hand rub it, and it will soon be all good and supple.

The spots are probably water spots(Without pictures it is only an estimated guess though)
If you live in high humidity area or store your razors in a damp bathroom, that can easily occur.
The good news is that they can be easily removed.
Just use some MAAS or Flitz or similar and they will vanish before you know it.
Adding a bit of oil to you razor while storing it would also be a good thing. A light coating will do.
Wipe it off before your shave, and toy are good to go.

Good luck!

It is possible to close nicks in your strop with crazy glue and make them virtually disappear if the flaps of leather close well. Then you can use your strop without worrying about the nicks. To avoid the nicking in the future, make sure the spine stays on the strop and make sure the blade is moving before dropping the edge lightly on the strop.

Congratulations on the first shave!!
I did the fools pass also on nearly my first shave, I use both hands for that and hold the blade steady and move my face, i seem to have way more control over the fools pass that way.

esstothejay,

Congrats...

Don't be so down on yourself. Nicks are part of the learning curve. In fact, I've been shaving with a straight razor nearly two years now and I still nick myself occasionally.

The nicks will heal. Get yourself a styptic pencil and some antibiotic ointment to heal them. That's what I did.

Be thankful that you haven't seriously damaged your nose, earlobes and other protrusions that give character to your face.

Take care--and smooth shaving.

Wow, I wish that on my first shave I had come out with nothing but a nick and a little razor burn and I didn't even do multiple passes or dare try against the done. Nicely done.

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Originally Posted by Birnando

Just use some MAAS or Flitz or similar and they will vanish before you know it.
Good luck!

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Will the MAAS be safe on the etching that says "Solingen Best Quality?"

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Originally Posted by esstothejay

Will the MAAS be safe on the etching that says "Solingen Best Quality?"

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Not if it is a Gold wash!
These products will take the Gold off immediately.
But on a regular etching, I've had no ill effect from it

Well done on your first shave. Look forward to even better shaves from now on.

Cheers, Sunbird

Wow, just started. I had to look up all of your acronyms, and the fool's pass. I've never done that even with a cartridge. Pretty brave of you.

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Originally Posted by MikeMN

Wow, just started. I had to look up all of your acronyms, and the fool's pass. I've never done that even with a cartridge. Pretty brave of you.

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I've always had to shave against the grain to get even a rough shave, whether it's a cartridge or a safety razor so naturally I just gave it a go. I guess my whiskers lie really flat against my skin or something...How has your adventure with straight shaving been?

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Originally Posted by esstothejay

How has your adventure with straight shaving been?

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Thanks for asking. I didn't shave today because my face was pretty smooth this morning from yesterday’s late in the day shave. Might give it another go tomorrow. I picked up some balm and Proraso shaving cream, and plan to turn up the heat a bit on my water heater (I had it set it pretty low after my children were born for safety and to save money, but they are getting older now, so I will have to have a talk with them about hot water). Still thinking, though. The man, Lynn Abrams, in the DVD I have seems to have his water temperature at 200 or so.

Maybe I'll just use a tea pot of hot water to mix with the water from the faucet.

I picked up a screw hook from home depot, linked it to the ring that came with my strop, and mounted the hook on the bathroom cabinet. That went well.

Welcome to SRP. You are doing great, and I could not see anything foolish in your shave at all. I'm certain you'll find this whole learning process both fun and enjoyable. Minor nicks are a part of straight razor shaving, as your technique improves they will be fewer and further apart.
Best of luck, and have fun.