Thread: First shave

So my first shave was this morning. I just recently got a decent 6/8th Wade and Butcher from Larry at whippeddog and his poor man strop. I first took a shower and then lathered up. There was no way I was just going to do my cheeks for this first shave so I did an entire wtg pass. The results were decent, especially for a first shave. I didn't get any nicks or irritation but the shave was not particularly close either. It was presentable so I feel it was a great start. I was a bit surprised at the amount of tugging I felt but im sure this was due to technique more than anything and I think I was starting to figure it out towards the end. Overall though it was a pleasant first shave. Thanks everyone!

It sounds like you had a great first shave. Eventually the tugging will be lessened and the shave will be closer as you develop your technique. Careful pre-shave preparation will help and careful control of the angle (20 degrees or less) with a light touch will lead you to a close but comfortable shave.

It's great to hear of your very successful first shave. My first shave with a straight was disasterous. Let's just say there was lots of blood and some two-inch long slices in front of each of my ears.

Excellent start. Good for you.

You're probably right that the tugging was the result of your technique. But it sounds like you're on the right path.

Check some of the "First Shave" posts to see how your experience compares. Your "tugging" is perfectly normal at this stage and will be ameliorated as your technique improves. When experimenting with angles, start with a nearly flat (10 degree) angle on your cheek and raise the blade slowly as you go downward. I expect that the tugging will decrease when you get the blade at the correct, whisker-cutting angle.

Was it in Lynn's DVD that he said something along the lines of 'your face has to get used to receiving the shave'? I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I think I remember something like that and remarking it as I went through my first week or two. Not that I had it all figured out after that! But my face was more "receptive" to the razor esp after the first three days. Almost like you have to 'train' your face, not just the technique. That it wants to 'reject' the new razor vs the cartridges it's used to.

It felt this way to me, anyway - my first shave, it was like my face was screaming at me "What are you doing to me?!"

Then again, maybe I'm imagining things and projecting it all...

Congrats on the first shave. Sounds like you had a very solid start down the path of straight shaving. Nice first razor too. I've never shaved with one but I know a lot of people hold them in high regard.

Yeah I really like the razor so far. The blade is in pretty good condition but I think I'll replace the scales in the future.

Most of the tugging I feel is around my chin and parts of my neck. I can do my cheeks without any problems. Is this likely due to my blade angle?

Well, you've managed to identify the most difficult parts of the face. Everyone, especially at first, has difficulty with the chin. The whiskers there are particularly hearty and don't cut easily, or as easily as the whiskers on your cheeks. They also tend to grow in diverging directions. Some suggest treating the chin as a multitude of little flat planes and shaving it that way. I have recently been somewhat successful with raising the angle carefully as I round the curves of the chin area. Did you read 'carefully'? You can pull this off if you use extremely low, almost 'no', pressure. Guess where the blade is going to go if you use too much pressure.

Well, good work! The first WTG pass, when the whiskers are a bit longer, you can expect some resistance from the beard in tougher areas. I think one reason is that the whiskers bend before being cut, and so you are slicing them off at a 45 degree angle or greater.

Like others said, it will come.