Just couldnt wait

So I just couldnt wait. My razor showed up in the mail yesterday, but the strop, brush and soap wont be here until next week. Decided to say screw it and just use what I have. After a warm shower and lather via shaving gel, I went for it.

My heart was pounding most of the time, but for the most part it went OK. I shaved my whole face WTG on the first pass then re-lathered and went ATG and XTG. Not a totally uncomfortable shave. The quality wasnt great, but with time and the proper equipment I can only improve..... right?

As you practice, the shaves will get better and better. Nothing can replace experience in developing a technique in straight shaving. Just take it slow and easy.

I totally understand your enthusiasm and wanting to jump right in. Just remember, you have your whole life to learn and refine your straight razor shaving. What's great is how your experiences shaving with a straight razor will bring satisfaction and enjoyment into your life each day.

Congratulations on a successful first shave. Happy Shaving!

+1 to DLB,

Take is slow and easy. No point in rushing something that has a learning curve like this one.

Sounds like you're off to a great start though!

Yep. Once you're comfortable with various grips on the razor and the angles and strokes that are right for various parts of your face you will be making casual strokes that are more efficient and closer than before. Sounds like you're a natural, lucky bloke! Careful about nicking the strops, though.. skin can heal but dead skin can't...

Well thanks guys! Gotta say, I did enjoy the "rush" of potentially hacking my face up. My family and friends think Im insane for trying out the straight razor; sooo, after I was done I went to my wife holding a towel to my neck and calmly told her that I needed her to take me to the hospital. The look on her face was priceless..... the lecture I got after my prank wasnt!

You don't want to pull that "prank" too often!<g> There's a story about a boy who cried "Wolf!" . . .

Charles

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Originally Posted by Crom

My heart was pounding most of the time, but for the most part it went OK. I shaved my whole face WTG on the first pass then re-lathered and went ATG and XTG. Not a totally uncomfortable shave. The quality wasnt great, but with time and the proper equipment I can only improve..... right?

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it sounds much better than my 1st shaved. My heart was beating too bcos I was just so excited. I did my 1st shaved with only a hot shower, a razor & goo from a can. I did not have all the strop, brush, shave cream/soap, after/oil shave. I finish the shaved WTG only on both cheek & a tiny shaved above my left lip.

not a very good shave at the time but I really enjoyed it & I had decided my turning point in my shaving life changing direction from DE & mach 3 shaver into traditional straight razor shaving

Seems kind of redundant to keep making new threads about everyone's 1st shave, so here's mine.

Today was Christmas. Period. Mailman rang, load of parcels.
I open everything up, the load contains:

5/8 W.H. Morley & Sons (thanks John)
5/8 Clauberg (Cheap, due to some minor pitting and slightly dodgy pivot up to 45 degrees, gotta see how she shaves in a day or two)
Mama Bear's Hinoki Wood shaving soap
Vergulde Hand shaving soap
Alum (which turned out to be not a day to soon)

Of course I washed and applied some home-made pre-shave oil generously to my face (should have put on some in between passes).
Anyway, as I already had TOBS lemon & lime cream, I attempted some sort of überlather, turned out a bit on the dry side, which meant more water and more lathering. To cut a long story short (lame pun intended):

I decided to go for a full shave on the parts of my face I actually shave. It was fun trying to get the hang of actually holding the razor, noticing in the process I actually need to change grip a whole lot of times to be able to access all parts, with my tornado-like hairgrowth all over my face and neck. Some advanced snakeman acrobatics ensued. I got off with a good neckfull of mild razorburn, minor nicks, 1 or 2 cuts and some pretty damn near BBS parts (chin and jawlines). All in all, pretty damn decent, got already a nice feel for the razor from the first stroke onwards.

BOO-YAH!

Razorburn never felt this good. And I wanna do it again. Damn this hair!

You did it right. All your equipment showed up at the same time. I was dumb. My razor showed up a week before the strop, brush, hone and soap. SO, Ive been using a piece of Levis denim attached to a wood plank as a strop. Worked OK I guess. My "real" strop showed up last night. The difference was totally noticeable and I didnt have to use the styptic pencil nearly as much :)

One thing I have learned in my many days of straight razor shaving: Dont try to shave after drinking a pot of coffee. Could have used a third arm just to hold my shaving hand still! Lesson learned.