Thread: Fisrt SE Shave (very long)

First straight razor arrived from Joe this afternoon. I closed the office door and opened the package. Here it is – longer and thinner handle than expected, and a wider blade too. Cool. Hoping nobody would knock on the door and cause a medical emergency, I put it cautiously to my right cheek with suitably ready three-day’s worth of growth. “Twing, twing!” Ha. Is this what they call a “singing razor”? Well, no time for more fun, let’s get this puppy in the box. We’ll see who does the singing (or squealing?) later tonight.

Several hours later, after a shower to soften up the hair, it’s action time. Let’s do some stropping, that belt I have “distressed” and then abandoned can be finally put to some use. Soak that badger brush, lather up. Things are looking good. Well, let’s do this thing.

I open the blade, turn it around in my hands, position my fingers, put it to my right cheek and do a couple of strokes. Wait! What’s that? I know it’s supposed to be sharp but blood already? Come on. Ah, I get it – it’s the spike point. It caught a couple of times. Ok, now I know why people say:
“Lead with the heel,”
“No pressure,”
“Keep the razor moving,” and
“Round points are like training wheels.”

I forget I am mad at my wife, who knows, might need her to call 911. Or at least the blood donation guys… Why didn’t I prepare the styptic pencil? Yes, there was this axiom that said “If you think you’ll cut yourself you will.” Preparing the styptic pencil seemed like a defeatist move and I thought it would be bad luck, so I left it in the travel bag.Well, guess what, I cut myself anyway. Um, should I get it out now? Nah, let it run…

Cheek is going fine, time to move to the moustache. Oops. I have read about this too:
Q: “Did I just cut myself?” – A: “Yes, you did.”
I know I had the moment the question flached in my mind. OK, here comes the blood again. This time it’s more serious than the spike point catching, it was a bad approach altogether. Crap. But I’m sure I’ll get ised to it. Plan: ignore and continue, there’s no going back. Yes, I’ve heard about people shaving only their cheeks the first time but where’s the fun in that? Living dangerously – this is what straight shaving really is. What normal *young* man with a family, *corporate* job, and a mortgage doesn’t want that?

Moving down to the neck. This is harder than I thought. I find myself doing multiple repeats without lather. Why do I have this brush loaded so well? Use it, moron. Hm, lots of effort, not much real results – neck is still stubbly. Let’s try a more aggressive angle. Uh-oh, more blood. Can’t believe I just did that movement. Of course I’m gonna cut myself in like this. Whatever… Nothing left but to brave on. Wait, I still need to be patient and focused. Otherwise there are going to be more cuts… Yep, like this one. I look at my face and see my brow covered with tiny prespiration drops. Wow, I wasn’t aware it’s so engaging. And then - what do you know, right side is done. One, two, three… Five cuts all. Ha, I’ve had worse Mach 3 shaves, I distinctly remember 13 cuts, and there’s something in my head about 17. Yeah, baby! I rock!

I’m feeling cocky so let’s try the ambidextrous thing. Nevermind that I don’t do it even with my DE. I would certainly magically acquire the skill to do it with this straight… Seems like a cool thing – to be able to operate a device that can cut you to ribbons with your left hand. I know it can – I just cut myself with it 5 times with my right hand. Let’s do some damage!

One stroke, two strokes, three … Hm, this guy was on to something when he was talking about confidence in the axioms. “If you’re afraid of the razor you won’t master it, it will master you.” Well, who’s your daddy now! This is starting to get embarrassing, left side is almost finished with the left hand, which I have never used before, and I don’t have a single cut. It would have been perfect, if only I hadn’t sliced the right half of my face with the right hand so many times.

Lather up again, second pass. Um, no, not really, I have taken so many motions on the first pass, this might be like a 5th or 6th pass. I know, this is because of the less than perfect angle I am using. It’s getting a little tricky around the Adam’s apple. Things get more sketchy. There we go again on the right side. Horizontal slicing motion? What am I thinking? This is how fish is cleaned. It’s long but shallow, I’ll live…

And I’m finished. Spash the face with hot water and run to the fridge for some ice cubes. Yeah, I forgot to take them to the bathroom before I started – but it has taken me so long that they would have melted anyway. I hope my wife wouldn’t see me like this, tiny blood rivulets streaking down my face. Mission accomplished – and does this feel nice or what! Numb that face!

Eh, we’re close to the end. Often I’d skip aftershave, but this has been a hard day, my skin deserves a treatment. What shall I choose – Bay Rum (no, I used that recently), Gucci (um, can’t trust designer stuff for my skin right now), I know – Nivea sensitive skin balm with camomile and vitamins. Untill I get one of the real old-fashioned aftershaves from the “true shaving” brands. On the Nivea goes, feels quite nice.

Blade is already dry, time to strop a little. Now some alcohol… It’s dry and ready to go back in the box.

One hour later I have already had my last Flying dog and am typing away the saga. Time for a scotch, straight up. On the rocks. I check in the mirror – my face isn’t red anymore.

Aftermath: 40 minutes or so and *only* six cuts (all on the right side). Or was it seven? Who cares, I didn’t even need to use the styptic pencil.

WOHOOO!

I'm not sure if that's courage or foolhardiness, but it sure is engaging! Do me a favour though and if you can't go easy on yourself, spare me the gory details. jk. Honestly though, you deserve better shaves and if you put just a little more thought into them I'm sure you'll get them.

X

P.S. That 'lead with the heel' thing is for honing. Lead with the tip for shaves, just watch you don't dig in with the spike.

You've done well, Grasshopper. It is mind over matter.

I was like you in that on my first shave, I went for the full shave. I started with the concept of only doing the cheeks, but after the first pass, decided to continue until I felt uncomfortable with the shave or it's results. Well, I never got to the point where I was uncomfortable with the proceedings.

Also like you, I cut myself once with the spike point. I dealt with it by washing the face with cold water, and didn't have to use the styptic pencil. When I checked my face thirty minutes later, I had achieved a great, and very close shave!

Now that you have that first one behind you, take more time to focus on what angle you use, and keeping your face properly lathered. The preparation is half the battle, but continued attention to the details is another major part. With that razor you received from Joe, you have the other part of the picture, which is the truly sharp shaving instrument.

Enjoy yourself, but take your time. Don't rush your shave. It can be one of the most pleasurable times you spend on yourself in a given day.

Definately keep in mind where the tip
of that spike is at all times. Think of
that corneras the devils corner.

In no time at all this will all be second
nature and your shaves will be blood
free.

Definately keep it up.



Terry

Not bad for a first shave. I have 6 scars on my face:
1) surgical
2-5) From a single shave with a pakistani blade (during my pre-srp days), currently resting up in a landfill.
6) spike point.
Fear will give you more cuts but healthy respect for the spike will ensure that you don't get anything like my #6.

thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm so hyped up, I wish my hair grew faster so I can shave more often. And this coming from someone known to shave once a week or less for years (we have a very relaxed code at work).

How do you guys manage the wait until the hair is ready for another shave? I shall have to wait even longer to let the cuts heal...

Ilija - wow, not 4 cuts but 4 SCARS from a single shave? Now, that's perseverance - to continue with the straight! You da man!

I think I'll get by without scars from this shave - nothing deep enough, really. I already have scars on my chin and eyebrow (no, not from shaving) - you can use them as conversation starters. Plus, I don't really think minor scars are that bad on a man's face. Granted, if caused by himself while shaving - not so cool, but who will know?

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

... Ilija - wow, not 4 cuts but 4 SCARS from a single shave? ...

I'm not sure you could actualy call it a shave, I mean it was Pakistani steel. More like self mutilation in search of a shave. I know what I'm talking about too because I've seen the scars. Ilija is NOT going to be the poster boy for SRP!

X

So, was it sharp enough, or do I need to touch it up?

Originally Posted by xman

Ilija is NOT going to be the poster boy for SRP!

X

We probably need a poll for this honorable title?

we'll definitely need some pictures there, maybe even a pre-defined set of criteria when judging the photos, also a short interview to evaluate character, personality, etc., and razor-related talents (such as shaving with / honing 2 razors simultaneously, or, say, juggling open razors - as many as feasible, the more the better) - man, this can turn into a real contest... eat your heart out Ms. America

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

So, was it sharp enough, or do I need to touch it up?

Joe, to be honest, I first tried the advanced "shave from a distance" trick (when the razor doesn't *physically* touch the hairs) and the results were less than optimal - as if I hadn't shaved at all. Bummer. Not sure why it didn't work - the blade might not be sharp enough for this?

But when I resorted to the more conventional approach (physical contact between blade and hairs) it was singing... and, at times, stinging

Thanks again for the prompt and outstanding service. I already suggested that the sticky for newbies include advice for the novice to send you several bucks for a practice blade at the time of the original purchase of a shave-ready blade, maybe you can also put some text like this on your website.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Joe, to be honest, I first tried the advanced "shave from a distance" trick (when the razor doesn't *physically* touch the hairs) and the results were less than optimal - as if I hadn't shaved at all. Bummer. Not sure why it didn't work - the blade might not be sharp enough for this?

Clearly you've got some pretty hard-bitten whiskers. It might work better if you paint flames and stencil "FEAR ME" on the blade.