Thread: First shave

Well today was my first shave. I got my Whipped Dog, Sight Unseen set and I'm very happy with it. The scale are a bit flimsy, but the intent was to have a cheap shave ready blade to see if I like straight razor shaving (I do) and then use it as a compare razor for later on when I get my good razors.

Now for my first shave I did two passes WTG and I got to say I feel as though I got a closer shave then with my disposable with just the WTG pass, at least on my cheaks. The chin, neck and mustache area area going to take some practice, but even thoughs areas I have a similar shave to disposable.

My issue is the point. I think I'm too green to have a sharp point. No matter how taut you have your skin the skin will bend. Which is good at the edge to cut at the hairs, but at the point its bending at the edge and around the razor, so its a perfect spot to get cut. Not suprisingly I cut myself like that twice today. Is there a way to dull just the point?

I was told to not strop the razor before my first shave, but after I was in a hurry and I did not strop it, should I have? Also it said to put some oil on the razor, is that for all razors, and which oil, vegetable?

Thanks a bunch, many of you have helped me thus far, long road ahead

Hey Knife,
Welcome to the forum. Have you checked out any of the helpful Wikis on straight razor shaving? There are also some excellent straight razor videos in this forum that are also worth checking out. There is a straight razor shaving DVD for sale in the vendor site as well as the Straight Razor Designs web site that was produced by our forum's founder, Mr. Lynn Abrams.

It's a good practice to strop your razor before shaving, then after you shave and clean and wipe your razor, give it about 20-30 strokes on the web fabric to clean and align the edge and strop the razor on the leather strop for 60 strokes or so. Get yourself a bottle of Camellia oil (again, available at one of our vendors or Straight Razor Designs) and apply it to your blade after each shave. It'll prevent rust and water spots. Before you shave, simply wipe the oil off with a soft tissue with the edge facing away from you for safety's sake, then do your preshave strop.

Take your time, straight razor shaving is a ritual to be enjoyed. Now that you are straight razor shaving, you have moved from a daily (or semi-daily) mundane chore to a pleasurable ritual. Take your time, shave slowly with short strokes. There's no need to rush this. Don't do what I did this morning, I had all the time in the world and I still rushed my shave. I ended up with three nicks and not as good as a shave as I am capable of doing.

This forum has some great people of all skill levels ready and willing to pitch in and help you with any concerns or questions you may have; just make a post. You're in good company at Straight Razor Place.

All the best and great shaves your way,
Patrick

Welcome, knife.

PMBurk is right—don't rush it. Plan some extra time so you can enjoy the experience. I used to take about 20 minutes for shower/shave/getting dressed, now I plan for 45. But it's such a relaxing way to start the day. For the first week I shaved at night so I could take as much time as I needed to do it proper, but I'm doing it in the morning now.

As oil goes, Camellia oil (like burk said above) seems to be the most popular, but mineral oil or baby oil (make sure it's pure unscented, and made from free-range babies) will work too. Avoid organic lubricants like cooking oils and greases, as they can gum up or go rancid.

I strop ~40 times preshave, and another 25 times after cleaning and drying the blade.

I use a round-tipped razor, so I don't speak from personal experience, but I know that several on the forum dull their spike point by dragging it on the side of a hone a few times. Spikes seem great for shaving around a goatee or mustache, but at this point it's just another thing you have to keep an eye on.

As you get better at shaving, you won't worry about the spike point because you'll have learned how to use it without cutting yourself. Until that time, you could take the very tip of the spike and gently mute it by dragging just the point against something hard and flat, like glass, ceramic, etc. It won't take much pressure and only a few strokes to dull it. Then when you are ready to advance, you can send it off to be rehoned, which will need to be done in a few months anyway unless you learn to hone yourself. I use 3-in-1 oil and/or petroleum jelly (vaseline) on my blades, just a thin coating with a Q-tip or some TP. Strop between shaves, doesn't matter if you do that immediately after a shave or right before.

Good luck, you'll get the hang of it, just be patient.

I cut myself a few times and it was part of the learning process. Heck, I recall cutting myself with the round point because I didn't think the shaving edge was truly sharp after doing a pass and questioning if it was sharp enough. Other times I cut myself, I wasn't attentive enough or I became too casual with the razor and these times were well beyond my 80th shave. They all healed in a few days and were gone after a week.

Starting out, I wanted to try straight shaving without a huge investment and I used a Diane 21 hair shaper, spike point and it was very unforgiven on the first shave. I guess the price was right at the time and it forced me to learn quickly becuase it was unforgiven until about the third shave. Now I have a foundness for spikepoints.

Looking back, my starter razor (fixed straight razor) was a Dovo Special and a good choice for a newbie. Don't rush the shave and take it in steps. Building off one step of the shave is a nice way to ease yourself into a full shave. No shame in using what you were using to finish up the shave. A BBS shave will come to you in no time and its all in the technique.

Be patient and enjoy the learning curve.

Pabster

+1 on UPD's Reply. I have never shaved with anything other than a spike and it took only one or two shaves and I had enough respect for it to not cut myself again with it since. Being a noob with a spike, I concentrated on taking my time and focused on useing the center of the blade for most of the work. Usually leaving at least the first (and last) 1/2 inch of the blade off the skin. If you try to take full the length of the blade off in a single stroke, you're asking for trouble. The place I'm the most careful of is where my jaw bone meets my neck. It creates a nice valley that the spike likes to reach across to remind me that I have a neck over there. Anyway, You can dull the spike if you'd like. I personally hated the thought of purposely altering my razor to accomodate my lack of skill. I chose to "tough it out" and it ended up not being all that tough for me. Just wanted to throw that out there in case your were wrestling over the decision like I was. Don't feel like you have to alter it just to have what beginners are "supposed to have". It can be done with a spike. Also, the oil choices mentioned here are all sufficient. The point is that oil repells water so your blade doesn't stain or rust. I have a friend who uses the same 3-in-1 oil on his blades with great results.. Good luck and keep at it. You'll be a great shaver in no time.