Thread: MY first shave

Hey all, so I thought I would post about my first shave ever!

I just got my kit from vintageblade in the mail, as my 18th birthday gift to myself. It included everything, badger brush, basic hanging strop basic dovo razor, and their col conk bay rum soap I figured this was a good place to start, with a reputable brand razor and some other goodies. It was quite an experience!

I started out laying out everything, investigating a little. I was really impressed with the razor, I couldn't appreciate just how fine and delicate the edge actually is until I held it. It is quite a tool! So I set to it, I ran the sink as hot as my face could take it, and gave myself a good scrub down, letting everything soften up. Then I filled and dumped out my mug with the soap in it, wet my brush and shook it out, and tried as best as I could to whip up a lather. I think this was where I struggled most actually, I really didn't know if it was too wet (I have a hunch it was, it got better as I went along and some of the water was pulled out of the mix) or if it was too dry. I did notice how quickly it dried out on my face though, and the difference was quickly apparent between a wet slippery lather and a dry, sticky coating.

The actual shaving was not to bad! I didn't get nearly as close a shave as I was getting with my cartridge razor, but I did get the easy sections to be nice and smooth. Trouble is most of my facial hair grows along my jawline under my ear and my chin/below. The right side is better than the left, as I am primarily right handed and the left hand was a little less coordinated.

I also only drew blood once, and not from a cut, rather from a bunch of little dots on my lower jaw. I didn't even realize they were bleeding, there was no pain, but I assume it was because of an incorrect angle of my blade in combination partly with a poor lather, causing the razor to pull the hairs out and dig into the skin slightly rather than cut the hairs off cleanly. I also tried to keep reminding myself not to put any pressure behind the blade, and just let it do its thing.

From what I read it is a process and a learning curve to even get back to the kind of shaves I was getting before, but there really is something therapeutic and nice about taking the time only for yourself, focusing completely on one thing. It is kind of an auto pilot, even the first time, and you cant think of anything else besides the blade in your hand. It filters out all the junk of busy schedules and stressful lives.

Any tips or help with my lathering skills would be appreciated! This place has been an invaluable resource and I think i'm hooked for the long haul!

One down, one lifetime to enjoy.

Hello nalbonen, happy birthday, and congrats on a good start. If you get irritation in any of the difficult-to-shave spots, use your disposable on them and shave a little farther into them with your straight, until your technique is good enough for a comfortable shave everywhere. It took me about three months to shift from cartridge to straight that way.

Your lathering experience may get better with the Col. Conk, or it may not. I haven't had good luck with their soaps myself. You can read about all sorts of soaps in the Soaps thread. The best soap I've used was made by a user here; he sells under the name Bairlea Farms. I've got a sample puck I can mail you so you'll have something for comparison; PM me your address and I'll pop it in the mail.

Best wishes to you, and welcome to SRP!

Congratulations on your start. Those "little dots" of blood are what we call weepers around here. Your shaves will gradually get better and closer.

Thanks everyone! Roughkype, I'll definitely take you up on that offer if you dont mind! I think that this forum, along with Flyangelersonline.com are two of the most helpful, informative places I've ever found. Maybe there is something about fly fishermen and straight razor guys and girls...

Anyway, several hours later, my face feels like it has never felt before, a mix between the tightness of dry skin after a swim practice in a chlorinated pool, but not dry at all, very comfortable and soft.

I also really like having the right tool for any job, and this seems to be it. It is durable, and effective, and just seems to be right, the way that it was supposed to be done. I also love being able to do something that no one else that I know can do! I understand how this becomes a lot more than a method of shaving for a lot of people, I hope my collecting tendencies dont get the best of me too fast!

I envy you starting at a young age of 18, when I was 18 years old I was using a piece of double bladed plastic cartridge on a pivoting stick like the majority of the male population on the planet thinking this was the only option in a modern world and shaving was just another chore in life.

I saw these TV commercials with a sports car racing around roads and hugging the corners tight and thinking this must be the best and only way to shave, how wrong I was.

As to your lather I use two separate bowls, one for the soap and one for the lather. Soak your brush in water for a few minutes in your 2nd lather bowl and flick out the majority of the water out of the brush and empty out the water from your empty lather bowl before swirling the bush upon your soap in your soap bowl.

Then try to whip up lather in your lather bowl with the soap that is now on your brush, if required swirl it around on the soap again and then back in your lather bowl. The soap bowl does not have to be submersed or have any water in it as the water is on the brush. Try adding a few drops of glycerin and shaving cream as well and water to suit into your lather bowl.

This is sort of how I make lather and it may not necessary be the best option but it works for me.

Just try experimenting with the amount of water you use, you may have to add some to your lather bowl if it is starting to dry out.

So a day two update!

Today was better, I wasn't nearly as nervous, so I was able to focus a little better on everything. Today I was able to shower before I shaved, and I think that definitely helped things go smoothly. I also soaked my brush and soap as I was in the shower as some had recommended, and I was able to get a much better lather whipped up, although I did have to start over once because I had too much water and it was just too soupy. I also was a little more experimental today seeing how I could contort and stretch my face to get my skin where I can shave it, and I was able to get my sideburns and jaw line pretty good, but still working on the chin. My only cut today was in the corner of my upper lip, the tip of the blade just caught me a little. It bled, but was so shallow that it stopped once I was done and rinsed with cold water.

I was also wondering what everyone's stropping recommendations are. I did around 20 passes on each the canvas and the leather, and thought about doing it after shaving but didnt. I've heard that stropping incorrectly is a great way to ruin a razor, so I have been very careful and making sure I pull the strop very tight, and dont roll on the blade or have the blade angled into the strop.

One last question, I opened up my razor today and there were a few dark spots on the blade, I assume they were water droplets that I missed last night, and there we are with spots. They are pretty tough, I coulnt rub them off with a q tip and a little alcohol, and they dont look like anything that is going to really hurt the blade, but I was wondering if there is something I should do about them. I was very careful to wipe down the entire razor today, inside and out before I put it away so hopefully this will be a good once bitten twice shy lesson!

Thanks!

Stropping is key to maintain the edge, ive notice a big difference when i started to strop properly for sure, i do 40 to 60 passes i dont really count anymore and maintain the same pass and sound every pass!!!!! also Leather should be last.

Two suggestions:

1. After you shave and dry the blade, strop the blade 10 or 20 laps on leather. That ensures that the edge is dry.

2. Before you put the razor away:

. . . Put a drop of mineral oil on the blade

. . . Spread it over the blade and edge with a piece of tissue paper.

That should end your "spot" problems.

High-carbon steel is prone to rust. It's best to keep ahead of the problem.

Charles

PS -- I second the suggestion for 40-60 laps over leather.