First shave ever.

I got my razor (Dovo best quality, 11/16, full hollow) from SRD a few days ago and gave it a try last night with a bit of a beard. After the first try at a stroke I realized shaving a beard of 1/2 inch or longer clear off my face probably wasn't something I should try as a beginner. So I just put down the razor, dried it off and put it away. I trimmed my beard down to about 1/16 to 3/32 with my electric shaver. This morning I decided to try again. Showered, dried, stropped, lathered up with Williams mug soap and a cheap 5 dollar brush, and gave 'er a try.

I only shaved from the sideburns straight down to the cheekbone as suggested for first timers.

My results weren't really that good or that bad.

When I run my fingers down along where I shaved it has that smooth oily feeling. But when I run them against the grain, I can easily feel the stubble leftover despite making multiple passes of WTG short strokes. I can even still see the stubble in the mirror if I look very closely at a tangent to my skin.

I did make multiple passes as I kind of inspected it after each pass. I did 4 or 5 passes on each side trying to get rid of that little stubble leftover. Each subsequent pass I increased pressure and/or angle of the stroke to try to cut more of the stubble off.

I started with a very small angle to avoid cutting myself and to get the feel of it. I may not have increased my angle to a full 30 degrees. My pressure went from barely staying in contact with the skin to kind of pressing in in order to get that stubble off.

I shaved the rest of my face with an electric razor, ATG, and got a closer shave, with less irritation and redness.

I really hope straight razor shaving turns out to be a better method to shave with. It's such an appealing way to shave.

Weldor,

Welcome to SRP and congratulations on your first straight shaving attempt. You're smart to only try your sideburns at first.

A couple of pointers that may help:

First, think beard reduction, not beard elimination. Don't keep going over an area repeatedly in the same direction. Most guys find that several short strokes are better than a few long strokes. If you don't feel the stubble when you run your finger in the direction you've just shaved, you're done with that pass in that area. After that first successful WTG pass you'll still be able to see some stubble. You'll get the rest with XTG &/or ATG passes.

Secondly, don't keep increasing the angle. The spine should be about one spines-width off the face, no more.

Thirdly, NO pressure!!! Only bad things will happen if you force the blade. A very light grip is all you need. Obie uses the analogy of holding a bird: hold it tight enough so it won't get away but gentle enough so you won't hurt it.

Could you tell us a little more about your prep and lather?

Be patient. Improvement will come with time. FWIW, I find it much easier to shave with heavier bears growth, but every gent is different.

The first few shaves logically have to be your worst, so it must get better and does with practice and time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LinacMan

Could you tell us a little more about your prep and lather?

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I showered, wetted my face with cold water, then applied lather. Lather wasn't very thick/creamy. It would kind of start to "melt away" for lack of better words after I finished one side of my face. I tried to keep swirling the brush on the cake but it would just dry out.

Welcome....
Tell us what you have been shaving with.
Some folk are switching from electric, some from many blade monsters, some from DE some from axes.

Knowing what you have been using can help us answer teh questions behind the questions.

Hi Weldor,

What makes straight razor shaving have such a steep learning curve is you're trying to learn so much at once. Not only are you trying to learn to shave, but you're trying to learn how to prep, how to make a nice lather, etc.

I only use creams but I have a soap I may learn how to use here shortly. It sounds like you have a soap and the way you use them is a bit different than what I am used to. A lot of the more experienced guys use both soaps and creams together; some add glycerin (I do) and others liquid lanolin,etc. and the list goes on. Obie is our resident expert on all things soap and cream.

However, may I suggest you watch this video:

How To Build And Apply Traditional Shaving Lather - YouTube

This video will set you off in the right direction. He is also funny, imho.

The wiki also has specifics on making soap lather:

Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

-Mark

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I started with a very small angle to avoid cutting myself and to get the feel of it. I may not have increased my angle to a full 30 degrees. My pressure went from barely staying in contact with the skin to kind of pressing in in order to get that stubble off.

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That's the way you get into trouble with razor burn.

In my experience, the only way to get a BBS (baby-butt smooth) shave is to do an ATG pass. For that pass, you want the razor almost flat against your skin. It must be _really_ sharp. And you need to have a good idea about _exactly_ the direction that your hair grows, on different areas of your face and neck.

[I hate to admit it, but I'm still using a DE razor for that ATG pass. And I think some people here don't bother with it -- just shave WTG and XTG.]

Charles

Hi. Can I say, maybe a little controversly, that it's not all about the result (i.e. BBS). For me, the act of using a straight razor completely outweighs the result I may or may not get with a plastic thing or electric thing; even a DE; vintage or otherwise for that matter. Shaving with a straight is WAY cool, regardless of the result. It'll take about 100 shaves before you're any good at it.

ATG passes are for the bold and experienced with sharp razors only. Esp on the chin. Don't try ATG passes as a beginner, just stick to WTG, short strokes as mentioned and accept a bit of stuble.

It's true that some technologies make things 'easier' and may improve the result. Does that make them 'better'? Are they 'cool'? Do you wish to be 'counted as one of the herd'? Or do you want to be an individual man? To practice an art? To do a thing that makes the average man shudder? To do a thing that begs the question; "How long does it take you to shave? And also begs the simple, but profound question; "Why?" Hmmmmmm?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Welcome....
Tell us what you have been shaving with.
Some folk are switching from electric, some from many blade monsters, some from DE some from axes.

Knowing what you have been using can help us answer teh questions behind the questions.

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Normally I would put off shaving because I hated it. I would wait until I get like 1/2 inch growth and use the barbers clippers to shave it down to like a 1/16 inch then let it grow from there again. Zero irritation, not having to shave everyday, but the downside of course I never look clean shaven.

Thanks for that video markdfhr, my lather didn't look anything like that. Mine was much lighter, less thick and creamy than his. Mine sort of had a bubble-bath like consistency just not as light as that. I'm going to practice making lather without even shaving haha.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Hi. Can I say, maybe a little controversly, that it's not all about the result (i.e. BBS). For me, the act of using a straight razor completely outweighs the result I may or may not get with a plastic thing or electric thing; even a DE; vintage or otherwise for that matter. Shaving with a straight is WAY cool, regardless of the result. It'll take about 100 shaves before you're any good at it.

ATG passes are for the bold and experienced with sharp razors only. Esp on the chin. Don't try ATG passes as a beginner, just stick to WTG, short strokes as mentioned and accept a bit of stuble.

It's true that some technologies make things 'easier' and may improve the result. Does that make them 'better'? Are they 'cool'? Do you wish to be 'counted as one of the herd'? Or do you want to be an individual man? To practice an art? To do a thing that makes the average man shudder? To do a thing that begs the question; "How long does it take you to shave? And also begs the simple, but profound question; "Why?" Hmmmmmm?

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Yea I really get where you are coming from. I agree completely is not ALL about the result. Yes I want to shave with a straight razor every time for the rest of my life. But I can't count out the result completely. And being a perfectionist, I want my results to be superior to any other monstrosity man has created to shave his face with.

I realize all it comes down to is practice and patience.
Happy shaving guys.

Weldor,

I feel to each his own. Everyone has a reason to do straight shaving. I think to a man (and maybe woman, too), everyone wants to get in touch with tradition. Quite a few straight shavers have a sense of pride, or at least accomplishment, in knowing they are using a tool that would make most others cringe.

My long term goal for me (and it is long term) is to be able to shave with a straight razor and consistently get close and comfortable shaves. If I want or need a BBS shave, I should be able to get it. I know there may be a few who would disagree with me, but my feeling is if it can be done with a cartridge or a vintage safety, then a straight razor can get the job done, too.

Right now I can't do this with my straights. I am still too new, don't have the correct technique, etc.; but the results matter to me along with the other things. I aim to get proficient, and if that's your goal or anyone else's goal, I think it's worthwhile and can be accomplished should you work with that in mind.

Good luck in your quest.

-Mark

Try this with the williams soap. Before you get in the shower put hot water in the shaving mug (with the williams) along with the brush. This will help when you try to make lather. I usually swirl the brush for about two minutes before I apply it to my face. Make sure you wet your face and neck to prevent the williams from drying too quickly. After lathering I strop my razor, the time it takes to strop will give your face time to moisten, and then I start to shave. Work on your stretching of the skin and angle of the blade and you should get a better shave.:beer1:

G'day Weldor, there's no harm in taking it slowly to start with, it's the best way. Work on getting the whole face done WTG only for now and finish the job with whatever you choose. You've started with sideburns only, so when you get comfortable with that, slowly increase the area you do WTG. When you are comfortable with doing the whole face add a XTG, followed by ATG using the same 'start small and build up' method. It will take some time but in the end you will be getting a nice clean shave.
My own personal method was actually just to put away my other shaving tools and shave everyday with just the cut-throat both WTG and ATG. By the end of two months I was getting satisfactory results that have only improved with time. I don't go for a complete BBS, but I get so close to it, that I just don't care. A damn Fine Shave (DFS) every second day is all I do, now that I have my technique down, and I can wave my custom 8/8 around my face in quick time without putting myself or others in any danger of harm.
Take it slow and be patient, finish off with what you normally use for now, is perhaps the best advice though. Everyone is different so go at it as you feel is best for your learning progression and facial comfort. Facial comfort being the key crucial factor here.


Mick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by weldor

Normally I would put off shaving because I hated it. I would wait until I get like 1/2 inch growth and use the barbers clippers to shave it down to like a 1/16 inch then let it grow from there again. Zero irritation, not having to shave everyday, but the downside of course I never look clean shaven.
.....sbip....
I realize all it comes down to is practice and patience.
Happy shaving guys.

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OK this tells me that much of the set of shaving tricks are
still to be discovered.

You are on the right track.
You mentioned making a lather and not having to shave
i.e. practice the lather steps... I often recommend exactly
this. "lathering" is a learned skill. You have to learn how
and learn what you like. One hint is to use one of the
dollar store egg timers (sand type) to make sure you take
a full three min with wet lather on your whiskers and also
take enough time to build a tight lather that works for you.

For me I splash clear water on my face and start loading
my brush with soap. Then splash more clear water on
my face. When the lather begins to pull together on the
brush I try some on my face and switch from mug lathering
to face+mug lathering adding water one dribble at a time.
If I take the full three min I get a better shave. Note that
I can make a durn fine lather in 30 seconds but that is only
part of "latherin".

Another trick is to have a touchstone safety net standard
razor. Some here use a double edge razor and a favorite
brand of blade. I am cheep as heck and recommend the
yellow handle BiC razor for sensitive skin. You can graduate
to a DE and Feather blades if your whiskers are tough enough
that a BiC cannot give you one or two shaves. I am lucky
if I get three OK shaves so I no longer try for four with a BiC.
The blade in a BiC is just OK not good not bad. The razor has
a wide gap that helps it rinse clean. The single blade avoids the
extreme close shaves that multi-blade razors give so at the
same time it avoids the multi-blade rash problems. This will let
you concentrate on "latherin" and face prep with a minimum
expense.

We often find folk that use too much pressure and forget
to pull in a clean straight line giving themselves nicks
and a rash. By holding a BiC with thumb+finger at the last 1/4"
of the handle furthest from from the blade it is difficult to press too hard
and easy to shave in a nice no slice straight line. This
light touch is what you want no mater which blade you select.
This is the best way I know to demonstrate/ teach a light touch.
It uses much the same thumb and finger grip that a straight uses.
Not exactly but closer than holding a tossable with a white knuckle fist.

Personally I likes me a good bit 'o' dirt in my water...That clear stuff is for sissies! :)


Mick