First shave ever.

**weldor** · 11-26-2011, 09:56 PM

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.

**LinacMan** · 11-26-2011, 10:45 PM

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.

**ace** · 11-26-2011, 10:53 PM

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

**weldor** · 11-26-2011, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by LinacMan

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

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.

**niftyshaving** · 11-27-2011, 12:10 AM

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.

**markdfhr** · 11-27-2011, 12:18 AM

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

**cpcohen1945** · 11-27-2011, 03:52 AM

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.

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

**carlmaloschneider** · 11-27-2011, 04:29 AM

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?

**weldor** · 11-27-2011, 03:32 PM

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.

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.

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?

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.

**markdfhr** · 11-27-2011, 08:05 PM

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

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