Thread: First shave!

Got home and was surprised to find my razor in the mail, Canada Post was extra slow on this one, it took almost 3 weeks to get here. The moment had finally come for my first straight shave! So what did I do? Sat down and watched tv for a couple of hours. I felt I wanted to be nice and relaxed for this.+

Took a hot shower while soaking my Omega boar brush, got out and put on the Proraso pre-shave and lathered up some Proraso cream. I added a couple of drops of glycerin just in case, being my first shave and all. Put on the cream and since the razor was sent to me honed and shave ready I didn't strop it, I spent a couple of minutes wiping off the oil and just holding it, getting a feel for different grips. The razor is a Gold Dollar (yikes!) 66. Actually, except for the clearly cheap scales it looks a lot better then I thought it would. I'll take some pics if anyone wants to see it.

Ran over in my mind what I felt were the important tips - don't press it against your face - pay attention to angles and the grain of growth - keep your skin wet and lathered - don't push the razor down, guide it and let gravity do the work. I took my time and it took me about 35 minutes. I did one WTG pass then XTG then just to review the strokes another WTG. Only hard part was on the right side where my hairline meets my sideburn area, neither hand could get the blade where I wanted it WTG so I did XTG only there. I couldn't really see with either sideburn area but I figured out pretty quick to ignore that and go by feel and I had no problem with that. I wouldn't want to do it with a spike point though! No cuts, only irritation is on my neck but it's always an irritation area, no better or worse then with a cartridge would be. Best shave ever? Nope, but plenty passable, at least as good as a cartridge with a couple of shaves on it. Followed up with the Proraso and some Nivea after shave balm then after a few minutes a splash of Clubman Pinaud.

I'm hooked! It was a lot of fun and is surely an art and a science, one I'd be proud to say I've accomplished. I do a lot of hiking and camping and I can't wait to be out on the coast somewhere sitting on a rock with the waves crashing before me and shaving like my great grandfather did.

Now I can't wait for my Dovo to arrive and see if it shaves better and with less irritation. If I find the GD holds up against it I'll keep using it, if not, fish knife!

Sounds like you had a lot of fun! Just wait till you shave with your new Dovo, it will be night and day! Good luck!

Originally Posted by goodtann

Sounds like you had a lot of fun! Just wait till you shave with your new Dovo, it will be night and day! Good luck!

What he said!!! The Dovo will be huge difference, get ready to step up your game.

Congrats! I know you've been waiting (more or less ) patiently for your razors to arrive so you could have your first straight shave. Let us know how it's going.

Be forewarned, RAD is super contagious. In fact, you're probably already infected.

3 shaves down. I skipped on Saturday out of laziness. No cuts, no irritation. Getting a smooth shave every time. Still doing 2 WTG and one XTG passes. I'm doing 2 WTG because I sometimes miss a little bit but with the 2nd pass and the ATG I haven't had to touch up anywhere with the cartridge. Not BBS but then I wouldn't expect it to be without ATG. It's closer then a brand new cartridge at this point though. Still waiting on the Dovo but the GD is doing fine. If anything today was smoother then the last 2, maybe due to more stropping, maybe due to better technique.

I read some other people's stories and wonder what they're doing wrong? This isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I do have the advantage of having used soap and a brush for years though so I know how to make a wicked lather. I think the main thing is pressure. Don't press the razor into your face and then take your time. The razor just glides over my skin, doesn't even feel close to cutting except on the middle of my neck but tonight I tried pulling the skin to the side and I had no problem there either. I have a goatee and find the straight AMAZING for trimming around the edges. PERFECT straight lines, you literally can pick out one errant hair and lop it off. I don't find the rounded tip to be an impediment there either.

As for RAD, I'm on ebay every day. Haven't bid since that first one I lost but I will when I see the right razor. Or 2. Or more.

Congrats on the first shave!

Nice work! Your pre shave prep sounds really good.

Originally Posted by thuktunflishithy

...
I read some other people's stories and wonder what they're doing wrong? This isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I do have the advantage of having used soap and a brush for years though so I know how to make a wicked lather. I think the main thing is pressure. ...

Honestly I think people psyche themselves out. It's not rocket science, but if you treat it like it is you are not going to start well I think.

PS Also I think skin is not all the same (well obviously). But I have a really sensitive neck and such as far as razor burn goes but cutting is hard to do. I can only imagine some people are different and nick much easier which would be a speed bump in getting started.

Originally Posted by Vova

I think skin is not all the same (well obviously). I can only imagine some people are different and nick much easier which would be a speed bump in getting started.

Good point.

Did my 4th shave today, best one yet. Only 1 WTG and 1 XTG this time. Still no nicks or cuts. I don't think I'll cut myself actually shaving, it'll likely happen when positioning the blade for a stroke. Had a couple of times where if I was bit sloppier I would have nicked myself. I moisturize really well daily, not just when shaving. I have psoriasis and have always had dry skin. I think the moiaturizing helps to avoid cuts, I read somewhere it makes the skin more supple.

I'll NEVER go back to a cartridge. I'll still have one around for shaving other areas I wouldn't go near with a straight and don't feel the need to be BBS smooth anyway so won't risk a DE but that thing will never touch my face again. I can't get over the lack of tugging I was used to for so long. 25 years of pulling hairs has ended. I laugh when I see the commercials and see the blades pulling the hairs out first and then cutting and think to myself how did anyone ever think this was a good idea?

Still waiting on the Dovo...