Moving forward, but a bit nervous!

OK guys, I finished my 3rd shave with my straight today, and it went pretty well. I guess it's not a real shave yet, I'm still finishing with my DE. I'm trying really hard to take my time, follow all your advice, and progress slow, and so far it's paid off, no nicks or cuts. But I have only done my sideburns, and my cheeks. I have done WTG and XTG on both sides using both hands. Now my issue, I think it's time to move on to my neck. I have a goatee, so I'm able to skip that hazard area. I wouldn't say I have sensitive skin, but if I nick my self, or give myself a little burn, it's there on my neck. So, any advice boys. Should I stop being a wimp, and sack up and go for it? Help me out here. I need some advice and encouraging words! :dropjaw:

Keep the pressure off, and just do it. Any burn will because of dull blade or too much pressure.


Mick

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Originally Posted by RNMike

OK guys, I finished my 3rd shave with my straight today, and it went pretty well. I guess it's not a real shave yet, I'm still finishing with my DE. I'm trying really hard to take my time, follow all your advice, and progress slow, and so far it's paid off, no nicks or cuts. But I have only done my sideburns, and my cheeks. I have done WTG and XTG on both sides using both hands. Now my issue, I think it's time to move on to my neck. I have a goatee, so I'm able to skip that hazard area. I wouldn't say I have sensitive skin, but if I nick my self, or give myself a little burn, it's there on my neck. So, any advice boys. Should I stop being a wimp, and sack up and go for it? Help me out here. I need some advice and encouraging words! :dropjaw:

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The encouraging word is that there's an obvious determination and desire in your post that leaves no doubt in my mind that you will succeed.

Take your time, don't apply too much pressure, make sure your your lather is slick so the razor will glide over your face. Stretch your skin with the hand not holding the razor. If you can't reach certain places you will be able to with time and practice. 20-30 degree blade angle is another thing.

When you get to the point where you can do these things without having to think about it you've arrived.

Straight razor shaving is like playing football without a facebar on your helmet. You have a better chance at a great shave if you develop an instinct for everything you have to remember.

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Originally Posted by MickR

Keep the pressure off, and just do it. Any burn will because of dull blade or too much pressure.


Mick

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I agree with your advice mate! It's hard to describe how little pressure it takes with a nice sharp blade to get a very nice clean shave! But a nice sharp blade with too much pressure will cause you to become a major blood donor! And too much pressure with a dull blade while trying to get it to actually shave will turn a face into something resembling a Pizza Face!

FWIW --

For most people, the hair on the neck points upward. So a "with-the-grain" pass is from the bottom of the neck, to the top.

An ATG ("north-to-south") pass is possible, but your blade must be really sharp, your angle must be very flat, and your pressure must be _very_ light.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been doing this for a year and a half, and I _still_ use a DE for "finishing-up". [there goes my credibility . . . ]

. . Charles

Thanks for fessing up Charles, makes me feel a lot better!:beer1:

don't shave for a few days....let the hair grow in so you can see which direction the stubble grows for a WTG,XTG, and ATG pass (especially on the neck cause it can get all crazy down there)
The pictures in this wiki article are handy guidelines.Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki Early in my shaving I was having trouble with my neck. I normally now only do two passes on my neck WTG and XTG. I don't worry about BBS on my neck most days. I would rather have a comfortable clean shave than razor burn from trying to get that last little bit. We all want to jump in and learn as much as we can as fast as we can. Take small steps it'll all click one day. Nothing wrong with taking your time and learning slowly.

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Originally Posted by bondpunk

I don't worry about BBS on my neck most days. I would rather have a comfortable clean shave than razor burn from trying to get that last little bit. We all want to jump in and learn as much as we can as fast as we can. Take small steps it'll all click one day. Nothing wrong with taking your time and learning slowly.

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I will concur!

I do not believe in the BBS shave! I’ve posted and PM’d time and time again that it’s probably the most overrated ‘Goal’ that I’ve ever seen or heard off!!

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of having an old time barber give you a shave (with a Real Straight Razor), there wasn’t a ‘second’ or ‘third’ pass, he gave you a shave! With that said; he used his years of knowledge while feeling your face to know exactly what strokes in each area would produce the best shave!! I know! I’m 58 and I’ve had many, many barber shaves!

I always, always advise going for a clean and comfortable shave! Leave the BBS ‘behind’ hehehe, but seriously don’t drive yourself nuts! ENJOY THE SHAVE!! If you’ve got some tiny bits of stubble; what the hell! Who’s going to care! You are probably the only one that you will meet all day that notices that they are there!

Shaving with a Straight Razor is an Art! Not a Hobby! Collecting Straight Razors is a Hobby! Shaving with a Straight Razor, maintaining a Straight Razor is an Art!

Once you have mastered the Art, you will find it very fulfilling and satisfying!

I hope that this will help!

Roy

Ps I’ve been on the Straight for almost three years now! I started with my Uncles Genco Grant 5/8 straight point. The collection is about 20 now, many were given to me! Each has a distinct ‘feel’, no two razors are created equal!

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

...Straight razor shaving is like playing football without a facebar on your helmet...

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WHAT THE?! What kind of big girls blouse plays footy with, not only a helmet, but a helmet with a face bar?!?! I suppose they wear shoulder pads too, just to give them a more butch appearance! ;) :p


Mick

Thanks cudarunner for your lines!

Especially in ther german forums you read a lot about fellas shaving bbs every day. I have been shaving with a straight for round about a year now (every day). Due to coarse and thick whiskers combined with sensitive skin I cannot get a bbs shave, no matter what I use. If I try to hard, I get ingrown hair and even trying hardest: It is not a pure bbs shave:).

Thanx for the cheer-up and the true words!

Go for it! Good luck.

Absolutely give it a shot! especially if you dont have an important party to go to or appearance this weekend.
Like you already know : go slow, short passes, very light touch, firm grip on the blade. and make sure you feel your neck hairs ahead of time! feel your neck while you wash your face or in the shower before your shave.

MY neck hairs grow:
upwards through the middle
out to the side, on the sides
and downwards all the way around, under my chin to about halfway down my neck.

It's a real pain but once you master your neck, you'll feel like a real man.
Its a learning curve but we believe in you!

I don't finish with a DE but my neck gets little blemishes from time to time - usually if i rush it -

Mike,

When I first started, I found myself fighting to maintain a 20-30 degree angle because the dang protractor kept getting in the way:) Seriously, although the 20-30 degree suggested angle is right on, someone suggested to me that it's easier to think of it in terms of keeping the spine 1-2 spine's width off of the face. That made things much easier for me because it didn't seem so arbitrary and is easy to visualize while shaving.

I'm one of those guys blessed/cursed to have patch, irregular facial hair. I only have neck hair between my chin and my Adam's apple and occasional hairs laterally. That being said, as others have noted, you need to really pay attention to which way those hairs grow. When I first started shaving with a straight I thought that all of my neck hairs grew north to south. The advice to wait after a couple of day's beard growth so you can see which directions the various hairs grow is excellent. It will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.

Most importantly, just relax and have fun. Don't obsess about BBS - smoother shaves will come with time.
Greg

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Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

FWIW --

For most people, the hair on the neck points upward. So a "with-the-grain" pass is from the bottom of the neck, to the top.

An ATG ("north-to-south") pass is possible, but your blade must be really sharp, your angle must be very flat, and your pressure must be _very_ light.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been doing this for a year and a half, and I _still_ use a DE for "finishing-up". [there goes my credibility . . . ]

. . Charles

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'Just seconding the OP's appreciation. Its easy for new guys to get false impressions that everyone else has no trouble at all. 22 months ago, it was a huge and gracious post that did the same for me - all the experienced guys talking about touching up the last bit of problem areas.