Thread: First Shave is in the Books!

well, first shave went down yesterday. Went better than I expected. One small scratch below my lower lip, but no bleeding. Didnt get quite as close as I had hoped, but I am sure that will get better with time. I took a hot shower first, then applied AOS unscented preshave oil, lathered up with their cream, followed up with AOS post shave balm.
I did get a little irritation on the bottom part of my neck...I kinda expected that since I've been using a Braun electric for 11 years

Well you proved it is possible to learn this skill with minimum injury. The best is yet to come.

Thanks man, I am looking forward to getting better. There is a great nostalgia about it, very intriguing, and something very few people do

Welcome to the Str8 shave world. The shaves will get better and better.

Congrats and welcome. Sounds like you enjoyed it, it only gets better!

Thanks for all the encouragement...second shave today didnt go as well as the first. Got a little nick on my cheekbone, just pushed a little..no biggie.
I am finding that i'm not getting as close as I would like, going to get my blade honed first part of the week by a local legend John Fitzen, from Razors Edge in Salt Lake City
I am hoping this, along with improved techniques will give me the result I am looking for. Also trying different amounts of pre shave oil, water in the brush, etc.

Cowan, Bravo.

The irritation and the nick are likely from pressure. We're used to going after something w/ a tool. In this case, think of making the stubble available to the edge, rather than taking the edge to the stubble. Your stretches and strokes will enable you to get the closeness, but the light touch with the right stretch and stroke will keep it really close and really comfortable.

The guys saying it gets better are absolutely telling you right. 'Hope you enjoy the learning. Keep pounding any and all questions here. Attitudes are great, and the quality of help is beyond any reasonable expectation. You're already doing better than my first shaves.

Congrats on your 1st shave, im new too and ive only discovered how to master a good lather after a few weeks so it all takes time hehe

Sounds like really great start! Congrats! Now you need to learn a proper stropping technique which will help you to maintain your razor sharp!

Let me add my congratulations on your first shave as well. As has already been said, your shaves will only get better and better as you gain experience.

Your disappointment with your second shave may be due to holding the blade at a less than optimum angle to remove whiskers--not the sharpness of your razor. Give it a few more tries before getting your razor honed, unless your razor has never been honed before.

Best of luck in your journey into straight razor shaving.