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Thread: First sr shave for 21st birthday...

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    Senior Member RARamirez's Avatar
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    Default First sr shave for 21st birthday...

    My girlfriend bought me a sr set from the invisible edge, The most complete one for my 21st birthday. Today was my first shave and it didn't go so well. In my excitement to use the razor I didn't shower but I washed my face, so that could be the issue but I was having trouble finding the proper cutting angle. I tried 30° on up to almost 90° with a scrapping motion. The 90° seemed to do a better shave than the others but I'm a little irritated on my face. My face looks as If I haven't shaved at all. The razor did come shave ready and it was sharp. I did 3-4 passes but was disappointed with how it looked (a lot of stubble, unshaved look) I also have a DE and have the same problem finding the right angle to shave with. I have watched and read up on many you tube videos and article on sr shaving but if anyone has any tips on how to fix my problem that would be great and i would appreciate any random tips as well. Thank you

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    Member Str8Raz0r's Avatar
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    G'day, firstly, welcome to SRP. The first few straight shaves, more than a few really, are often not up to our expectations. I will give you the three standard tips; prep, blade angle and pressure.
    You have already indicated that you have been playing withe shave angle, so you already at least know the theory of that.
    Too much pressure often leads to irritation also. Try really light strokes, we often think that we need to put lots of pressure to get a close shave when the opposite is the case. Nice light strokes will give you a better result, hard to get your head around really.

    Due to the fact you are also having similar problems with your DE, I am leaning towards your prep being at least part of the problem. Normally a warm/hot shower per shave is a good start; moisture and warmth. You can also do this with a hot towel on your face for a few minutes.

    What are you using for lather? What consistency is it?

    The other thing I would suggest is that your take it easy. Try a single pass shave on your cheeks then finish with your usual shaving method. When you feel comfortable start expanding the straight razor shaved areas. Once you have your whole face down pat WTG then try a ATG pass. Slow and steady.....and enjoy the ride.

    Hope this helps.

    Stu

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    RARamirez (04-06-2012)

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    Senior Member Bonbon's Avatar
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    Welcome to SRP!
    First of all I recommend you to slow down a little! You know when you come to SR on your own you have a lot of time to read watch video while choosing and waiting for your razor.
    Try to read as much as you can, if you think that you understand what you read, you need to read it again and you again will find useful information.
    Also I recommend not to shave for few days and let your hair to growths. Then it will be easier to see your hair directions! And watch your angel try to put razor flat on your face and lift it slightly to 30 degrees.

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    Senior Member RARamirez's Avatar
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    Thank you for the great advice. for pressure, I thought I was going lightly but still being used to shick razor it was probably still to much pressure. I'm going to let my beard grow out a little more and try again (with less pressure) I have been taking a shower before shaving with my de but the shower and sink are not in the same room so maybe the cold air is affecting my face. I Will use the towel method after my shower. I've been using a AOS shave cream on a brush. But for the straight it came with a Osma shave soap. I'm not sure what the consistency is supposed to be so I've been playing with it, but its never very dry. More water I guess

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    Bevelsetter
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    Welcome to SRP and congratulations getting through the first shave. It gets better. You said you tried from 30 degrees to 90. Try starting with the razor flat against the skin and then lift the spline up one thickness from the face. I find the lower the angle the less irritation. Find the lowest angle your razor will remove hair and it will likely be the least irritating. I know nothing about the razor you obtained but "shave ready" sometimes really isn't. The term "very sharp" is best applied to knives. Razors should be so sharp they can only be accurately tested by shaving and that very act will dull them. You didn't mention stropping so I assume you didn't ruin the edge stropping with improper technique something most of have done at least once. The best shaves on my face have always been the ones with pressure so light it more resembles removing lather than scraping skin. Keep us informed as you conquer these challenges as it is always helpful to hear how someone else is coping with the learning curve. Wish I had started when I was 21.

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    Senior Member RARamirez's Avatar
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    Never thought to start the razor flat and adjust the angle from there. Great idea thank you! Didn't strop because it said it was honed and stopped and I want to practice with something other than my razor to get the technique down first. Maybe a butter knife knife or a plastic knife?? Im going to grow my hair a little more and try again with much less pressure the next time.

    Thank you

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    Senior Member Kaden101's Avatar
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    Found this thread to be quite useful. I'm up for my 2nd straight razor shave today, & this could help. I didn't think I was being particularly heavy handed on my first shave, but it turns out I may well have been, & my skin was a little red (my chin still is a little mottled) but didn't hurt, just felt a bit fresh. I definitely need to improved my soap lathering.

    Thanks again.

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    Greaves is my friend !!! gooser's Avatar
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    i had a semi good shave my first shave but the experience was great !! i tried all the angles ( the right one rarely) on the first shave , although i got all the hair , i had lots of razor burn .... laying the razor flat and goin from there was the key for me , actually i read in a post ( if i remember right ) that 1 1/2 - 2 spine widths from the skin is a good place to start and since then i have eliminated the razor burn and had a good and more comfortable shave .. dont know how accurate the 11/2-2 is but it works for me !!! also welcome and keep reading , there is a ton of info on here !!!
    Kaden101 likes this.

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    Senior Member mjsorkin's Avatar
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    Default First sr shave for 21st birthday...

    Welcome to the forum.! Happy birthday!

    Mivhael
    “there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to nonlethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.”---Fleming

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    Senior Member RARamirez's Avatar
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    Default First sr shave for 21st birthday...

    Quote Originally Posted by Kaden101 View Post
    Found this thread to be quite useful. I'm up for my 2nd straight razor shave today, & this could help. I didn't think I was being particularly heavy handed on my first shave, but it turns out I may well have been, & my skin was a little red (my chin still is a little mottled) but didn't hurt, just felt a bit fresh. I definitely need to improved my soap lathering.

    Thanks again.
    It's been about 8 months now since I started shavin and now I shave every day with a straight. I'm just starting to dabble in the xtg and atg passes. Keep playing around with it, and you will get better. I let my beard grow a few days between shaves to let my skin heal and to see what I was shaving when I first started out. Good luck keep us updated

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