Thread: another newbie's first shave

I don't grow a beard very fast, and what there is of it is very spotty except around the mustache, so I only shave every other day. Naturally, the razor I ordered from Alex arrived on the day I shaved, but I couldn't wait. This morning I gave it a swing. I'd been advised by a local guy to start slow - sideburns only the first couple of times, move on to include cheeks after a few days, hold off tackling tricky areas until I'm a bit more confident...

Lathered up, swiped the blade across one of Tony's paddles four or five times, tried the left cheek (I'm right-handed). Not impressed with the closeness of the shave; had to actually check that whiskers were being removed. Hmm. Re-lathered right side of the face because the left side took too long, and then swiped the blade across the strop six more times and went at it. I have no idea how, but the difference was night and day. The right side of my face has never felt so smooth.

I guess the moral of today's story is that with stropping, a little can go a long way to finish the edge of the blade. Oh, and keep track of where the point of the blade is. Left earlobe took a 1/4" slice. oops. Maybe I should shave with glasses on the first few times...

Congratulations on a successful first shave!

You should strop the blade at least 20 laps on a hanging strop before you shave, though if you're using a paddle strop you should probably give it at least 30-40 laps on the plain leather side. Don't worry about about how much time it takes to strop, just strop slowly and carefully. The speed will come with practice, and eventually will likely take under a minute. If you lather up before you strop then this gives the lather extra time to soften your beard, though you will probably have to re-wet your brush and refresh the lather before you shave.

As for why the left cheek didn't shave as well, you may have used too shallow of an angle. It'll take a few shaves before your technique starts settling down, just take it carefully and watch where the tip is at, if you wear glasses normally then wear them shaving!

Congrats biker! You're off to a good start with the right tools and the right attitude. Go slow and alter things gradually. Very soon you will know which directions work best for your finish and how to get the best stretch, etc.

X

Good stuff man. I'm glad the blade worked for you. Stropping is essential...I'm sorry that I didn't mention that when I sent the thing to you....my bad.

Now to expand those patches that you can shave and away! you go.

I have to second the suggestion for more stropping before the shave. I strop for 50 laps minimum.

Randy, do you use a feather light touch?

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I have to second the suggestion for more stropping before the shave. I strop for 50 laps minimum.

Yikes...! Okay, will do. It'll be nice to have the excuse to let the soap sink into my skin a bit longer, as señor Parker mentioned. And no worries Alex on the stropping - Tony made it very clear with the instructions on the paddle... I was just a bit too impatient. Not gonna do that again.

Got a wedding to go to in a couple of hours, so I'm going to wuss out and use the sensor excel this morning... my girlfriend is a bridesmaid and would freak if I showed up with red lines across my face beyond the one I inflicted yesterday.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Randy, do you use a feather light touch?

No I don't. But then I do not have a heavy hand either. My strop deflects about 1/4-1/2".

I really should have recommended 30 roundtrip laps. I use 50+ simply because it works for me.


Just my two cents,

Thanx, I was beginning to think I was a complete anomaly.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

No I don't. But then I do not have a heavy hand either. My strop deflects about 1/4-1/2".

I really should have recommended 30 roundtrip laps. I use 50+ simply because it works for me.


Just my two cents,