Shaving technique.

I had major problems with my first shave with a straight razor (my iwasaki). But with some better prep and more knowlage on reading even more about shaving I on my second shave I managed to get through quite a bit of my face. I'm still having problems though so I'm just asking for a few tips on how I can overcome them.

First big one is my face hurts after I shave. It kills when I'm putting alum block and then aftershave on it. I'm also cutting myself but it comes in patches, more like a graze.

My second problem is my foam prep isn't the best. I'm using omsa shaving soap, a best badger brush and a ceramic small cereal bowl. It looks fluffy in the bowl but when I put it on my face it doesn't seem to stay that way.

Try a face lather. I failed hard at good lather and finally gave up and tried a face lather. It worked very well for me.

Just load up the brush and go to town.

Regarding the burn...give it time to heal before trying again.

It sounds like you are using too much pressure on a sharp blade (and possibly too big of an angle). Hard to say without seeing you in action, but check those things.

Good luck!!

Thank you, if I keep failing I will take a video so I can get pointers. As I said though it's already much better on my second shave.

EDIT: I would prefer to stick with soaps as I'm trying to cut down on my packaging.

I use soap exclusively. Until recently I could only get a decent lather on my face. I have since learned a few tricks to build a good lather in my mug. Until you do, try building a lather ON you mug (face);)

Fossala, 'sounds like Unit tells you rightly.

The burn is almost always pressure. We like to think of a razor like every other tool we ever use. Take tool, place on working surface, apply pressure. Then the alum block launches us into suborbital strata. For a time, I defended heavy grinds, 'cause they tolerate some pressure, but even they do just fine with proper, no-pressure technique. I still love the ones that give audible and tactile feedback. I've had better results - both in the closeness of the shave and the resulting skin feel - from making the stubble available to the edge - rather than taking the edge to the stubble. If my stretch and stroke can make the stubble available - no pressure is required at all.

Once your face is irritated, its easy to keep it that way or make it worse. If you have raw skin, weepers, a nick or two (or in my case - 3 or 4), shaving over them again will keep them open and prevents healing. If this is your case, give it a rest for a few days to let your skin recoup. I'll sometimes feel where a nick is - and wipe the lather off of it so I can see it - and not shave over it again. The next shaves after the healing will usually be easier. Where I have a single nick, I've really appreciated Lynn's tip of using a dab of neosporin. 'Good for anti bio properties, but the inactive ingredients are all things that are great for skin.

Its pretty much the case for each of us - that we spend most of our first months learning our facial topography and trying all kinds of funny looking stretches and strokes - till we find what works in each area of the face. It'll come.

BTW - I also face-lather w/ hard soaps. Another forum once spoke of the properties of 'cushion and glide' when reviewing soaps & creams. These would be the attributes you might look for when trying a new soap.

Keep going. You're very close to getting the best shaves of your life.

Great points, though I would point out that allergic reactions to neosporin are quite common and for many petroleum jelly will work better (YMMV).

Bringing the face to the blade is a great conceptualization!

Another advantage to waiting for the burn to completely heal is that über-satisfying feeling of wiping that hairy lather onto your towel after a few strokes. Shaving is nice, but transforming a hairy face into a smooth one (in a few strokes) is straight razor territory!

I won't shave tomorrow, let my face recover. It's going to take some will power though.

Thanks for the tips guys.

From what I understand, A different angle must be used on each side of the blade as the grind is different on either side. It seems some experience will solve it. Are you shaving the entire face with one side of the blade, or are you using both sides? Perhaps some Kamisori guys can comment?

I'm only using one side. I'm quite ambidextrous so I'm using both hands.

:)

The first problem is you are on your second shave and you are shaving the whole face,,,

If you take a bit more time and start with just the flat easy parts of the face (Cheeks) and then finish with your old system of shaving, it will teach you how to handle the razor and the most effective angle to use.. Each week add a new section of face...

Patience is more than a virtue in this hobby,, it lessens the pain :p

Something else to consider is that you started with a Japanese style razor, which can be challenging to learn even for a straight razor veteran. Issues are bound to come up, so don't feel bad. I'm not saying you're in over your head, but it will likely take some extra care and diligence to learn how to use the Iwasaki.

Those are great points. I basically decided to start out by drinking from a fire hose also. I learned how to hone, lather, and straight shave in the same week and insisted on shaving most of my face and neck with my first shave that was with a razor I repaired and honed prior to trying it out.

I learned a lot! The first thing I learned was that these guys are right. Start slow and simple. Focus on learning ONE thing on each shave. In this manner you will enjoy the learning for many weeks to come!

I also learned how to post in the cut of the day thread...and not to hone a razor start to finish on DMTs...and not to try and shave the tricky spots when you are still burning your cheeks...and angles are almost everything....and pressure is almost the rest...and a DMT edge will pass HHT4-5 but still shave like a garden rake...and HHT is not trusted my many for a reason (but I still maintain it has it's place)....and...

OK, day off tomorrow. Then on Tuesday, just my cheeks.

+1 to Unit and Glen. Take it slow. Read, watch, reread the info in SRP. Ask questions. Hey, you have a long time to master this art. Have fun.

you'll do fine.

you've tried, then asked, gotten answers, and are heeding the advice. plenty of time, take the time.

I shaved as much this past month as i have in any prior 3-4 month period. now i'm up to day two SR, and cheeks-only it is. today the left hand got a go...

Now just use some logic and think about this for awhile.

Why would someone design a razor that in using both sides required radically different angles to shave with depending on the side? Maybe it's because you're not supposed to use both sides or maybe each side was designed with something totally different in mind eh?

Alot of maybes and to think about too.

When I first started I thought, well, if one stroke took of alot of whiskers 2 would take off much more and three even more and 4 even more than that. Well, I sure learned fast.

If Alum Blocks or After Shaves sting after your shave, use something else like a shaving balm.

There has been a lot of good advice given already. I would like to add that getting your lather correct will make a huge difference. Regarding Cushion & Glide, a lather that is too dry will lack both and a lather that is too wet will lack Cushion but still have glide. When your lather is on your face, it should look shiny, not matte. If it looks matte, it is too dry and you need to add more water. You don't have to shave to practice making lather and it is important to pay close attention to how you are making your lather so you can repeat the successes and avoid the failures. Things to keep in mind, know how much water you are adding (I shake my brush twice prior to loading the brush, this way I know how much much water I am adding), know how much product you are adding (count swirls if using a soap puck or use a measuring device if using creams...maybe Glen can hook you up with a snurdle:w) this will allow you to move towards success and away from failure. Keep asking questions and you'll do fine.

OK, I did my cheeks and my moustache area. One nick (think it was a re-open of one already there) and quite a close shave. Finished my chin and neck with a disposable.

No razor burn and the alum block didn't hurt when I ran it over my face.