Thread: 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