Thread: Man - that first pass is Rough

This forum has been SO helpful. Thanks to all who are so welcoming to us beginners

So this morning I really took a LONG time to shave lol. I actually got a decent shave even tho it took me almost an hour and two batches of lather. But here is the thing, that first pass I make WTG is SO difficult. I mean I don't know if my beard is crazy coarse or if my blade isn't sharp enough or if it's my angle. So many possible things I could be doing wrong. The subsequent passes were totally smooth and easy.

I do take very small strokes (1/4") and I try to stretch my skin as much as I can. But I think you would laugh as I try to get my moustache area. I mean I feel like I'm cutting one whisker at a time!

I had the razor honed by Whipped Dog who I know is proficient. I have shaved maybe 8 times since then and I strop on one of his "poor man's strops" before each shave (30 passes maybe). When I strop, I do it on a table and I apply little/pressure. I can do the HHT.

Any ideas out there? I can't have the beard of Zeus can I?

The secrets to a good shave.
Hot towels. Lather that looks like shiny whipped cream. An shaving angle that is almost flat on the face & a sharp razor. Ohh & I forgot... Lots of practice.

Hi,

As I understand it's only the first pass and the second is much smoother?

If so I doubt the razor's not sharp enough, it's more likely a combination of angle, pressure and lack of skills, work on the angle and pressure, low angle, no pressure.
I guess you now think you don't use pressure, but you are! In a few weeks you'll see it, and in a few months you'll see that at that point you still used quite amount of pressure, but that's just a part of the learning.

Be patient and work on this and your skills will improve, and so will your shaves, already in a couple weeks you shaves will probably be two-three times as good as now, at least.

And forget about the HHT, it's of no good for you until you start honing you own razors

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

How long are you letting your beard grow? If you are waiting a couple days between shaves, that may account for a tough first pass.

+1 onimaru55. In addition to hot towels, you might try an oil base pre-shave to soften your beard.

Hang in there, SR shaving is a journey, sometimes with a bumpy road.

Practice makes proficient. I do know that I prefer a higher angle, use longer strokes, and let my hair grow for several days. I guess that I am just an oddball.

thanks. Yes - the first pass is what is rough - the second and subsequent much smoother. I find it easier to not use any pressure on the subsequent passes but I feel like I really have to push on the first pass. I try to keep the blade pretty flat but maybe I'm not doing it right. I always shave after a hot shower.

I usually let it go for a couple days worth of stubble. Only reason I was using the HHT test was to see if I somehow wrecked the edge unknowingly. I don't know how else to know.

Oh and I know it's a journey - which I am enjoying. I truly don't expect any miracles and I know it will take quite awhile until I'm proficient. If it was simple then I wouldn't be typing right now in a "Beginners" forum on straight razor shaving

Yea, you just gotta find your sweet spot when it comes to angles.. Someone can say 23 degrees, but how does that translate when you are holding it to your face? Just play with it a bit and youmwill get there... Just don't over think it.. You will end up over compensating doing it that way. It relly comes naturally after awhile.

Unless you are not stropping properly and rolling the edge, it sounds like technique and angle. Is your lather slick enough?

I have been using Mama Bear's samples. I have a heck of a time with them. I think it's the sample wedges - not the soap. I tried my old Col Conk's tonight and I must say it was FAR smoother going and the lather lasted alot longer.

Both those soap are glycerine based, try a tallow based soap (Tabac, Arko etc) for my face I get much better cushion and glide with tallow