First SR shave, Not so bad

I was expecting a blood bath but that didnt happen. I got my first straight yesterday, a 5/8 shumate barber that was honed by bald frog Scott. So today i lathered up my sample soap and tried out the razor.

A couple times I must have done something right cuz I couldnt even feel any cutting or pulling and it shaved right to the skin. That lets me know the razor is gtg the only problem now is the guy using it. I also quickly learned where the goatee evolved from. Everything was a cakewalk up until that whole area. I disregarded what everyone said about just doing the sideburns. I did a full pass wtg but I missed alot of stuff so another round across the grain. Sliced my chin on the second pass but overall a success.

Thanks for all the info you guys provide on this site, im sure thats the reason I had a good experience today!

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Originally Posted by ELSPROULO

I was expecting a blood bath but that didnt happen. I got my first straight yesterday, a 5/8 shumate barber that was honed by bald frog Scott. So today i lathered up my sample soap and tried out the razor.

A couple times I must have done something right cuz I couldnt even feel any cutting or pulling and it shaved right to the skin. That lets me know the razor is gtg the only problem now is the guy using it. I also quickly learned where the goatee evolved from. Everything was a cakewalk up until that whole area. I disregarded what everyone said about just doing the sideburns. I did a full pass wtg but I missed alot of stuff so another round across the grain. Sliced my chin on the second pass but overall a success.

Thanks for all the info you guys provide on this site, im sure thats the reason I had a good experience today!

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Good job! It gets easier and you improve your technique every time you shave. You will learn how to adjust your grip and stroke based on the direction your hair grows. Sometimes ATG or XTG work better in some areas. The chin and mustache were hard at fist for me too. I find that starting on the sides of my chin I go kind of at a downward angle across the grain but slightly WTG. I find my mustache is easier to get down to a manageable level if I start ATG as well. I have also accumulated a few razors and find it easier to shave in those areas with a 4/8 razor. Sounds like you are just about hooked. Keep up the good work!

Ill give ATG a try. To be honest I had a very hard time getting the razor moving ATG, it would basically just grab the skin and want to stay there. More practice I guess... Thanks for the feedback ccase!

If it grabs going ATG it could be that the skin has not been stretched enough or the lather is not slick enough or you are using too much pressure or the blade is not flat enough on the skin (you see there are many variables).

I test blades by going ATG on my top lip with only water.....I know why it is called the fools pass now