Thread: Shave #1! and no blood!

My new razor and strop from SRD arrived last night.
A Boker 6/8 silver steel extra hollow ground in tortoise shell scales, and SRD's Premium II strop.
After a long day at work, I thought I would be better off getting some rest and double checking my steps before my first shave - then to try it right after opening late at night.

The packaging was well done, with the strop and razor shipped lengthwise in a longish box. Everything was nicely sealed in bags keeping them weather proof during shipping. Opening the razor, the box seal was broken as expected (since they finished the edge to shave-ready) and a nice coating of oil or petroleum jelly dotted along it (it seemed a little thick carefully wiping it off so I couldn't tell which).

I really didn't want to make a "Did my stropping wreck my new blade?" post as one of my first, so I deliberately skipped pre-shave stropping since the shop most likely did that for me.

I performed a HHT, taking a thin curving old hair from the brush so it was small and bone dry. Nothing happened tapping the edge with the hair in three spots. Then, it seemed to catch, and then it popped in half.

In my near obsessive reading I am not convinced exactly how the thumbpad nor nail tests are supposed to be done or how to read their results. An equal number of posts said they are more intended for honing so I chose not to do anything touching the blade.

blahblahblah

The Shave:
Splashed with hot water.
I lathered up with Mama Bear sandalwood/vanilla soap.
I did 1 3/4 passes re-applying lather in a few spots where my hand felt awkward. I tried a little left hand and some over-the-other-side righty.
Did one spot ATG under the goatee chin area. It seemed to catch, I raised my chin higher, checking low low angle - made it. Whew.

No blood!

There was about double the after shave burn over what I usually get though! I didn't expect that.
Maybe in my excitement I wasn't careful enough with pressure. Experience will teach me that answer. I had just a slight hint of redness in one place that only lasted a few minutes.
This is my first straight, and is an extra hollow ground so it was a little weird and all new to me.

I still have my face!

I'm now going to carefully strop to clean this new edge...

Sounds like a good start! You will be proficient in no time. Right call on the thumb pad and nail tests. They will dull the edge. Best test is the shave test. Good luck on your future shaves.

Yep, everyone gets the "burnt" the first time, yes lame pun I know. Check your angle, and lessen the pressure and I bet you'll be in business. Lay the spine flat on your face, lift up enough to see some daylight then adjust it from there. You can keep the blade on your cheek you reset your stroke, just slide the blade back to your starting position, then go again, that way you keep your angle each time, without having to reset until you get some more shaves in.

Originally Posted by tiddle

You can keep the blade on your cheek you reset your stroke, just slide the blade back to your starting position, then go again, that way you keep your angle each time, without having to reset until you get some more shaves in.

But only if you've got a steady hand or you could end up with a nice red line on your cheek. I didn't have a steady hand when I started & found out about this phenomenon. They're the not-nicks that you don't even see coming, they just turn up after you've finished shaving. No forewarning, no blood, just a red line.

Sounds like you're off to a good start though. The irritation definitely gets less, & the shaves get closer every time.

I think you've made a better start than most. Continue to read and educate yourself and accept the fact that SR shaving does take some time for proficiency to develop. You just won't get great shaves in "no time". It'll take a month at least, and it took me more than that. You will learn something with every shave. Some lessons will be painful if you don't apply patience.

You mean no blood, Yet....

Congratulations and have fun!

no blood!! well done..... I'm still trying to achieve a shave without blood and I've been at it for a month now lol...