Results 1 to 8 of 8
Like Tree5Likes
  • 2 Post By steakandale
  • 1 Post By ace
  • 2 Post By funkemaster

Thread: Shave #1! and no blood!

  1. #1
    Junior Member steakandale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Posts
    9
    Thanked: 2

    Default 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...
    xdman09 and DetailMan like this.

  2. #2
    Senior Member IamSt8ght's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    664
    Thanked: 109

    Default

    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.

  3. #3
    Senior Member tiddle's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Oxford, Al
    Posts
    1,605
    Thanked: 407

    Default

    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.
    Mastering implies there is nothing more for you to learn of something... I prefer proficient enough to not totally screw it up.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Kaden101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Castleford, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts
    124
    Thanked: 11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tiddle View Post
    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.

  5. #5
    ace
    ace is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth ace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    3,362
    Thanked: 581

    Default

    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.
    Kaden101 likes this.

  6. #6
    One marginally hairy dude funkemaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Bowling Green KY
    Posts
    56
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    You mean no blood, Yet....
    DetailMan and Katan2212 like this.
    If you don't understand my thought process, please read my mind and It will all make perfect sense and should be enlightening for the both of us.

  7. #7
    Member xdman09's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    58
    Thanked: 4

    Default

    Congratulations and have fun!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Katan2212's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    113
    Thanked: 12

    Default

    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...
    It’s never too late to be the man you were meant to be

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •