-
First SR Shave
Not my first actually, but my first since the internet was created, so let's say; "First Successful SR Shave". Nothing much to report, but I'm excited, and no one else I know cares, so y'all are going to hear about it! I almost followed recommended practice. Did the right sideburn, went so well I finished that cheek. Learned somthing; watch the whole blade. I took off a little corner of my goatee with the heel of the blade while I was consentrating on the toe of the blade. :gaah: Didn't even feel it; noticed some hairs on the edge of the sink that were too long. Oops. Got cocky and did the whole left cheek. Two hours later, still no burn, so I got away with it. With a moustache and a goatee I don't have to shave the "hard parts", but I wisely quit while I was ahead. Finished up with my trusty '57 Gillette Tech. The whole thing went well enough that I can see this is going to cost me a fortune..........
-
Congratulations! I've only been at it a short while, and it is a lot of fun. It wont cost you much. You already have the razor...of coarse you need a backup and a backup for your backup and you really could use a seven day set and some vintage razors and you better try a few of the new ones to compare and you better get enough soaps to decide your preference and you better try every brush to see which is best and aftershaves as well and then to save money you need a set of stones and some practice razors to learn honing......it wont cost you much ;)
-
Oh, I've been shaving with safety razors for quite a while, so I already have a full-blown shaving brush problem.......
-
it won't cost you much .... lol... oh yes it will... wait for the addiction to kick in... it will happen.. it always does ... Welcome to SRP..
-
Shave #2 this morning was the same shave, but my razor handling was a little better. (I did get a little nick on my right earlobe though) Serious temtation to go ahead and do a pass on my neck with the straight this morning, but I understand the idea is to get more comfortable handling the razor (it's working) before going around any curves with it. Finished up with my Hoffritz Slant this morning.
-
Way to go. I am new myself and seem to get way to excited about shaving with my straight razor, but it is fun and there is a lot to learn.
Russell
-
Can I get a bucket of Chicken, extra crusty, with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, please?
-
You want Sweet Tea with that?
-
No thank you. I'd rather have the unsweetened. I know that's not politically correct, but I have to watch my calories, especially if I eat that whole bucket of chicken.
-
Shave #3 this morning. Stayed on the cheeks, but today I introduced my left hand. After a dry run holding a barber's comb like a razor (no, really; don't laugh) I found that it was more comfortable doing each sideburn with the same-side hand, and doing the bit around the moustache and goatee with the off-side hand. I could see what I was doing better that way. It was the smoothest, most comfortable pass yet. One more day with both hands, then we're going to do a pass on the neck on Saturday. Woo Hoo!
-
I like the idea of you using the comb as training wheels for the straight razor.
I have thought that it would actually make sense to market a training straight razor -- basically a straight with a completely dull-so-you-can't-hurt-yourself-or-your-strop edge. This way you could learn the motor skills of stropping and shaving but not risk cutting anything.
-
Yeah, I know it sounds a little silly to those who have never tried a straight razor before, (and maybe to some of the old pros that have forgotten how awkward starting out was) It felt pretty silly, but during my "false start" back in the late '70s I learned two things - A factory "shave ready" blade isn't, and - when you're looking in the mirror at a part of your face, and wondering how to get a blade to it (which hand? forehand? backhand?) without removing any of your facial features, using a sharp razor to see if your plan will work is not the best idea.........
Shave #3 today; used both hands, and did the right side of my neck. Left hand still isn't ready for the neck yet. With a moustache and a goatee, that means I did 3/4 of a whole pass. My cheeks came out pretty good! Did a lousy job on my neck, but it didn't burn much, so I'm calling it a victory.
-
agree with the comments about learning how to hold the blade while looking in the mirror is really difficult, at least for me! It looks so easy in the videos, but you really can't see much of yourself in the mirror.
The other thing I keep re-learning (the hard way) is that positioning the blade on your face, and keeping it still there while you figure out your strategy, is also not a good idea. Those blades are so sharp that simply resting them on the face, with any pressure at all, will make them dig in.
I, like you, had a false start, I think in the late 80s, and am now a couple months (hit and miss) into my re-attempt. Actually did better in terms of not cutting myself the first 2 weeks, and then I think I started to get cocky. I have been putting some really nasty-looking gashes into my face to where it is embarrassing at work. I have to keep my hand on my cheek, in a thoughtful, sort of scholarly way, just to cover them up!
I decided to take 5 days off for facial healing and start over, so am just doing WTG single passes for a while. Today only got one gash, and was under my chin so not visible, so that is a win.
I have had a lot of burning as well and realized from advice on this site that I was applying too much pressure. I could have sworn I wasn't, but I was. Live and learn.