First Straight Shave tonight!!

OK I got a new razor today (got it off ebay) and they said it would come shave ready. The blade had a slight oil glaze on it (is that correct?) so I decided to go for it. I got Lynns DVD out and watched the shaving part REALLY close and even held my razor and made the strokes as Lynn did sorta practice time if you will. I started with the hot water on my face then a really nice lather with T&H Almond cream. I then applied the hot towel (felt great) then more lather. Then I started to shave. Being careful I noticed right away the razor seemed to pull the whiskers. I also noticed that my skin kept getting really dry no matter how many times I applied the lather. I felt comfortable with my technique so I did my whole face and neck. It wasnt the best shave I have had but, I did cut myself either. I followed up with Proaso pre-post shave cream. I dont like the smell of it but it has a nice cooling feel to my skin. Here are a few questions for you guys.

1. Why was the razor "pulling" my whiskers instead of a smooth cut and how can I correct this?
2. What can I do about my skin being so dry during the shave?

I'm a new guy too, but my shaves have improved greatly over the last couple of weeks. When I shaved the first couple of times, I experienced the pulling you're talking about. If your razor is really shave-ready (mine was for sure), you could be using too low an angle ----also, the first couple of times, I remember being shy about it --but you need to tackle it with confidence. Use light pressure down but follow through with the stroke like you know what your doing. I've been shaving for about 4 weeks and I've only nicked myself twice. Both these times were on my second shave ---I was being too dainty about it and using only the tip of the razor. Try to use the full razor and keep it moving --if you leave it in one location and press down you will cut yourself. But the one main thing I've learned is that the razor is forgiving ---just don't go crazy, keep it moving and keep it light. Take all this as one new guy to the next.

As far as your face drying ---maybe it's the cream, maybe your not giving enough water to the mixture --others may be able to help you.

Good luck and realize it will get better.

Thanks, Im hoping some of the guys here can help me out. I was using the middle part of the blade and really wasnt scared or anything. I think the my skin really had something to do with it. I wonder if I should use some pre-shave oil? I will say I had a CD going and it was relaxing. I just need to figure these few questions out.

Did you strop the razor?

you probably also need more water in your lather if it is drying out your face. Either that or you might just have to practice so your shaves don't take so long, don't try to hurry (thats a recipe for blood) but it will happen given time and practice.

I didnt strop the razor as the guy I got it from said it would arrive shave ready.

So much of straight shaving is tied to technique. And what is often overlooked in many discussions even by those of us who have been doing a long time is quality of lather. If the razor is shave ready then what you need to do is work on two things at this point: maintaining a very steep angle as well as a light touch while shaving and lather building technique. Once you have mastered these your shaves will become smooth and pull-free.

One particular note about lather building, lots of straight razor users somewhat prefer soaps, myself included. Many times the reason is that soaps are inherently more flexible with their ability to build different types of lather. With practice though you will learn what the thick dense cutting lather is for straight razor shaving and how to make it. It will afford you one of the closest most comfortable shaves you've ever had and it will not be drying, though it will feel dryer as a lather. You can also do this with a cream but some people have problems getting the water to cream ratio consistent. Once you nail it you'll know it because the shave will tell you so. Hope that helps.

Regards,
EL

"Shave ready" means shaving sharp, not stropped for a shave. Stropping may make a difference.

I don't know who you bought the razor from but unless it was one of the guys here it probably wasn't shave ready. I've gotten afew razors from Eboy sellers who say it will arrive shave ready and believe me its not so thats probably your problem. In any case no matter how shave ready a razor is even if it came from Lynn you still need to strop before shaving that is always mandatory.

As far as your face drying out you either need another cream or soap or need more water or it took too long to shave. I find if you are using a real quality soap or cream your face doesn't dry out. Of course maybe after 30 minutes or so it might but otherwise it shouldn't.

My razor that was honed by Lynn also came with an "oily glaze" on it. I would think to protect the blade from moisture during shipping. I just wiped the blade clean, stropped and shaved.
Donald

Do you guys think that stropping could make that much difference? I shave normally shave in the shower with a Fusion and never have any trouble with drag or pulling or dry skin. Im not giving up. I have a razor at Lynns right now and Ill try that one when he returns it.

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Originally Posted by canman23

Do you guys think that stropping could make that much difference?

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Basicly, Yes. If it doesn't there are many other things it could be but this is the place to start the diagnosis.

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Originally Posted by canman23

I shave normally shave in the shower with a Fusion and never have any trouble with drag or pulling or dry skin.

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Well in the shower dryness wouldn't be a problem. This, however, is the least recommended place to shave with your straight. :nono: don't drop it!!!

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Originally Posted by canman23

Im not giving up. I have a razor at Lynns right now and Ill try that one when he returns it.

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Thats the spirit! there are a lot guys here to help you out.

Dito, Tim. I seem to recall Lynn saying that razors that arrive from him are ready to shave without stropping, but in my experince a shave always benefits from stropping directly before hitting the lather. A shave is also easily ruined by stropping badly. My second ingredient to a bad shave is overhoning and I guess the third is bad lather, but I rarely have a problem with it as it's pretty easy to tell if it's too thin or too dry.

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