Thread: 1st Shave (Thanks Lynn)- No More irritated Neck

Hi everyone! If you remember me--in the begining of the week I attepted to shave with a double edge and was butchered. But thanks to you guys--I resolved that issue!

Well yesterday, when I arrived home...there was a package from Lynn! My Sharpened Straight Edge Mother of Pearl Dovo --- SUCH A BEAUT!!!!!!! (A tear came to my eye when I first gazed at it).

So this morning I:

- Preped face with hot towels
- Used AOS Pre-Shave oil
- Lathered up Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream (Rose--they were out of Sandlewood)
- got a towel ready for lather wiping
- Held the blade against my face (flat on the face first--thenever so slightly a small angle till it "catched")

POOF I was SHAVING. NO CUTS AT ALL!

Have a few questions:

- I had to re-lather so many times...it seems when I finished one side--the lather dissappeared on the other side. Any way to keep the lather longer?

- I only went WITH the grain. and I feel a little stubbly still---should I increase the angle? I KNOW I cut hair--it was on the blade.

- My face is NOT SORE or burning -- is that normal for a first shave? I am thinking I need to go closer.

My hardest parts where:
- Switching hands
- Upper Lip and Chin

This will all come with practice!

THANKS EVERYONE!
(Lynn -- WOW that is a good edge----it really does cut a hair when you place it next to it in the air).

Diablo, glad to hear you had a good experience. As far as lathering, make sure the lather is wet, slippery, and sufficient - it's totally useless if it dries. Since you're a newbie and probably taking your time, relather if you feel it's drying out. It sounds to me that you're not putting enough on your face if you're finding it disappears quickly. For me, a nice lather can stay thick and wet for enough time to strop and shave. I relather for each "round" of shaving. Keep the lather on the toughest parts of your beard for the longest time to let the lather permeate the hair.

Regarding closeness, you can do multiple passes. Do a search for a thread named "how many passes". We discussed this topic at length. Also, check out Lynn's video in the video link. Let your face adapt to your new shaving style. It's amazing how adaptive the body is to change.

-Rob

Diablo,


Great news from a fellow NY'er. I think Rob is right about it drying out may be a time factor. As for the little stubble the solution to that is against the grain or at least across the grain. I shave pretty much every morning and the first pass is with the grain the second against and any touch up on a third.

Lips and chin are the toughest part. I have been shaving for about a year and 3 months and I can tell you it willl take time before you become comfortable here. It will come in time. Enjoy the shaves.

Thanks Rich and Robert!

I am going to experiment with the Lathering tomorrow -- a friend of mine said he just lathers up 1/2 a face at a time -- but i like the later to permeate the beard.

Hopefully in a few months I will be able to field all these newbie questions.

I do have to say -- for all the newbies out there who did not try it. As long as you are not scared and have a steay hand (and a sharp blade)...it seems to be okay. Technique is Key---there is not feeling like the straight edge over the skin---- remarkably smooth feeling -- it practically glides. I had to check the blade to make sure U was cutting hair numerous times--and when I looked down---I saw I WAS--and ALOT of it. Crazy!

Hey Rich -- trying to get a few other fellow NYers to follow the Straight Edge path!

The drying out of the lather is normal. You are starting out and probably taking a long time to shave. When I started it took me an hour. Can't expect any lather to last that long without drying out, even in a bowl .

As you get better and faster it will start to last. I can shave in a pinch in 10-15 minutes but prefer to take 20-30. Don't like to rush a good thing.

Nothing wrong with re-lathering parts that you shave last either. I still go over the neck at times because when I get to it the lather is already "deflating".

Enjoy your shaves.

Originally Posted by diablonyc2

I had to re-lather so many times...it seems when I finished one side--the lather dissappeared on the other side. Any way to keep the lather longer?

Make the lather a little wetter, as long as it doesn't run off your face. I don't know if you're making it hot, but the water vaporizes more quickly out of hotter lather.

I only went WITH the grain. and I feel a little stubbly still---should I increase the angle? I KNOW I cut hair--it was on the blade.

THat OK when you start. Just get comfortable handling the razor. Increasing the angle is not to your benefit. Unless it's just a little it can lead to irritation, and you increase the chances of cutting yourself. It may be that your razor is just on the edge of beginnig to cut and is skipping because you're dropping the angle too much. So, after you increase the angle to the point where it starts cutting, increaswe just a little more to give yourself a slight margin.

All great advice!

I did not Strop the razor yet....may give it a good 15 quick light strops tomorrow before I begin my 2nd attempt.

I wonder if they make a hot towel machine like in the old barber shops! Hmmmm (Damnit -- stop spending $$) lol

awsum for first shave! yes barber supply vendor on links sells hot towel cabinet..I have one same as they use in art of shaving store works great...guys are right...use hot water and soap during reshave...many times before multi passes I take little lather and hot water on my fingers and rub into problimatic areas before making another pass...I found restroping during shaving fun but of no use unless razor poorly stroped to begin with...blade should hold an edge for entire shave...with regard to stouble if it seems just a few hairs, they usually diasappear after face prep to close pores...wipe off remaining lather...rinse completly with warm water drie then rerinse face with ice cold water dry and apply achohol based aftershave pat face with aftershave vigorusly (dont hurt yourself) let after shave dry and about 2-3 minutes later stubs will disappear as pores close...If you still have stubs and lynn has honed rasor then then your stroping tech maybe suspect....shaving is only real test of sharpness the hair test is not that effective...charlie

Not only is an against the grain pass what gives you the silky smooth skin feeling, but propper stretching will also be essential. I always end my shaves be stretching behind the growth of the hair. It makes the hair stand a little taller and the razor cut a little closer. Be very careful with your hand in front of the edge if you try it for yourself.

X

Hi there! I'm quite new to this too, but I've found when shaving the chin and lip area in particular I do a much better job when holding the blade with two hands (held by the spine, on hand at the toe and one at the heel) and being VEEERY careful