Thread: Got my first straight

I still only use my right hand and no real problems

Welcome!

I would try to use both hands if it seems like your arm is in the way... I went several months shaving with my right hand only, and although it seemed strange, I started using my left hand for the easy parts. (cheek and neck) It seems to help out with the arm-blocking-vision thing! Hey, good luck.

Gabriel

I just shaved for the second time. I used my left hand, and it actually wasn't that bad. I mean, I didn't shave well or anything, but it wasn't much more akward than my right hand.

I cut myself in four places tonight...nothing horrible, but I've got to learn not to let the spike tip get into my skin. That's how it happened on three of the four occasions.

I seem to have to hurry to do everything, which I think it really hindering me. I'm hurrying to mix the lather before my face dries out, I'm hurrying to shave (which is obviously the worst thing I could do) before the lather dries out. By the time I went over my two cheeks, the rest of the lather was pretty much non-existant.

I'm using Proraso but not getting much lather. I think this is due in part to my Burma brush and the fact that I need to use a larger bowl to make the lather in. When I put the lather on my face I have a really hard time getting enough so that I can't see though to my skin. I have tried different amounts of water and soap, but I'll keep trying. I plan on getting a new brush soon (probably the Crabtree and Evelyn one), so we'll see if that helps things.

As for now, I'm off to tend to my battle wounds.

Wow thats tough. Just some ideas to throw your way. Try bottled water like distilled or regular to heat up on the stove and try and make lather with that. You'll be able to discount water hardness which may be the culprit. Two, you can toss the brush, you don't need it. Just use your finger and get some (a very, very, small amount) and put in on your fingertips and rub it into your beard. Ensure that you can't see through it. Three, use the lather that you do make with the brush to reapply just to the area your working on. Four, get a soap. They are easier to create lather with, you'll need it to learn with. Fifth, run the very tip of the spike point along the side of your hone at 45 degree angle to blunt the spike so it'll stop biting you. Just a few strokes will dull it for a long time.

Here is my tip of the week.. . Go to classic shaving and purchase some cremo cream. Put a little on your brush and lather on your face. I find it really makes it so I cannot see any skin. Works for me.

Thanks for the tips guys. I tried the distilled water (I have some around for drinking anyway), and that along with a larger bowl helped a lot. In the name of science I ought to have only changed one variable at a time, I suppose, but I was too impatient. I am only shaving every other day at the most due in part to my schedule and in part to letting my cuts heal.

I'm not sure that I really want to grind the spike down, and I don't have a hone yet anyway, so I'm leaving that for now.

Tonight was my third shave, and it was leaps and bounds better than the last two. I made no touchups with my M3, and my face looks decent enough to go out in public. I still had a few nicks, but none from diging the spike tip in.

I find that my lip is the easiest part to shave. I really don't have a problem getting the blade in there and changing its angle.
Other than a few hard to shave areas, I got my neck almost as close as with my M3, and my cheeks slightly better than that. I'd say my cheeks are as good as with my M3. My chin could use some work though...

It seemed like I was having to pull the razor pretty hard for the second shave, so before this shave I did some stropping while at work (my job affords me nice oppurtunities like that ). I made a few dozen passes on .5 paste and kept testing the blade on my forearms as well as trying the HHT.

I know how much it is emphasized that the HHT is only indicative of a good edge after honing...does stropping on .5 paste count as honing? Should I be trying the HHT after stropping on paste? I never did get the blade to slice a hair without catching (same with forearms)....even after stropping on plain leather!

Should I go up to the 1.0 or 3.0 pastes?

Like I said, the shave tonight was good by my standards, but I still think I am not getting the blade sharp enough.

Thanks

Originally Posted by senorswiss

...does stropping on .5 paste count as honing? Should I be trying the HHT after stropping on paste

Paste stropping doesn't really count as honing, but the HHT might still provide some information. Does it still catch the hair or even just break it a little? Is it an effortless clip? Only the last result is worth considering the final Shave Test.

Don't overdo the 0.5 paste. It can oversmooth/wire your edge. For this reason, although I don't use coarser grit pastes myself, they might be a good idea for you. Tony the Stropmeister will know better.

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