New and performing magic helps!

Hello all, just got into SR shaving a couple of days ago. Got tired of paying for new cartridges all the time, and I've kept knives with me for several years, which I already use the arm hair test for, so I figured I'd start with a straight.

So, I picked up some stuff from SRD, and some Proraso Soap and a boar brush from the local drugstore, and finally some shave soap and a second brush from Ogallala (I already use their aftershave).

Shaved twice so far, and I've gotta say, I don't know what everyone's problem is when starting out. It's not BBS yet, but I haven't nicked myself and haven't really had any pulling since I found a decent angle for my face. It's fairly smooth around my cheeks and some parts of my neck. Rougher around my Adam's Apple, because I have a fairly pronounced one, but I'll get that within a few shaves.

Shaving with both left and right hands is easier for me to get used to than most, I think. I'm lucky in that aspect because I've been a practicing magician for 5 years and counting, so my non dominant hand is highly dextrous. I'm not ambidextrous, but close!

Anyways, if I post here regularly, you'll notice I'm a rather prolific writer, so I apologize in advance for my long posts!

Happy shaving!

Did you hone the blade yourself?

Also, just because you don't knick yourself doesn't mean you have the technique perfected.

Also, do you got WTG/XTG/ATG? And how many total passes?

That's great keep at it and if you have any question the people on this site with the knowledge are more than happy to help you out

Welcome to SRP. Congrats on an excellent first shave, It's not often I don't have to say, "It's probably your angle" Good job...

Rich

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Originally Posted by thorxes

Did you hone the blade yourself?

Also, just because you don't knick yourself doesn't mean you have the technique perfected.

Also, do you got WTG/XTG/ATG? And how many total passes?

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Picked up the blade from SRD, so it wasn't honed already, although I will eventually hone my own after I use the free honing certificate.

Didn't say I'd perfected my technique, far from it in fact. I know all about perfecting technique because of my background as a magician. However, reading some of the posts about uncomfortable first shaves, pulling, and nicking all the time (I've been lurking awhile), I don't see how they managed.

From what I've experienced, its all about making sure the conditions are right: I practiced making lather a few times to get good stuff and tested it with my cartridge razor first, and I know I can consistently get a lather good enough to shave with. I make sure my skin is tight and stretched wherever possible. As for the angle, if it pulls, stop and try a new one until you find the right angle.

To me, it's a fairly basic concept. Refined technique comes with time and practice, but basic technique that will allow a nick-free, comfortable shave, even if it isn't close, should be achievable by anyone on their first shave. It's a matter of how they go about doing things. My angle, for example, isn't anywhere close to 30 degrees where people recommend. It's an extremely shallow angle for most of my face, and a slightly higher but still shallow angle on the neck.

...I'm being long winded again. Moving right along now, I'm doing 4 passes at the moment... admittedly that's a lot, given that I've only shaved twice, but again, if you're careful with what you're doing it doesn't hurt. I'm doing 2xWTG, 1xATG, and then 1XXTG. Once my technique is better, it'll be 3 passes only, and I'll experiment with whether or not to use XTG or ATG first, but ATG before XTG is what I've done for years with my cartridge razor, and it's still comfy so that's what I do.

Thanks for the welcome guys!

If you bought the blade from SRD, I'm sure Lynn honed it for you. All SRD razors come shave ready... The certificate is for another honing that they offer free of charge, You can use that a few months down the road....

Look BLUF
You did it the right way reading watching videos and all the rest of what is supposed to be done. I know I like a lot of others jumped right in with the attitude of this cant be hard and had a terrible time learning how to use a straight. Keep doing what your doing and enjoy the experience it only gets better with practice

Perhaps presditigitation should be a rerequisite to Straight Razor shaving!

Good that you are starting out right!:beer2:

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

Perhaps presditigitation should be a rerequisite to Straight Razor shaving!

Good that you are starting out right!:beer2:

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Nah, the less people that have those secrets the better :)

Third shave today, cheeks and lower face now approaching BBS, though I need to reduce number of passes from 4 to 3, and potentially 2. Neck is still rough but that's to be expected.

I've found now that a shallow angle on my first pass is best, followed by a much more aggressive angle on my other passes provides a much better and more comfortable shave than keeping it all at a shallow or aggressive angle. First nick today, very small and only because I had a pimple I didn't know about. Haven't had one in years, maybe something to do with switching to a straight?

Overall, things are going well, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this, as opposed to the monotonous task of cartridge shaving, which I didn't dislike but didn't enjoy either.