First shave in the big apple

Hi all,
Today my freshly honed razor from whipped dog arrived and I eagerly proceeded to mangle my face with it. Not that it wasn't sharp, just beginners luck, I suppose. Ok, it wasnt that bad, but my wife did offer to hang some of that yellow plastic police line tape over the bathroom entrance when i was done. The parts i did well have never been smother. It ain't like slicing an onion, that's for sure. Anyway, I had a great time, even so, and my research prior to this first attempt ended on this site again and again, so I just wanted to thank all the folks who contributed to this body of knowledge. Going to keep at it and keep reading - thanks again.

That's great that it was a good experience for you. A nice start to a new year!

Second shave under my belt - much better experience, but still some nicks. i have really coarse hair - especially where the goatee would grow and at the sides of the mouth. i also have trouble with the bottom of the chin. Any suggestions?

My advise to all nubiees like myself is to to remember to stretch your skin . Its easy to forget but if you remember it can be the difference between an ok shave and a great shave. The bottom of the chin and the neck an be trouble areas for many of us but if you look in the wiki you can find tips on mapping the hair growth and shave technique. No worries tho, it will come.
What part of the city are u in? I live in queens now but im from downtown.
Good Shaving!

Thanks for the advice - I try to stretch, but I do admit I have a tough time particularly in those small areas. Seems like I have trouble seeing myself, holding the razor correctly and stretching all at the same - I guess the stretching is what suffers most. I live in midtown at the moment. Thanks again for the help!

Wow, awesome shave. Took my stropping seriously, took a nice long shower, made a really good lather and tried my fourth shave. The real key was dropping the spine. I held it at one spine width above my face. Turns out that this is what made the difference - I must have been holding the razor at 40-45 degrees before, but once I dropped the spine, it went smooth as butter. I didn't cut myself, and have a shave that is better than all but a few of the best shaves I have ever gotten off a three blade disposable. I saw all but a few, only because I'm still a little inconsistent in certain spots at difficult angles. Everywhere else was fantastic. Thanks to everyone on this site that contributed to the body of knowledge that allowed it - I'm officially a convert. :rock: