Thread: First SR shave today...

What an experience

well, using the trusty lathering technique from all these weeks of DE shaving, i did my usual routine, and prepared for the shave... contrary to what i heard, and what i assumed (i assumed the razor would glide effortlessly over my face just mowing down anything in its path) the razor grabbed, pulled, scraped, you name it! im positive it was my technique, so thats what im here to discuss... obviously not stropping probably didnt help, but the guy i bought it from said he honed it and stropped it so it would be good for at least 1 shave... it was definitely sharp, no doubt about it... the parts i DID get good angle on and whatnot went pretty smoothly, but my technique sucks... is there any pointers i can recieve on the first SR shave? i think the biggest problem for me was my upper lip... sensitive, and hard to go ATG... but WTG and XTG didnt get anywhere near the amount of stubble off i wanted.. so, to all those who are willing to help a newb... what can i do to start improving on these skills?

Can't say much about the upper lip problem... Not loosing that by choice... Try a shallower angle. At times I tend to go around 25 degrees but 30 seems to be standard.

Strop... I (at first) didn't strop (didn't have one) on my first shave, if you could call it one. After getting a strop and really using it, like 30 passes, I noticed a HUGE difference.

Stropping helped me, but it's just a matter of practice I think. I don't think the stropping was the problem in your case.
Watch the videos, reread that pdf, read the threads about first shaves in the newbies section
and you'll get some more ideas of what you may want to try.
I also found the consistency of my lather is quite important. You have some experience with lather, but as far as i understand for straights you want it drier. And don't vary more than one variable at the time, otherwise you won't have any idea if anything is making it better or worse.
Oh, and I'm not going to pursue BBS until I get better with my technique. I can do it with bunch of passes now, but that's a lot of irritation. So right now I do 2 passes wtg, may be xtg on some places and that's it. Quite comfortable and I can see that my handling of the razor is improving.
So, patience I think is the key.

This would get more responses if it were posted in the shaving or newbie section, as this is not really the section for posting questions. Try a shallower angle (like 30 degrees) if you feel like the razor is digging in or skipping. Also try to use a little momentum. Start your pass a little above the patch of hair that you want to shave so that you have a little bit of movement before you hit the hair. This seems to work a little better than starting out inside a patch of hair. Stropping the blade should help as well.

someone who PMed me suggested i post my shave in here to see what kind of responses i got... if a mod in here wants to transfer it, go right ahead if not, let me know if i can copy/paste without getting scolded for spamming lol

the parts i DID get good angle on and whatnot went pretty smoothly, but my technique sucks...

Well you have done your buddy proud by trusting his good for 1 shave. Now it is on you to properly prepare both your razor and your face for the job at hand.

Congrats on getting some of the shave to go smoothly. You can concentrate on those areas for the next shave and re-enforce what is working for you.
As your dexterity improves the technique will too. That will carry over to the more difficult areas and you will bring what works to work.

You sound like you are on to the forum thing so I'm sure you will find what you look for. It is all here.

Or when you get some specific questions bring em.
When you can define the right question we can divine the right answer.
Good luck

well, one thing i notice is my use of the razor itself... my grip is just rotten... in most areas i find the only way i get a comfortable grip on the thing that will allow me to shave, is holding it much like a knife... or one of those japanese non folding straight razors.... i need a good video

How about Lynn's demo on the DVD and the pdf from Dr. Moss?

start with talkin about WTG or N/S passes as thats what you should start with as your first stage of your straight journey.

RIGHT HAND HOLDING RAZOR:
hold your R hand straight out infront of you, palm down. now flex your wrist so your hand comes up like you are telling someone to STOP. now using your other hand put the razor out infront of your hand for you to grab. i personlly put 2 fingers on both sides of the scales. the razor should be opend to look like this

|
____|, scales up vertically, blade out to the left with edge down towards the ground. basically you have opend the scales up 270degrees

grab the blade, 2 fingers each side of the scales(1 in the front/ 3behind if its more comfortable for you) thumb underneath. thats how you hold it, it doesn't change at all from that grip while doing the right side of your face with N/S passes. yes your hand turns, spins around so that your palm faces in to your face. don't change the grip .. then stroke N to S.. top to bottom of your right cheek and right neck. i hold it like this for my entire lip and chin.

i then change to my left hand using the exact same thing but left hand to do my left cheek/neck.

pretty simple and it will become second nature very quickly.
~J

you make it sound easy lol i know how im SUPPOSED to hold it, but the problem i have is it feels so awkeward when i try to do so... plus, in many areas, i have a hard time seeing where the blade is, and the angle i have it set to... i dont know if you have ever shaved your head, but if you do, its kinda the same way when you are looking in the mirror trying to shave the top of your head with a mach 3... sometimes you get confused with which way you are supposed to turn it, you know? i guess its purely a matter of skill... and skill takes time... no question about it... hopefully ill get it one day lol