Thread: Results.........

Ok for the knowledgable here. I wonder if your face needs to get use to a str8-razor and will adapt eventually given the blade is properly sharpened? I am real new to this and still trying to get the proper angle down and the stroke directions as well as using my non-dominant left hand to put cold sharp steel to my jugular!!!!!

My face was somewhat sensitive and irritated after I decided to do my first full face shave. My neck from the other day while I did not really nick or cut it was hyper sensitive afterwards to the touch. I have a Dovo full hollow grind "Gentleman" shaver and I know it is the most prevalent grind for most but recently read that a half hollow may be more forgiving at first for beginners!

My question is..........I love the razor and I am sure it is quality but should I invest in a half-hollow until I get better since reading states the proper angle not so crucial with a HH grind?

Just thinking outside the box a bit. I think too I just need more experience with a str8-razor just in general. I know there are alot of little variables like proper lathering of soap and setting up the face prior.

Here is my routine-

Col Conks bay rum soap

Badger brush < real badger hair but not a real expensive one by any means

I begin by using a oil for shaving on my face and apply it with a very slight damp face and massage it in.

I then set up my lather by using a slightly warm water to richly lather then apply to a slightly damp face.

I use a cold water stream to rinse my blade between strokes and wipe the blade with tissue clean each time prior to putting the blade
back to my face.

Once I have shaven and done I rinse with a luke warm to room temp. water and pat dry then apply a balm to my face if I stra8-razor shave.

I do have a Norelco 9400 series electric I use when I am in a hurry on most days and this razor does not leave my face irritated what so ever. But I have used a electric for a decade now and used a Braun for many years. I will continue to keep a electric for those days that I just don't have time to properly pamper myself with a str8-razor. Because I view that as a pamper and total Zen experience to do a str8 shave!

So can you tell me what if anything I am doing to be so wrong or do I just have to get my technique down and face conditioned to be receptable to a str8-razor as well.

I tend to think most is inexperience and my face not use to cold sharp steel on it!

Thank you kindly.........

The irritation may be your using too much pressure and angle , your setting yourself up for disappointment if your looking for instant results . It takes weeks of shaving to start to master this. Most say around 100 shaves to build the muscle memory and develop a technique and which angles to shave in. It's a constantly changing routine till you achieve a system that works for you , now really the short story , pressure is your enemy , also a properly honed razor will give a smoother shave , and as stated maybe it will need some adjusting to a new routine.mmine did not , I have been DE shaving for 40 years so maybe mine was already used to a blade. Good luck , go slow , get comfortable with each area on your face before you move to the next , I shaved my cheeks for a week before I moved to the neck , Tc

From my experience, proper stretching of the skin and light strokes will help. If the blade is not pressing the skin very hard, it should not irritate the skin much. I had to remind myself that it was not a cartridge I was shaving with. YMMV.

This is what I thought guys. Just need to get use to the technique and a str8 for sure. 100 shaves!!!! Wooooo, I may get there in about 4 years since like I stated I still use a electric mainly due to time constraints on a day to day basis. Mainly the str8 comes in on weekends. Thanks guys for the replies and advice duly noted.

I have been shaving at night so I can dedicate more time to getting the perfect shave.

YMMV is overused, but it is interesting that you have success with an electric razor and In my 50 years of shaving, I have tried 5 or 7 electrics of every type and ALWAYS got bad shaves and razor burn from them.

Others have hit it...almost no pressure is needed IF your blade is truly shave ready, and a very narrow angle, the oft repeated 1 to 2 spine-widths from the face, is the key to success as are good face prep, lathering and stropping.

Try changing one thing at a time....for instance, for one shave, skip the oil (which may be causing "stickiness"), and if you get no change put the oil back in the next time and change something else.

It takes practice and experimentation, so hang in there.

Shave just the lather. If you think about your stroke pressure as trying to wipe all the lather off without any more pressure touching your skin than it takes to remove the lather that is where it needs to be. To begin with you can start with the blade angle quite code to you skin. Two spine widths off your skin is a good place to start and feel free to make that shallower. It is likely if you put the spine against your skin it will suction on and feel very sticky. The other thing already mentioned is stretching and holding your skin. I could not get a close or comfortable shave without it, it is very important for that and avoiding nicks. Keep you lather thin enough to be slick. Dry lather can be very sticky and not very comfortable for the blade. I know the other guys said this all too but it is that important.

Electrics and straights really don't go well together. I used an electric from the time I started shaving until I was in my 50s. When I started wet shaving and using straights I found using a DE worked out much better as the tool to use when in a hurry and in on a daily basis and to get what I missed when I started with straights. I actually started with a DE first and then switched to straights though I'm not sure that helps that much from a shaving standpoint.

The grind won't really matter and the angles are really the same to matter what razor you use.

I would suggest another soap. Col Conk is kind of on the low end. Check out our soap forum and you'll get plenty of ideas and recommendations on what's better.

Lots of great advice here so far. One thing not mentioned explicitly...since you are taking more time to shave while you are learning, perhaps try just lathering small portions of your face you are shaving at any given time...this will ensure your lather is fresh and lubricates the blade as it passes over your skin. One of the worst things starting off is dry lather which makes the skin sticky....as a new straight shaver your tendency might be to try and power through it...which is the worst possible option. Go light and go slow!

I think I have been too shallow of an angle when shaving. I am not at a 30 degree or near. I know some said two spine widths approximate. I need to pay more attention to that. A learning process no doubt.......also tried a new soap today and have some MWF on the way since it got great feedback on this forum.

The journey continues. I also need to go to the next area meet here in NC to have some of the old pros evaluate my razor to see if it is truly in the area it should be as well. I need practice with the strop stroke as well!!!! That will come to muscle memory one day I am sure. Right now I feel like a drunk chimp trying to properly flip the blade by finger rotation. Just not natural right now.

So the student will continue to learn or die trying