Thread: "First Shave"... AKA, "The Kindness of Strangers"

Hi foundling. Condratulations on your first few shaves- it sounds like you have hit the ground running! I wish I had found success that quickly- you should be proud.

I use only one hand- always have. I hold the blade the same way for my whole face apart from doing my left sideburn and the nearby area (cos the tang would get in my ear if I did!). To get around that I turn the blade over and use it the other way (tang near nose, tip of blade at sideburn). This yields good results for me. Perhaps its just practice.

I am also fortunate on my neck because the hair on my neck all grows the same way in a slightly diagonal pattern like this- \ \ \ \ \ \ \ - except for under my right jawline where it goes the to the left. Effectively doing this- ///\\\\\\\\\\

Strange diagrams aside, this allows me to take the same approach on my neck as on my face. Take a care to check where exactly the grain on your neck grows as it is unlikely to uniformly grow straight down. Working WTG doesnt necessarily mean shaving straight down.

One thing about your posts which surprised me was your use of aftershave to sooth the skin. I've often found it to do the opposite. Most aftershave contains alcohol (amongst a bundle of other chemicals) which rapidly drys and taughtens the face. I personally find it much more beneficial to use a moisturiser. When shaving you are removing the hair and also a very fine layer of skin. You remove all oils in doing so and the new skin is left bare and unprotected. Perhaps you could try a moisturiser and see if that helps. For more information on all things cosmetic related speak to Colleen (username 'churley') who is my guru in this area . You'll hear nowt but good things about her on here.

Keep up the good work and if you cut yourself again, use a styptic pencil.

Sandy

Thanks Sandy,

I initially ran under the assumption that my neck hair grows straight down, but in actuality, it is just slightly diagonal (proceeding away from the throat on each side), so that a downward stroke is only slightly XTG. I'm finding it difficult to find an easy way to shave from the throat outwards and downwards. It just seems a little strange to get my razor in there and still be able to see what I'm doing, but it's improving with each try.

The aftershave I'm using is more of a lotion type, and while it does contain a little alcohol, is very heavily moisturized, and dosn't seem to rely on menthol just to create an artificial sensation of cooling. FOr the most part I'm making do with what I have until next paycheck. On the positive side, I've been hiking some almost every day for the last two weeks, and the combination of shave soap and a nice sunscreen seems to be really working wonders for my skin.

Two more shaves under the belt, both using the Mama Bear's shave soap with a tiny spot of shave cream. I've had incredible lather the last two days, and fairly good shaves. One day I had taken a shower earlier so I gave myself the hot towel treatment, which was very nice. Yesterday's shave resulted in the smoothest cheeks I've had since I began shaving all those years ago. The wife even noticed and remarked on it.

I've made two additions to the kit. I finally bought a styptic pencil, and bought some Dickenson's witch hazel. At first it was way too harsh and it stank. I cut it down with some water and added a cologne that I don't use too often. Now I have to use a little more, but it goes on very nicely and smells a LOT better.

I was worried that it would take too long to see results and I'd give up, but so far things have been great. I've got two more razors on the way from cyclophile, which will bring me up to 4. Who knows, maybe I'll put together a 7 day set.

Shaving is still going well. My wife is complementing the smoothness of my cheeks (and can't keep her hands off of them. I've been improving my neck and jawline by first stretching the skin and opening the mouth to bring the jawline skin up to my cheek area, and using an upwards XTG/slight ATG upwards stroke on the neck following a downward stroke.

I've also received two new razors that I'm looking forward to trying out (and one is going to become a rescaling project I think).

I took my first real cut out of my face yesterday. I got a little cocky and fast, and failed to slow down at the corner of my mouth where I have constantly had trouble with nicks.

Check out this thread to find out how I get to the area at the corner of my mouth.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...s-we-pull.html