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

Hello, My name is Jordan, I'm 25, and I live in Austin, Tx. I'm completely new to straights.

First of all, to see how kind this forum has already been to me, check out this thread. Basically, I was given a pretty full kit by a member of this forum who decided to help out someone interested in straights but without the money to get started.

So I'll describe the first shave, and throw in a few questions.

The Kit:
Wm. Elliot full hollow
Tony Miller Starter Strop
Mama Bear's Ylang Ylang soap
Brush stamped "The Strand Brush, Made in England. Pure Badger"
A quality lotion aftershave that I already had in the apartment.

Tony (richardhead) told me both razors he sent were shave ready and would need just about 20 or so passes on the strop.

Getting home after a long hike, I filled the sink with hot water and set my brush in it. I gave the razor a few trial passes on the strop before hopping in the shower. My natural tendency was to want to pick it up, rotate my grip, and then set it back on the strop. I had to keep telling myself not to pick it up. Took a hot shower, got out, gave the razor 20 passes, then picked up the brush. For the lather I followed the directions on classic shaving's advice area, letting the water drain from the brush, but not shaking it, then moving it in a circular motion over the soap to pick up the soap in its dish. I lightly moved the brush in circles over my face until a lather started to build. How thick should a lather be? I saw my face go from pale where I had brushed the soap on, to a white foam, through which I could still see the whiskers, but which clearly covered the skin.

I picked up the razor and proceeded with a WTG pass on the cheeks. After a few experimentations with the angle, I started removing some of the hair from my cheeks. It went so well, I tried an XTG pass. When I reapplied the brush, it had gone cold (would this not had happened if I had created the lather in a mug and kept the mug and brush sitting in a little hot water?). That pass went so well I decided to try my neck. Suddenly I caught myself believing I was shaving with my Mach3. After the razor had moved maybe half an inch, I realized I was shaving ATG as I usually do with my Mach3. Flipped the blade around and started going down instead.

It all went fairly well without incident I had two little nicks up next to my left sideburn that didn't even really bleed. Oh, and at one point I forgot to rinse the blade clean before flipping it over, and with the lather filling the hollow of the blade, it stuck to my face. This was an issue I had not anticipated! Also afterwards, my face was burning! A little (ok, a lot)aftershave helped with this though.

Anyway, after it all, I'm happy with my cheeks, chin, and upper lip, all better than my Mach3. Just below my jawline and my neck is still rough, but looks good enough to make it until tomorrow.

A few quick questions:
1. I am incredibly right-handed, and have a slight tremor in my left. Is there anyone out there that shaves with one hand only that could offer some tips?
2. How should I go about drying my razors? Today it was wiping down with a paper towel, then storing vertically (closed). Are there any parts that I need to be especially careful to dry?
3. I was surprised by how much I could hear the razor passing over the face, is this a technique problem (wrong angle, too much/little pressure?) or is this normal?

Thanks all

Congrats on the first shave! I too sometimes dont wipe the blade and make a pass and the lather sticks, i always laugh because it feels funny...sounds like it went well to me. Just remember to be very cafreful when you strop! You could ruin that nice edge in an instant.

1, I used to shave with one hand, but i switched to two just to see if i could. After about a shave or two it really wasn't a
problem and is a lot easier to do now. I suggest trying a few more with one hand, then attempt two. If it seems at all promising keep trying, but if it really isn't working by all means use one hand!

2, Depending on where you live, you may have to get real serious about drying. Some recommend drying completely with a tissue or something, an alcohol wipe then another wipe and very light stropping on tissue to ensue its fully dry on the edge. I dry it off with some toilet paper real well, blow really hard on the pivot to ensure no waters trapped in there (also try to keep water away from this area if possible) then i strop on the leather for a few pases. After this i leave the razor open for a little bit then return it to its case in a nice wooden box with a silica packet in it. This works very well for me. Some guys have to blow dry their razors and coat them in oil to protect them, but this is for extreme environments.

3, A full hollow razor makes a lot of noise while shaving, this caught me off guard as well. It is perfectly normal, a more stout or wedge razor will make less noise. As long as you don't hear scraping and feel lots of pain you should be doing fine.

Sorry for the huge post, overall great job.:tu Keep with it and it will get easier.

Shave 2 this morning, this time the Dovo. I'm not sure why, it just felt a little more natural in my hand, could just be that I had done this once before without incident. Stropped her up, spent more time making lather, in a mug this time. Left the lather in mug and my second lather was much nicer Both lathers significantly thicker than the first shave, very warm as well.

I had less razor burn this time, I feel like I got my cheeks a little better, but this time cut my face all to hell. I'll live though.

Methinks I need to invest in some aftershave specifically for straight shaving. At this stage would an alum block be beneficial for me? I havn't been using a pencil or anything, so far, though I've cut, they've been done bleeding by the time I finished shaving. Is the only benefit in a styptic (sp.?) to stop bleeding, or does it heal cuts faster?

Today I've been noting that now while stropping I can feel a sort of suction between the blade and the strop. It feels like the strop is being drawn upwards. Is this strop draw? Does this mean I'm doing it correctly?

Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

Shave 2 this morning, this time the Dovo. I'm not sure why, it just felt a little more natural in my hand, could just be that I had done this once before without incident. Stropped her up, spent more time making lather, in a mug this time. Left the lather in mug and my second lather was much nicer Both lathers significantly thicker than the first shave, very warm as well.

I had less razor burn this time, I feel like I got my cheeks a little better, but this time cut my face all to hell. I'll live though.

Methinks I need to invest in some aftershave specifically for straight shaving. At this stage would an alum block be beneficial for me? I havn't been using a pencil or anything, so far, though I've cut, they've been done bleeding by the time I finished shaving. Is the only benefit in a styptic (sp.?) to stop bleeding, or does it heal cuts faster?

Today I've been noting that now while stropping I can feel a sort of suction between the blade and the strop. It feels like the strop is being drawn upwards. Is this strop draw? Does this mean I'm doing it correctly?

Thanks

---

Sounds like you're well on your way!

Yes, that sounds like draw, and yes that is a good sign that your stropping is being effective.

A styptic pencil is needed for stopping cuts as soon as they happen during a shave. Alum is more of an after shaving face tightener (it also helps seal up little nicks). Both are very highly recommended for different reasons. Get a styptic now, because you will undoubtedly get little nicks as you figure out your angles, etc.

Sounds like your first shaves are going extremely well. My first few shaves were a bloody mess. Your stroping sounds right. What your referring to is draw, and its exactly what you want. I for one use an alum block as a stiptic, and find it works well. Remember light light pressure. M3s are designed to be dragged across the face, straights should glide on the skins surface. If your in one of the more humid areas of texas, I'd recommend an occasional drop of oil, especially on the pivot. This is where water can sometimes become trapped and lead to rust. Classic shaving sells dovos sterol for 10 bucks. I really like that stuff because it won't harm your scales at all.

Happy shaving

Patrick

I live in a humid part of the country and I dry my blades with some toilet tissue, dry out the pivot area with the hair dryer and oil my blades with camelia oil. This may be overly cautious but after having some initial rust problems, this has been totally effective. You do have to remove the camelia oil with some alcohol before stropping a blade for shaving but it is a small price to pay.

BTW, congratulations on a great start in shaving! Lightening up your pressure and some practice will take care of the razor burn.

Good job on the first few shaves!

The Tony Miller strop is his latigo starter strop, so it has a bit of a draw to it. That is perfectly normal.

Try not to store the razor in your bathroom, carbon steel rusts quickly if left in a humid environment.

Welcome to straight shaving. :)

Tony.

I only use my right hand as well . I've found that if you keep an eye on the angle of the scales when you look in the mirror it will help you get used to the best angle for the different areas of your face . Just go slowley you wont need a lot of pressure ,Let the razor do the work for you.Paul

I prefer to shave with my right hand exclusively. It feels the most natural to me doing it that way.
I believe there are two different solutions for tackling the left side of the face. The first, and probably most advocated on this site, is to use your left hand. The second, is to use a alternative way to hold the razor in your right hand, so that the scales don't block your eyesight and your knuckles don't get in the way of your cheek. Most barber manuals call that grip "the backhand stroke"-grip. For a basic description: you have to fold the scales lengthwise with the edge and hold the razor like you would hold a regular butter knife, with the scales resting in the palm of your hand, and the tang pinched between your thumb and the knuckle of your index finger. It's very easy that way to shave from the left sideburn to the jawline, and over the left cheek to the chin. A little experimentation won't take you very long to figure out what part of your face shaves easiest with which grip. I also use a "reverse backhand", for shaving against the grain on the right side of my neck.

I certainly don't want to imply this as a superior way, compared to shaving both handed. I think in the end it all boils down to personal shaving style and preference.

Good luck,
Bart.

Thanks everyone so much. I will try changing the left hand grip, and see what happens. The tremmor in my left hand is the major worry as it causes problems when I'm first placing the blade on my skin. I do think I've been using too much pressure. My skin lets me get away with too much pressure as I have a tough, thick beard, and have shaved dry with a Mach3 for years. I kind of have rhino skin.

Shave 3. This morning I was headed to work at 7am, so I shaved with the Mach 3 (with hot shaving soap lather... much nicer) on my way out the door. This afternoon I was possessed by the idea that perhaps I should try now that I had less stubble on my face. I used a lot less pressure than before with this shave.

I tried the backhand grip suggested by Bart for the left side of my face. I was on my XTG pass, when suddenly, on my left cheek, going from nose to ear, I had a perfect view of my shaving angle. I had been going with too much of a low angle. When finished, my left cheek made the right look like crap, even though it had been shaved only 6 hours prior.

Right after this, it hit me that I've probably been cheating myself by attempting the entire face each time. I figured all the advice said start with the cheek just because it's easiest. Only this afternoon did it hit me that if I focus on one area I can develop a better muscle memory, then go to other areas and adapt what I've already learned for a new area. I think shaving the entire face may be hindering me from learning the correct angles and motions.

Jawline is rough, but 8 hours after the shave, cheeks are still smooth, even stroking against the grain, and I'm starting to feel the impact of the shave soap on my skin.

Looking forward to tomorrow, tomorrow's the DOVO again which seemed a little easier to handle yesterday than the Elliot.

Also, the corners of my mouth seem to be the biggest problem area for me in terms of cuts. I'm currently sporting two fine red lines on either side.

Great job! Your well on your way!

Quote:

---

Jawline is rough

---

Try opening your mouth really wide whilst shaving your cheeks down to the jawline. It gives you about an extra inch of cheek space with your mouth open as opposed to closed. When you close you mouth again, you will see that you are now clean shaven down to below the jawline.;)


And you used to shave with an M3 dry?!:eek:

That isn't rhino skin you have, it's a callous! Yikes!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Try opening your mouth really wide whilst shaving your cheeks down to the jawline. It gives you about an extra inch of cheek space with your mouth open as opposed to closed. When you close you mouth again, you will see that you are now clean shaven down to below the jawline.;)


And you used to shave with an M3 dry?!:eek:

That isn't rhino skin you have, it's a callous! Yikes!

---

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it out.

Yah, I've always had a thick beard (grew my first full beard my Sophomore year of High School), and once after 10 days of backpacking, just having returned to civilization, I was trying to shave and dry was the only way I could get the whole beard off (not having any clippers).

After that I always just would shave the 1"-2" above and below my beard dry as I'd keep taking little nicks out of the beard when I couldn't see the line due to shaving cream.

Shave 4, and I think I may have hit a major milestone. Today I shaved with my Dovo and the new tube of Speicek cream courtesy of chrichton, and when done, I was able to go straight to work without cleaning up with my M3. I seem to be getting a better touch, much less irritation, but still a few cuts.

Tomorrow I think I'm going to add a spot of the cream to my Mama Bear soap for a super lather and see what happens.

Great job. :tu
You spoke about doing only part of your face, training muscle memory before moving on.
But I reckon it's much too much fun shaving the whole face, isn't it?:):rolleyes::)

Keep at it. You're doing fine. Focusing more on skin stretching is often the remedy for reoccurring cuts. What the other hand does is sometimes almost as important as what the hand holding the razor does.

my congratulations, and keep it up,

Bart.

It sounds like you are really well on your way! Just keep at it and you will be able to throw away that M3 in no time. Here is a big:tu for Tony (richardhead) and his incredible generosity in giving you the proper equiptment to give you the best possible chance at early success.

David

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

It sounds like you are really well on your way! Just keep at it and you will be able to throw away that M3 in no time. Here is a big:tu for Tony (richardhead) and his incredible generosity in giving you the proper equiptment to give you the best possible chance at early success.

David

---

Yes indeed. Every time I shave I am grateful for the hand from Tony. At the rate I'm able to squirrel away money, it would have been about3-6 mos till I would have been able to really start shaving. I have a feeling every time I pick up a razor it will be :tu for Tony

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bart

Great job. :tu
You spoke about doing only part of your face, training muscle memory before moving on.
But I reckon it's much too much fun shaving the whole face, isn't it?:):rolleyes::)

Keep at it. You're doing fine. Focusing more on skin stretching is often the remedy for reoccurring cuts. What the other hand does is sometimes almost as important as what the hand holding the razor does.

my congratulations, and keep it up,

Bart.

---

Yah, both of my last two shaves I've started out intending to only do the cheeks, but with the lather on and the razor in my hand, it's just too hard to resist. :shrug:

I'll try to focus some more on skin stretching (probably re-watch Lynn's shaving video as a reminder of where to stretch), but it's mostly in the curvy areas that I seem to be cutting myself, so I know some of it is also just learning to adapt the razor to the changing face angles.

Congratulations on making such good progress with your str8 shaving.

I love the members on this forum, their helpfulnes and generosity is unsurpassed. :nj

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 :D. 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 :tu

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