Thread: "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. 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

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.