Thread: First shave ever with SR

Just got my razor not too long ago and I just shaved with it. I didnt stop it cause i just got it from SRD so I just charged my brush and lathered her up. Lathered my face and got to shaving. My first pass was hard and i didnt nick myself. But my second pass i went xtg and i got a whole bunch of nicks and i even got one on my hand from wiping the lather off. (next time I'm just gonna wash it off) Then after i was done used my nick relief and got to stropping. I had a hard time and I put a whole bunch of nicks in my strop. While stopping it made a high pitched sound should it be doing that. Anyways i need a lot of practice.

When you strop the razor should have a "Draw" on the strop. This means that there should be some resistance or suction on the strop while the spine of the razor stays on the strop the ENTIRE stropping session. Don't lift the spine off the strop, the sound should be more muted and have a draw sound more than a high ringing sound.

a high ringing sound usually means that you did not have your blade flat on the strop, but you actually were liftiing the spine off the strop (and therefore pressing the edge of the blade with force into the strop, therefore creating the high pitch noise).

it's very common for beginner's to nick their strop...seems to be a right of passage and a normal part of the learning curve, so don't beat yourself up for it (I did it too).

in my experience when you are stropping properly, I hear a sound akin to someone saying "sshhhhhhhh", when they want you to be quiet....there is no change in pitch...just an even and consistent "sshhhhhh". You can actually listent to proper stropping in the Wiki and watch some videos as well.....as much as I knew what to do and the theory behind proper stropping, the only way I actually got it down was through practice.

And actually, every once in a while I find I notice something I am doing or not doing and constantly refining my technique...it will come, just try not to get discouraged early....determination and practice.

Kooray83,

Learning to strop properly is one of the most problematic things for a newbie.
When I think back to how bad I was when I started a couple of months ago I cringe with embarresment !
What set me on the true path was getting a reject razor, and practicing stropping it on the back of my strop - this takes away the fear of ruining an edge, and of nicking the strop.
You will really be amazed at the speed of your progress, both in stropping and shaving.

best regards

Russ

A few things jump out in your post. We have advised newbies to start with just the area between sideburn and jawline, and WTG only. The reason is that this is the easiest part of the face to shave, and you need to learn the proper pressures and angles. Develop your skills, and the feel of the blade in your hand and against your face. This advice has come from countless years of experience (and from members who have forgotten more about shaving than I have yet to learn). Once you are comfortable with this part of the face you can add other areas, and XG and ATG strokes. But do that a little at a time. Take your time to learn. Your face will thank you for it.

The other is what has just been pointed out. Develop proper stropping technique. This is critical to straight razor shaving. Don't start by stropping fast. Start with slow laps. Apply just enough downward force to hold the razor flat, and no more! The razor should rest flat, and evenly, on the shoulder and edge. Don't put more pressure on either. Move the blade shoulder first, the edge following. When you reach the end, roll it over using the spine. Don't pick it up off the strop to turn it. Don't get hung up over not getting what you think should be the correct draw (whatever that is). Keep moving the blade evenly during the lap. It won't take long to get it down right. The key is to develop the correct technique, not the speed.

Dward beat me to it - start with your sideburn and cheek area, WTG only. Once you can consistently shave these areas without nicks or errors (i.e missed spots), slowly add in other areas. Make sure you stretch the skin tight while you shave, and prep your beard properly as well - it'll reduce pulling and shiving rash as well.
Oh, and ensure you strop correctly, I can attest to the importance and difference of a properly stropped blade compared to a poorly stropped one.