3rd shave...argh

[prezdead]

3rd shave down, but STILL unable to do my neck. I just cant seem to hold the razor in a comfy position and at the right angle

I strop before AND after shaving, but it still doesnt feel like my razor is sharp enough. I sure hope i didnt strop it wrong and mess it up. I watched videos on it and I seem to be doing it right. I get no singing

Still trying to get use to using my left hand, but its still pretty difficult.

I HAVE been reading up and watching videos, and they all just make it look WAY to easy and seem to just fly through it.

Also after watching videos I've come to the conclusion that my lathering SUCKS, so that doesn't help either. :-\ Guess its time to save up for a better brush and soap

[Arock]

Hang in there, your grip will slowly feel more comfortable. From my own experience when I first started I was using too shallow of an angle on my neck it is hard to get the correct angle on the slope. So playing with the angle a bit may correct your problem. I'm sure other more experienced members will be able to offer you even more advice.

Arock

[Obie]

Hello, Prezdead:

Give it time and have patience. A number of points to consider here:

1. Where did you buy your razor, what is it and was it professionally honed?
2. Preparation is an important element of wet shaving with a straight razor. I don't know what you do in your preparation. Perhaps if you would briefly tell us your method, we might be able to offer some thoughts.
3. Do not expect a perfect shave on your third try. It does take time to hone your skill.
4. Everyone has trouble with his neck. The best thing to do right now is to concentrate on the easier parts of your face, especially the cheeks. Get to know our razor, its weight, blade size and overall characteristics.
5. Work on your neck with your former razor until you become adept with your straight razor.
6. I am glad you try to use both hands. I recommend that. Yet there is no law that says you must use two hands. Use one or two, left or right — use a method most comfortable to you.
7. Don't challenge your razor. Make it your friend.
8. Throw the clock away and spend as much time as you need to.
9. Divide your face into geographical regions and shave accordingly.
10. Watch the razor's angle. The general rule, say, on the cheeks, is to keep the razor at a 30-degree angle. Now, that is an arbitrary number. You may keep at a 20-degree angle, or what works best for you. The angle will change in other parts of your face.

In the meantime, please briefly tell us what you do with the razor, and how you handle it. Don't let all this throw you. You have friends here who will try to help you.

Regards,
Obie

[Deerhunter1995]

Im jusst a nubie here but try using a diffrent angle on your razor, i find that about 25 degree angle workes for my stubble. but feel free to experiment on other angles, take your time and enjoy it before u know u will be gettign good shaves

[Stubear]

First of all, you're not going to learn all you need to learn in three shaves, its just not going to happen as there is a bit of a learning curve. It took me a good few weeks to work out what I was doing..! Dont get frustrated by it, but try doing a dummy shave using a butter knife or something.

Strop the butterknife as you would a razor, make your lather and do all your normal face prep and then "shave" the lather off. This will get you a better feel for what you're doing.

I'm assuming you got your razor from a source thats known to sell shave ready razors? Its very common for people to get a shave ready razor and, because of their technique or bad prep (or both!), think that the razor is not shave ready. You said yourself that your lathering is poor, so make sure you get that sorted.

Check this Wiki article on making lather, and be honest with yourself if you're not getting the right results: Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki or this one for cream Making basic cream lather in three different ways - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Getting the right lather should really help!

With your stropping, are you rolling the razor on the spine and keeping the pressure light? If you think your stropping is pretty close to that of the videos and you are happy with it, then its probably Ok. Its hard to say without seeing what you're doing, but I'm just offering options..!

If you think you've damaged the edge by rolling it (you'll know because the stropping stroke will feel horrible and scratchy and you can hear the scrape) then you'll need to send the razor to be honed.

Check out Xmans one handed shaving video in the Videos forum. I'm another one handed shaver, so you dont have to do things two handed!

You need four basic elements for a good shave:

- A shave ready razor (which you hopefully have!)
- Good stropping (Which you probably have by the sounds of it)
- Good lather and face prep (Which you definately dont have)
- Good shaving technique (Which you're learning)

The one thats really missing here to me is the lathering and face prep, so work on that and see if things improve. Dont underestimate its importance, it really makes a difference!

Good luck!

[commiecat]

Be patient and keep practicing. I remember you saying that your second shave was much better than your first, and it's not unusual to have inconsistent results when starting out. When I started shaving with a straight, I would try all sorts of various angles, grips, ways of stretching, etc. You try something new and sometimes it's Woohoo! while other times it's Ow, dagummit!

I understand that it can be frustrating but I promise that if you stick with it, you'll eventually be able to fly through a shave as well. Master the easy spots on your cheeks first and then start trying to navigate underneath your jaw line and around your lips and chin.

Don't give up!

[prezdead]

Thank you all for the encouraging word!

I got my razor from SRD, its a Dovo 5/8

as for face prep, I take a shower and wash my face using hot water, and leave it wet between getting out and applying the lather.

As for lather, I was reading and think i might try adding some glycerin to the mix just to see if that helps. Also i feel my brush isnt up to par as its a VDH from the set with the brush,soap and bowl

[Obie]

I got my razor from SRD, its a Dovo 5/8

as for face prep, I take a shower and wash my face using hot water, and leave it wet between getting out and applying the lather.

As for lather, I was reading and think i might try adding some glycerin to the mix just to see if that helps. Also i feel my brush isnt up to par as its a VDH from the set with the brush,soap and bowl

Hello, prezdead:

Thanks for your note. Lynn Abrams hones the razors at SRD; therefore, one can assume the razor is quite sharp.

Let's take a look your shave equipment. The VDH brush is not the best in the world, but it can be made to create good lather. The VDH soap is not exactly top shelf either, but it, too, can be made to create good lather. Let's try this:

On the way to the shower, please put your brush in a mug of hot water (not boiling). Add some hot water to your soap mug, just enough to cover the soap. Now head for the shower.

After the shower, leave your face wet. Here I suggest applying a bit of pre-shave product. There are many at various prices. Proraso is good and reasonably priced. All you need is just a little bit.

Give your brush three gentle shakes, dump the water in the mug, and begin swirling brush in the soap mug, for about 30 seconds or so, to load it with soap. Proceed to make lather, either on your face or into a separate mug, and gauge your lather. The idea is to make it as rich as you can get it, not too wet, not too right, but with the right balance. If it needs water, add a few drops at a time. You will learn this in time. Mantics59 has a good U-Tube video on this.

When done lathering, strop your razor carefully. Try 25 laps on the linen and 50 on the leather. Here, too, you'll eventually find the right balance for yourself. There are excellent stropping videos as well. Look in the Wiki for a treasure of information on everything.

The shave comes next. For now work on your cheeks by holding the razor at, say, about a 20 to 30-degree angle the best you can judge. Don't force the razor. No pressure; let the razor's pressure be enough. If you alternate hands, right hand on the right side and left hand on the left.

After the first pass with the grain, re-lather and try another pass with the grain. The whole idea is to reduce the stubble with each additional pass. For now, stop at these two passes with the grain. Shave the neck with your former razor. Try this for the next two or three shave and let's see how you feel about your shave, or until you start feeling more comfortable with the razor.

Little by little expand the terrain you cover on your face. You'll get there. Don't give up.

In the meantime, as I mentioned, watch carefully as many videos and read as much as you can on every aspect of shaving. If you have questions, please post them.

Regards,
Obie

[Obie]

Hello again, Prezdead:

A quick note. If you add glycerin to your soap, two or three drops should do it. Any more and you'll kill the lather. Don't overdo it.

Regards,
Obie

[prezdead]

well i just got a great surprise. My brother had sent a bunch of shaving stuff home for me to have. including a Col. Conk Almond shave soap and some pre shave oils and shave cream and after shave balm