Now Is the Time

[JDCAL29]

Men of SRP,
I have a straight razor that has been honed in SRP Member Services. I have read and watched all that I possibly can, my head is in the game. I'm taking the plunge into the world of straight shaving right now. I'll let 'yall know how it turns out...

-JDCAL29

[simpleman]

Good Luck and hope to hear from you after the shave,

[JDCAL29]

Here's the dirty details:

Razor - Crown & Sword 1720

Cream - Barbasol......Yeah yeah, I know. A good soap, dish and brush are on the way.

I took the advice that I read about keeping a low angles and only doing the left side of my face in the side burn area.

I "prepped" as best as I could with a hot towel, and worked to stretch the skin.

The feeling of the blade just gliding across my face was weird. It didn't hurt or anything, but I just kept imagining that I'd be peeling a whole layer of skin off or something.

I didn't cut or nick myself, but also only did a small area. There is a small portion that feels similar to the results I'd get with a BIC; the rest is patchy. I'm going to stick with it!!

[simpleman]

time and practice is all it takes. Ive been shaving for months and still learn stuff on a regular basis

[ReardenSteel]

Congratulations on what seems to be a successful beginning! Time and patience are key and before you know it, your Bic will be a distant memory.

[ace]

Congratulations! Sounds like a good start. Take your time and the progress will come. I learn something every shave. I learned something this morning during my shave, but I've already forgotten what it was.

[cpcohen1945]

"Proper angle" is tricky.

Too flat, razor slides over the hair, not enough hair gets cut. Too high, razor pulls the skin, scrapes the hair.

Somewhere in-between is right -- experience is the only teacher. Each part of the face is different. And sometimes I think each _day_ is different.

Sharp razor + correct angle + decent lather ==> nice shave.

Charles

[MikkoH]

Yes,
time and practice.

Remember, do not push too hard, only very light pressure against the skin and you are done.

ie. let the sharp blade do its work. Too much pressure causes razor burn.

[JDCAL29]

Thanks all! This is more of a general shaving question, but I have always had trouble with red bumps on my neck after any type of shaving. I am just breaking into the straight shave world, as you know, but have always gotten the red bumps with any bic or gillette razor and a philips norelco electric razor which I completely dislike and wish that I never would've bought. I would have gotten more use out of the $80 bucks by lighting it on fire....I digress.

I have tried expensive shave gel, barbasol, soap, whatever, I always get bumps, but JUST on my neck. I also make sure to use aftershave after, again, I have tried many different kinds. What I have been doing lately is mixing gillette gel with some neosporin. That combo seems to tame the redness down quite a bit. I'm going to use the straight regardless, but what the heck?? How can I fix this? Or do I just have crappy sensitive neck that'll always be irritated?

[KingOscar]

As everyone else has said patience is almost as important as proper technique. I'm a newbie shaver of about 1 month and I can tell you each shave gets better and pretty soon you will wonder why anyone every thought the cartridge was a good idea.

Happy shaving!