Thread: First Straight Shave: Success!

Today I received my first straight razor in the mail, a C-Mon Hollow that I bought in the classifieds. It's simple, gorgeous, and affordable, and of course the most important thing, shave ready.

I first took a hot shower and scrubbed my face really well.

Next, I used baby oil as a preshave treatment, which I have found to work extremely well with my old razor. I figured I'd give it a try and massaged it in.

I went on the cheap end of things with the soap and brush, using the Van der Hagen soap, boar brush, and bowl kit. Again, starting at the very lowest to work my way up.

The lather I'm still a little unsure about, but I got it going before I stropped. I'll ask more about this later.

Stropping actually seemed pretty simple, and I did about 30 passes before I put the lather on my face and began to shave. The stropping was pretty slow, but I was holding the razor like it was a lightsaber before I started, almost terrified.

I worked a good lather onto my face and began with my dominant side right at the top of my sideburn. I gained more confidence as I shaved down to my jawline and then over towards my cheek and nose area. I even attempted a bit of the mustache.

I then switched hands and did the same pattern on my left side. Things went smoothly there as well. I'm happy to report that there are currently no nicks or cuts on my face to speak of, simply BBS skin. It was a truly awesome experience, especially since I had to apply virtually no pressure to my face other than what the weight of the blade provided.

After shaving I put on some Gillette Fusion ProSeries aftershave, which is a gel and also has a slight SPF in it. It was a nice aftershave that didn't leave me feeling oily.

One of my main questions regards the timing of stropping, working up a lather, and applying it to ones face. Which do you do first? Is it simply a matter of preference or is one more important to take care of first?

Also, any of the process is open for criticism, it's greatly appreciated. I look forward to many more fantastic shaves!

First off welcome to SRP and congratulations on your first shave.

As to your question about lather and stropping. I personally strop after I rub my pre-shave into my beard and do 20-30 laps on homemade denim strop and 40-50 on my leather, also a diy. Then after that i whip up my lather and go to town on the beard.

That's just my routine but it's what ever works for you. Once again congratulations on your first shave.

Happy shaving.

William

Welcome and congrats on your first shave! For me I strop before I get in the shower, soak my brush while in the shower, then lather and shave..but thats me You'll just need to figure out a system that works for you, there's really no stead fast way of doing it. Enjoy!

Sounds like you had a very good first experience. Keep at it and you will achieve shaving Nirvana!

Welcome and congrats on a great first shave! I usually soak my brush in hot water in my shave bowl while I shower. Then I get a lather on my beard before I strop. When I'm done stropping I rub the first lather in with my hands to work it in. I reapply lather wash and thoroughly dry my hands and then have at it with. I think its a variation on a cold water shave prep in a barber manual for 1905 that was posted here...it usually leads to a warm lather the first pass and cool to cold lather thereafter. I like it and it treats my somewhat sensitive skin just right.
Another tip from one new guy to another...now that you've had a great first shave you have to be prepared for a setback or two somewhere along the line. Like learning any new skill this will come in fits and starts. So don't be discouraged if/when a mediocre shave or a weeper rears its head, just keep plugging away and lean on the community here if you need to, lots of extremely knowledgeable folks and guys going through the process together are here and everyone is usually willing to lend a hand or give advice.
Now that I've babbled on for an hour...welcome again.

Many Happy Shaves!

Congrats on your success!

To answer your question, I lather right on my face so I'll strop the blade first, and then work the lather into my beard.

Thanks for all the advice gents!
I'm really unsure as to the quality of my lather. Sometimes I feel like it's thick and rich. Other times it has looked more like milk I spilled on my face. I've been using very little water to get the lather going since it seems that if there was too much the lather would simply get really watery and useless as far as protection goes on the shave. Thoughts?

As far as preparing for setbacks... I'm good and ready for the first nick or cut. It comes with the territory, but I know it's well worth the price. Plus, it gives me a chance to tell my friends "I cut myself using a straight razor". There's just something about that. (In a non-arrogant way, of course)

Originally Posted by con16721

I'm good and ready for the first nick or cut. It comes with the territory, but I know it's well worth the price. Plus, it gives me a chance to tell my friends "I cut myself using a straight razor". There's just something about that. (In a non-arrogant way, of course)

That's a good attitude! As for as the lather, I'm not too familiar with VDH soap but I have found that generally when I get a thin lather it's because I'm not using just the tips of my brush (pushing the brush into the bowl) or because I've got too little water (I know it seems backwards). I don't know enough to diagnose it without seeing the lather but I do know that the article on the wiki is fantastic! Check it out
Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Wow. Let's just say I completely missed that wiki before. I've been doing the lather all wrong!

Happy to be of service!