Thread: First Shave and I'm still alive

If you did strop incorrectly you only jumped the boat by 1 shave, did you change you technique the second time you stropped? Probably not. I'm a newbie and I definitely haven't developed technique, So I wouldn't worry about that.

Many people seem to press too hard on their first shave, is it possible that you weren't use enough pressure on your first shave? I have been very lucky compared to some newbies who post, all the pieces seem to have fallen in place, but for a short while I did have trouble with my chin, and I seemed to have the same problem you did, it was tugging. I learned quickly that I simply wasn't applying enough pressure.

Welcome, I nicked up my first strop so bad that I thought I would never get it. Now after 50 or so shaves I'm just starting to get the hang of it. I agree with other posters about preparing your face. I have tried to get a couple of shaves in without proper prep and it went all wrong. I first fill the sink basin with really hot water (I turned up the thermostat on my hot water heater) I drop in the brush and a towel. Then to the shower, I put on a little pre shave (lotion or anything that softens the whiskers) then shower. Jump out use the hot towel on the face, dunk it two more times, lather than shave. When I do proper face prep I always get a good shave, lately I've been getting great shaves. Hang in there, it only gets better.