Sideburn 1st try not bbs?!

[jkelz]

Hello,

I took the advice on here and for my first shave I went WTG(with the grain) from my sideburn down to my jaw line using my dominant hand. After the pass, the razor had only scooped up lather and a wee-bit of my whiskers. Is it normal to not catch every hair on the first pass?

[rgc58]

Good job on using the advice from the pros on your first shave. I have been at it for 2 months now and had similar probs at first. Your angle may have been to flat and that will allow the edge to slide over some whiskers but I think thats better that being to steep and scraping. Use light pressure and about a 20 30 degree angle. Start flat and increse a little till it cuts good helped me. No pressure though as I learned that the hard way with some razor burn. Are you using a razor that has been pro honed as that will make alot of differance. Stay with it and you will wonder why you waited to sr shave. You learn on every shave and there is alot of help here. Have fun and take you time. Welcome to SRP
Glenn

[Cheeks]

Is it normal to not catch every hair on the first pass?

IME, yes, quite normal. With a cartridge disposable, we become accustomed to the process of lather, one pass with tons of pressure, rinse and done. Straight shaving is the exact opposite. To paraphrase someone else who summed it up pretty well:
"when sahving with a straight razor, each pass should not be about total beard elimination, but about gradual beard reduction througn multiple passes"
Can you get them all in one pass? I guess, but you'd have to use lots of pressure and greatly increase the chances of cutting yourself, while simultaniously decreasing your overall skin comfort.
If on each stroke you notice chopped whiskers in the lather on the blade, you are in fact shaving.
I can get a pretty smooth face with two passes, one with the grain and once across.
from the sound of it, you are certainly on the right track.
I would advise you to focus less on exactly how much whisker you are lobbing off, and instead work on a fluid, comfortable stroke. As long as you see whisker coming off, you are on the right track (generally speaking). If after a few passes you still have stubble, dont risk irritation by digging away with your straight. SImply finish up with whatever shaving utensil you are familiar with, and try again when you are in need of another shave.
Patience is the key to shaving with a straight... the more you try to force it to do what you want, the further from "right" you are.
Hope that helps, and remember, I am a newb still too, so this is only my humbe opinion, based on my personal experience, YMMV.
Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

[Ryan82]

Can you get them all in one pass? I guess, but you'd have to use lots of pressure and greatly increase the chances of cutting yourself, while simultaniously decreasing your overall skin comfort.

I disagree. With a sharp razor, good prep and an experienced hand you can get a very servicable shave with one pass. It's called the "once-over" and was common with barbers, who had to shave many customers daily with a quick yet close one pass. It's all in the technique, which you'll gradually pick up with practice.

[Theseus]

I've found you can get a really good shave in one pass if you shorten your stroke and shave in 1/2"-1" strokes instead of trying to get it in 1 or 2 full strokes.

[AFDavis11]

Normal? It's common. Has the razor been honed? What kind of razor is this?

BBS? You don't get BBS until you really, really, know what your doing. I mean not just thinking you got it, but really got it.

[ace]

Remember that there is BS in BBS!

[kalerolf]

If your razor is shave ready then it is easy to discover what the problem is.
Shaving with a str8 stands and falls with technique!
30 degrees and no pressure, let your razor glide over your skin. And do not forget to stretch your skin.
Forget the BBS for now, and try first to get your technique right.

[Otto]

Welcome to SRP.

There is a learning curve for using a straight razor. PLEASE read the WIKI.

If you bought a grand piano - never having played the piano before:
The first time you sit down and play - and it does not sound like Mozart, do you:

1) Blame the grand piano?
2) Blame the piano-tuner?
3) Practice, practice and practice some more until you have learned how to play?

[aeon]

Like others have said, It mostly comes down to technique. It wasn't until a few months after I started with a straight that I watched Lynn's dvd, and in it he talks about how he finds short strokes to be more effective than long ones. I was already doing that at times (on my ATG pass under the chin), but wasn't really thinking about how it was benefitting me over long passes. Now it's how I shave everywhere. Some refer to this method as a form of "buffing", but I don't really think it's buffing until you are pulling the razor back a bit after each stroke (think: 2 steps forward, 1 step back, 2 steps forward...etc)