second shave experience

I just finished no. 2. Still learning my experience: really decreased the angle from the first time and it improved both the shave and lessened somewhat the burn. However, there were this time a few nicks. I noticed that I'm still having a little trouble with the non-pressure method. And counter intuitively less pressure makes for an easier shave. But it appears somethng that will come natural after experience. Unlike the first time I did not finish up with a de but did a third pass. Where it was close it was very, very close. The places I'm not as close are a little along the jaw line that I believe I can cover with experience. Again I'm not sure what to expect when I switch from the present shavette to a true straight. So far I can live with it, but to date it is not as close as a de or as comfortable. Two steps forward, one step backward.

jebib3: Don't worry about your 'troublespots.' I am about 35 shaves in and my 'troubelspots' are still there but they are slowly getting better each and every shave. It seems that the more time the straight is in my hand the more comfortable I become at placing it on my face in order to deal with my 'troublespot'. (under my chin on both sides of my face) I have read in various places here that after the first 100 shaves is when the learning curve starts to flatten out. I still have a way to go until then. I will continue to read and hunt for information on this site provided by my predecessors. Keep at it.
rob

Congrats on your progress with the straight! It takes time to get a good shave, so don't get discouraged by minor issues.

1) Your issues with the jawline are natural. I've found that stretching the skin upwards from the cheek area to work well for the jawline. It pulls the jawline skin up onto the cheek area, allowing you to shave without going around the jawbone.

It is pretty hard to keep a consistent angle when rounding the jaw, so it's best to try and avoid that as far as possible (by pulling the skin up towards the cheek, or down towards the throat.

2) The nicks are probably being caused by a grip on the razor that's still too tight (or by improper angle of shaving). It's hard to keep focused on a light touch and low angles when you're starting out.

Be patient and it will work out.

100 shaves is looking like the sweet spot for me in the learning curve. I am about two or three shaves away from 100, and it was only by about number 90 that I felt that I was getting shaves that rivaled what I can get from a DE in three minutes without having to spend a half hour doing it.

I think it takes about 100 shaves to get a clear idea of how your beard grows, how to handle the razor for the various strokes, what to try and what to avoid, and how close you really need to get the whiskers and how close you DON'T have to get them. When I started to back off from having to get BBS every time, I started having an easier time shaving and a lot more fun as well.