First straight shave, ever!

Well I just completed my very first shave with a straight, a Dovo ebony silver steel. And I think it was a relative success, for a beginner.

I decided to jump straight in, and shave my whole face with it, without the aid of a disposable. For a pre shave prep, I had a hot shower, followed by a hot towel compress for about 1min, lathered up with Razorock xxx and an SRD silver tip 1 brush, and off it went!

I only managed to give myself a few tiny nics, but didn't need the steptyc pencil at all. Although I may have used a bit too much pressure, as my face does feel a little red and raw, but not too bad. After the shave I followed up with Razorock after shave wax.

One thing I noticed is, the blade is much more noisy than what I thought it would be, I could really hear the whiskers being cut. Also I think it may have been pulling/grabbing slightly, so I'm not sure if that was the blade being a little dull, my technique or the fact that my lather was a rather poor first attempt and didn't seem to offer much glide(maybe I didn't have enough water?).

I bought the razor shave ready from Lynn at SRD, then before I shaved I gave it 20 passes on the cloth strop, and about 70 on the leather, but being the first time it was a poor attempt but at least I didn't slice my new strop in half.

Any ideas as to the razor Seeming to tug and pull a bit?

Tugging "tends" to happen when a blade needs honed, however being your first shave you may notice more pull because your face is not used to that kind of shave. Did you strop it well before the shave, I kind of skimmed the above post, getting late and I need to fall down :p

Yeah well it's a brand new razor, honed by Lynn at SRD. I did 20 laps on the linen strop, then about 60-70 laps on the leather. But it was the first time I had ever used a strop, so im not sure if I may have dulled the edge slighty from poor technique.

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Originally Posted by DanielClay

Yeah well it's a brand new razor, honed by Lynn at SRD. I did 20 laps on the linen strop, then about 60-70 laps on the leather. But it was the first time I had ever used a strop, so im not sure if I may have dulled the edge slighty from poor technique.

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If you kept the spine on the strop at all times during stropping, I doubt you have ruined the edge, or done much at all to it really.
I would suspect that you, as most any new shaver, are realizing that a straight shave comes with a bit of a learning curve.
My very first shave with a razor bought and honed by the very same man, had me post basically the same as you did in your OP.
Three months later I re-used that razor and got a stellar shave:)

Make sure you do a really thorough prep, in fact, overdo it.
Then do just the side of your face, going with the grain only.
Once you get comfortable with that, move on to more and more of the face.

Good luck:)

True, I was very carefully to keep the spine on the strop at all times, and use minimal to not much at all pressure, just the weight of the blade. I'll keep practising the stripping and focus on the prep, and definitely how to make a decent lather, which I found a little more tricky then what I thought it would be.

Straight razor shaving being harder than first anticipated is a news flash that I think most of us newbies got on the first go like you did. Sounds like you did pretty well though. If you are using a full hollow it will make a very audible "scritching" sound and is normal.

A good thick and creamy lather that is not too dry will really help too and takes practice to get it right. You really have to watch the blade angle. It is a lot less than you would normally think so practice again is the only way. I think too much angle and pressure contribute to red/raw feeling shave. I usually use short light strokes especially in difficult areas. Don't ever try forcing a blade.

So many variables to get a handle on when starting out it is really difficult but will slowly come together in time. Give it 6 months or so.

Bob

Take a look at this: http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html

Have fun.

Think light pressure ( even when you don't want to) and shallow angles. Beard reduction, not elimination, is what you're looking for. It will stop the razor rash and the nicks, even the cuts. As you use light pressure you don't have a death grip on the blade and if and when it grabs, it will give, instead of cut. You're doing great! Keep at it. It gets better, much better with time and practice. Double O

Also be sure you're pulling your skin tight. Slack skin can also pull and your more likely to nick or burn. Experimenting with different ways may help.

Yeah that's for all to tips guys! Practise practise practise. Its allot of fun though, much more enjoyable than disposables.

Well now I've got two shaves under my belt. The second shave was worse than the first, my technique went down the drain and I gave myself some nasty burn. I think I subconsciously used too much pressure. Next shave I'm going to actually focus and not day dream, and really pay attention to not using any pressure at all and keeping a close eye on the angle of attack. Oh, and keep practising making a decent lather that doesn't dry out.

Keep at it, don't give up. You are progressing normaly. The good ones are around the corner.

I can't wait, I'm certainly not discouraged at all and I cannot wait for my next shave tonight, just going to actually focus this time, and really slow down and take my time. After years of hurried shaving with cartridges it's just having to relearn everything that your so accustomed to and retrain yourself. But it's a very fun thing, and makes shaving enjoyable and a good part of the day, not another grind.

I think I'm really getting the stopping down pat though, taking steady deliberate strokes with only slight pressure, if any at all and keeping the blade nice and flat on the strop. So at least I'm getting the Hang of something! Give it a few months, and I should be really slicing the whiskers of my face with precision!

Also I've been watching Lynn's DVD, world of straight razor shaving. And Lynn deserves allot of credit for putting that together. It's just a wealth of fantastic information for everyone alike, he really puts everything in detail and thoroughly explains it all. I'd recommend it to everyone, beginner or not to watch his DVD.

It's great to have people like Lynn with years of experience, sharing there knowledge to help people enjoy straight shaving and bringing it back from the past.

One thing that help me at the beginning was to set 45 minutes to shave whenever I could. Most time I would shave at night and not in the morning. Today I can shave ( no stropping after and no scuttle to clean) in about 15 min. Usually take longer(20-25) but sometimes I'll take a 15 min straight shave over a 10 min DE shave. Double O

Yep that's what I do, as I don't have much time I'm the mornings before work, I shave in the evening after a shower, and I have all the time I want. Between a shower and shave I'm in the bathroom for an hour or so, until I'm confident and can shave in the mornings without taking up too much time. If I have to really be clean shaven like if I haves meeting that day or something really important, I'll just shave with the mrs razor!

Well I'm about four shaving under my belt now, and so far so good. I've pretty much got the stopping down pat too. I struggle under the chin, but everywhere else I don't seem to have a problem. In a few weeks I should be able to add an accross the grain pass hopefully.

When ever I have trouble shaving my chin, which is every time, I just thank God I don't have Kirk Douglas' chin! I have a razor l leave out, for those times my chin is being really unruly, it's a skinny, odd little razor that I love to death! It's like a little sports car, it love the turns!

It's funny because I don't seem to have a problem with my chin but I have alot of difficulty under my nose. My last shave I just whipped out my DE and finished it off...:banghead:

Yeah funny thing that. I have never had a problem under my nose, either with the grain or across it. But the steep angle change of my chin seems to be proving a challenge, but sooner or later I will master the chin of cuts and scrapes.

Welcome to the club! Straight shaving isn't always easy, but always fun. :)

Yep I agree, it's a challenge but it's a fun and rewarding challenge. And makes shaving a joy.

Had a good shave today, did a hot towel treatment and lathered up some razorock xxx and did two with the grain passes and turned out pretty good. No burn or cuts. A bit raw in a couple of spots because I gave myself some burn yesterday, but pretty good none the less. Finished with some razorock aftershave wax which I really like.

Well during my shave yesterday I managed to slice my face twice, and ding the blade on the tap -_-

So, now it's on it's way across the world to SRD for a hone.

What can I say? Bummer

Yeah haha. Ah well, time to practise my lather making abilities because I still suck as making lather.