What I have discovered in 3 months

So I have been pretty damn quiet on here but I have been shaving for 3 months now and I figured I would post what I have discovered along the way and share some stuff that might be helpful to people who are in positions I have been in over that time. Perhaps things that people who are masters of the craft do not even remember going through.

So anyway, I got my first straight razor in September. It was a new Dovo. 5/8ths full-hollow blade. rounded.
I have shaved with this for a little over 2 months, but due to a bathroom flooding I need to get it re honed. Since then I have gotten a new razor from Hart Steel which is a 7/8ths square point. The thing is an absolute monster!

The first thing I'm going to talk about is fear/respect. The first time I shaved I was pretty damn nervous which is very normal, but it also makes it harder to shave.
I was pretty well prepared from watching/reading everything I could find. I got through my shave with 2 small nicks. One on my chin and one under my nose.
My second shave was kind of the same thing, a few small nicks in some tricky areas, but I was a little quicker this time and had my set up a little better from tweaking it.
My third shave was probably the best shave since my last one yesterday (which was with the new razor, too). This built my confidence up; I hadn't gotten noticably faster; however I managed to shave a lot cleaner, it's like I figured out the angle and everything. No nicks. No cuts. No irritation. Nothing.

NOW. this is where I'm going to talk about respect, which I guess is the other side of fear.
My fourth shave was my worst. The third shave gave me a little too much confidence and I didn't think enough. I was also pretty tired, but decided to shave anyway.
I made a really bad mistake and slipped the blade on my chin, giving my self a decent cut. Thankfully it was my chin and the blade can only go so deep, if it was my cheek or lip I could have been in serious trouble. Anyway, it didn't really hurt too bad. It was a bitch and I had to spend the next hour bleeding and I had to wait to finish my shave.



The next thing I'm going to talk about is environment.
My first shave was a little bit of a pain because I didn't have everything I needed.
My current set up is the following:

2 hand towels (one dry and one wet for cleaning my face, steaming my face etc)
soap, brush and a bowl for lather
moisturizer and a skin toner for aftershave
I also shave straight out of the shower, so I am wearing a towel which can come in handy.

I strongly suggest working out what you need, because there is nothing worse than being mid shaving and not having a dry hand towel or something when you need it.
I guess this is something hard to forsee, but I keep a shaving kit in the bathroom. So after I shave I put two fresh handtowles in for next time. My best advice would to be set something like this up, and if you find yourself missing something, add it for next time.



So I guess all that I have left to talk about is what I'm still having trouble with. If anyone has suggestions for these feel free to leave them below.
- I still suck at shaving the left side of my face as I am right handed and dont trust myself to shave my left hand. Especially problematic under the side burn/next to the ear.
- Shaving the mustache is a pain in the ass. Movember was a godsend.
- Getting a perfect lather. I guess I get a perfect lather every three shaves or something? I think I just need to practice more

Glad you're coming along with the shaving. And how's the stropping coming along it wasn't mentioned and also I'm guessing the beard prep is coming along as well. And I can't shave everyday my face is to sensitive to handle it hahaha. So it doesn't hurt to take one day off every once and awhile but if you can't do to work then prep is a major key. And it took me longer than 3 months to be able to shave around my ear and the sideburns and neck with my non dominant hand be patient and everything will work out and congrats on the progress just keep at it

I grow facial hair horribly so I don't have to worry about beard prep. I probably should have prepped my month+ old mustache when I shaved it but I managed to shear it like a sheep. I thought I'd cut my skin off too, but it was just a super clean shave.

As far as stropping goes, I'm still slow! Haha, but I'm working on my technique.

It all takes time, really. I'm right handed too. Some guys train themselves to shave with both hands. They do this by brushing their teeth with their non dominant hand for one. This gets you used to using it. I tried it for a while, OK, once....It's hard to get used to. Give it a try. The theory is, once you learn to brush your teeth and do more with that hand, the easier it will be to shave with it.

I get by just fine with my right hand. You learn to adjust. Sounds like your doing fine....Keep at it...

I have been shaving with straight razors for about 4 years, and I've probably shaved 500 times? I've never used my left hand with the razor. I can reach everything with my right hand, and it's just faster. If you don't feel like using two hands and can do fine with one, then by all means.

Early on in my shaving....I made myself shave with my left hand and glad I did. Practice ,practice. Cuz that's what Lynn did ... LOL