First Shave, Not As Much Bloodshed As I Had Anticipated

Had my first shave with a straight razor today.

I did not heed the advice to focus on once part of your face and went full monty instead.

I had a lot of nicks under my chin and only one real cut. My hair grows weird (neck hair grows up from chest, face hair grows down). Shaving my neck was the most difficult especially around the jaw line.

I was taking my time though, so much so that my lather started to dry so I had to re-apply several times.

After I crayoned my face with the stypic pencil, let it dry, and wiped it off, I applied some proasso AS lotion, boy did that stuff feel good.

All in all I liked it and look forward to continue learning this.

I have not made too many posts but I have read a lot, thanks for all of the good information!

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Originally Posted by Swan

I did not heed the advice to focus on once part of your face and went full monty instead.

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LOL! Me neither. I've read about maybe six first shaves since I started about a month and a half ago, and they're all pretty much the same story. It's no doubt good advice and all, but some of us only have one speed once we make a decision. Damn the torpedoes! :medvl: It's sure to get better. I just don't bother much with half-ass.

The reason those on this forum recommend starting carefully and slowly is that starting that way is more likely to create long term straight shavers. Starting too quickly has left a long wake of people who attempted straight shaving but found it "too difficult" and not worth the trouble. Starting slowly and carefully is as far from "half-assed" as one can get.

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Originally Posted by ace

The reason those on this forum recommend starting carefully and slowly is that starting that way is more likely to create long term straight shavers. Starting too quickly has left a long wake of people who attempted straight shaving but found it "too difficult" and not worth the trouble. Starting slowly and carefully is as far from "half-assed" as one can get.

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GEEEZ, it's a figure of speech, spoken in conjunction with an, "LOL!" Already said it was good advice and never questioned the reason. Between the only other two of us so far in this thread, our first shave is already on the books, with a commitment from both of us to keep going, so... :bow

If it helps any when I did my first shave I went with the determination that I would shave as much as I felt comfy with. I did my face. When it came to my neck I quit and started with the gillette. Each shave I would try a little more on the neck and soon I found that I did not even need the old gillette. Poor thing needs a home he's so lonely.

Glad you "newbs" (smile, hehe, lol) are having a good time and jumping right in. We all have trouble spots that just don't go peacefully like other parts of the shave. Just take your time on them and you'll figure out the best approach in time. In the mean time, welcome aboard and have a great time! Ask questions, experiment, and enjoy. Let us know if we can help with anything.

BTW, soap or cream at this point? I found cream much easier to start out with but now enjoy soap as much or more. All part of the learning curve I guess.

John

I like the time it takes to shave with a straight razor so I am looking forward to learning how to tackle those trouble spots. I think I just have to keep changing how I stretch my skin.

Right now I am using proaso white pre shave cream, shave soap (comes in a bowl), and post shave balm.

The funny thing about your first SR shave is that if you expect no blood you'll surely be disappointed. But if you expect lots of blood and only shed a bit you feel like you're ahead of the game :D

Congrats and have fun.

good job , my first led to 2 little bleeding cuts , one on each side of the face in the same spot ..lol.. then as i got more and more confident i figured this is easy , then i got my first spike point and got myself good !!! ..lol.. knock on wood ive been good since ..lol

Good job! It doesn't come overnight... if it did it would be rather boring really. Congrats and welcome to the forum!

It'll get better - really it will. In a few months or so, you'll be able to do it (kind of) quickly and well. I can shave well in about ten minutes now, not including stropping & lather prep.

It really is a skill that needs to be mastered over time. It takes some us longer than others - it took me a longggg time lol - but I vowed I would do it, and I couldn't be happier! Stick with it! You'll be glad you did!

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

The funny thing about your first SR shave is that if you expect no blood you'll surely be disappointed. But if you expect lots of blood and only shed a bit you feel like you're ahead of the game :D

Congrats and have fun.

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Haha very true, it is all about how things are framed.