I shaved with a straight razor for the first time today. I purchased a good quality Dovo razor from a reputable vendor mentioned on this forum and elected to have the razor prepared to be "shave ready."
I prepared my whiskers in no rush and used a hot washcloth and plenty of very hot splashes of hot water before lathering with Proraso cream from a tube applied with a badger brush lathered in a bowl, then applied. I massaged it in, washed it off and repeated an application. After my face was good and slick, I used my dominant (left) hand to shave the same side of my face, stretching my skin with my right hand as done the usual way I've seen geofatboy do it.
The razor tugged quite a bit. With several passes I was able to do a somewhat spotty job of removing the stubble from both cheeks. On my left cheek I "sliced" myself, but hesitate to use that word, as it was only deep enough to show a cut was made in the skin. It was shallower than the translucent skin between layers of an onion. No blood was drawn, and I would call it nearly a non-issue. On the right side of my face with my non-dominant hand I did not cut myself, but again the shave was inconsistent and spotty. I finished with a safety razor.
So I ask, is it possible to experience tugging from poor technique? I would like to think it's not the blade. In any event, I'm prepared to work my way through this until I'm shaving with my straight razor with the same degree of adeptness than that of my safety razor.
Thank you everyone.
I prepared my whiskers in no rush and used a hot washcloth and plenty of very hot splashes of hot water before lathering with Proraso cream from a tube applied with a badger brush lathered in a bowl, then applied. I massaged it in, washed it off and repeated an application. After my face was good and slick, I used my dominant (left) hand to shave the same side of my face, stretching my skin with my right hand as done the usual way I've seen geofatboy do it.
The razor tugged quite a bit. With several passes I was able to do a somewhat spotty job of removing the stubble from both cheeks. On my left cheek I "sliced" myself, but hesitate to use that word, as it was only deep enough to show a cut was made in the skin. It was shallower than the translucent skin between layers of an onion. No blood was drawn, and I would call it nearly a non-issue. On the right side of my face with my non-dominant hand I did not cut myself, but again the shave was inconsistent and spotty. I finished with a safety razor.
So I ask, is it possible to experience tugging from poor technique? I would like to think it's not the blade. In any event, I'm prepared to work my way through this until I'm shaving with my straight razor with the same degree of adeptness than that of my safety razor.
Thank you everyone.