This is going to be a long journey aka learning process.
I've read somewhere that when you start straight shaving you should stick with it and only shave with a straight for a month or so as the technique is so different to a DE.
Unfortunately I don't have the time to straight shave on workdays, so I'll have to settle for weekends and days off work.
Well, my first two attempts wasn't bad, but my third shave was a disaster. I got some serious razor burn, and had to shave max two passes WTG with a DE for a week before my skin was back to normal.
My stropping attempts (can't call it a technique just yet ) is getting better and today's shave wasn't bad at all.
I took good time preparing, I was stretching the skin so the hair almost popped out by themselves and the razor wasn't too dull after the stropping.
Two WTG passes and three little nicks later my face was pretty much as clean shaven as yesterday's DE shave and no need for touch ups - I'm quite satisfied with my effort
The difference between shave #3 and #4 are miles apart and looking back and analysing shave #3, I did several things wrong; The prep was too poor, I didn't stretch the skin and I was kind of forcing the shave and that gave the above result.
I've learnt my lesson and is looking forward to improve on all fields in the future.
One question though: Is it possible to shave too slow?
I mean, in my problem areas (under the nose and on the chin) I'm shaving more slowly not to cut myself, but it is if the razor gets stuck in the hair, whereas in areas where I'm more confident I don't have that problem, and I'm thinking the speed might have something to say.
I've read somewhere that when you start straight shaving you should stick with it and only shave with a straight for a month or so as the technique is so different to a DE.
Unfortunately I don't have the time to straight shave on workdays, so I'll have to settle for weekends and days off work.
Well, my first two attempts wasn't bad, but my third shave was a disaster. I got some serious razor burn, and had to shave max two passes WTG with a DE for a week before my skin was back to normal.
My stropping attempts (can't call it a technique just yet ) is getting better and today's shave wasn't bad at all.
I took good time preparing, I was stretching the skin so the hair almost popped out by themselves and the razor wasn't too dull after the stropping.
Two WTG passes and three little nicks later my face was pretty much as clean shaven as yesterday's DE shave and no need for touch ups - I'm quite satisfied with my effort
The difference between shave #3 and #4 are miles apart and looking back and analysing shave #3, I did several things wrong; The prep was too poor, I didn't stretch the skin and I was kind of forcing the shave and that gave the above result.
I've learnt my lesson and is looking forward to improve on all fields in the future.
One question though: Is it possible to shave too slow?
I mean, in my problem areas (under the nose and on the chin) I'm shaving more slowly not to cut myself, but it is if the razor gets stuck in the hair, whereas in areas where I'm more confident I don't have that problem, and I'm thinking the speed might have something to say.