First complete shave with Straight Razor

[Larch]

I completed my first full shave with a straight. I was able to finally deal with my chin, which was the area that was giving me the most problems and have been doing that area with a DE. With that being said I still got lots of improving to do. My cheeks are easy and can get a DFS/BBS shave on them, my neck and chin I can only get a socially acceptable shave at the moment. My neck whiskers grow left to right and I find it hard to go WTG and ATG but I am able to XTG easily. Ill just keep at it and then hopefully everything will just click like shaving my chin did.

 

[wherndon]

Congrats welcome to the club, and the forum.

 

[rockviper]

From another Canadian straight user, Welcome to the fun side of shaving!!
I'm coming up on 200 shaves and get the same DFS/BBS on the cheeks and a SAS/CCS elsewhere just like you. My improvements are barely noticable to me as the repetition of daily shaving with a straight is just like growing up when you're a kid; you dodn't really notice until you look back one day and see where you used to be. Only then do you realize how far you've come.

 

[seanusa]

Welcome to B&B and to straight shaving, I'm 7 shaves in and am loving it despite the learning curve. Most of us newbies start a straight shaving journal as a thread and this is a great way to watch your progress and get tips from others. Here is mine as an example http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/345085-seanusa-s-Straight-Razor-Shave-Journal Enjoy your shaves!

 

[smalltank]

skin stretching is key...stretch up lightly..shave down and visa versa...for yor chin..stretch the skin underneath and lightly go with the "curves"

 

[Chaloney]

Im 18 shaves in and it gets better every single shave.

 

[Larch]

From another Canadian straight user, Welcome to the fun side of shaving!!
I'm coming up on 200 shaves and get the same DFS/BBS on the cheeks and a SAS/CCS elsewhere just like you. My improvements are barely noticable to me as the repetition of daily shaving with a straight is just like growing up when you're a kid; you dodn't really notice until you look back one day and see where you used to be. Only then do you realize how far you've come.

Being from Canada I bet you don't like reading "CONUS only", I know I don't. I have done the skin stretching on my cheeks but not really on my neck I will have to try it next time. Work has been so busy lately I find I only have time for a quick DE shave which I don't even get to enjoy because it is so rushed. I do have to time out this weekend so I should be able to pull out the straight then.

 

[rockviper]

If there is something I REALLY REALLY want (a la Spice Girls), "CONUS only" doesn't stop me from a friendly PM inquiring if they would consider shipping to Canada. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't. I doesn't get upset at it at all, as all I need to do is think to myself is "Just pretend it wasn't BST listed." You can't actually lose something that you've never had, even it was even just the chance to buy something. I've also had several folks step-up unbidden and offer to act as an intermediate for me (I compensate them for the extra shipping plus a little more).

Shaving-wise, I shifted my wake-up time by 15 minutes when I started out with straights. Now I'm back to my normal 5:30am timeslot and finish about the same time as with a DE; spending about 25 mins from the time the alarm clock goes off to when I emerg from the bathroom after shower, shave, toothbrush, etc.....

 

[Larch]

I usually shave in the evenings, I would love to shave in the mornings but they are too busy between going to the gym and taking my son to the sitter. Sometimes the stars align and the few times I have been able to shave in the morning have been a great way to start the day. Yea I think the CONUS thing has only really affected me once (other than extra for shipping haha) but I find you only have to wait a while and a similar item will be posted.