first shave with a straight razor did not go well

[Bulldawg]

Shave #1:

Rec'd a shave ready straight from Ambrose today and gave it a shot about an hour ago. Wow, I really suck at this. More so than I did with a DE the first time. The razor is awesome and the shave was bittersweet. Shaving the sideburn area was nice because I could hear the hairs popping and I was actually cutting something. The moustache area was terrible. The only hair removed came off along with some skin Wow, this shave was pretty bad...I think I need to buy a styptic pencil tomorrow.

Anyway, thanks to Ambrose for an awesome razor, words of encouragement, and links to some cool youtube videos. Also, nevermind that e-mail asking for info so I can relist the razor on the B/S/T Hopefully, future shaves won't suck as bad as this one

 

[tgarza]

Good luck,IMO it takes a fair amount of balls to shave with a straight. God Speed!

 

[Leche]

You will get better. The straight requires a considerably large amount of skill than a DE. Search YouTube for some good videos.

 

[Luc]

Don't worry about it too much. Knowing how to shave with a DE helps as you know how to do your passes, build lather, do a good prep, etc.

Take your time and make sure you keep a steady angle. Reduce that angle on pass 2. Reduce it again on pass 3.

 

[Bertilak]

Your experience is typical.

I had a short period where I *almost* though this straight razor stuff was bunk but now I get a better shave than I used to get with any DE. About on par with a GEM SE but I am still developing my skills.

 

[ambrose]

Hang in there bud, amazing enjoyable shaves await. It may take at least a week of straight shaves to get the angles right. Im glad you decided to continue with it rather than give up.

 

[Thebigspendur]

We're spoiled by these stories or first timers getting great shaves. Those are the exceptions. For most of us straight shaving requires a skill set and it does not come quick or easy. Shaving with a DE by comparison is really no comparison. Just keep at it and the skills will come.

 

[pocketwatch]

Ugh I know what you mean. I've only been at this a week and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it. I would blame the razor, but I can get decent results on my cheeks/chin/lip now so I know it's my noobery.

I watch these youtube videos of people hacking off a full beard or several days growth with long clean passes. Even ATG right off the bat, on the neck. I just cringe.

 

[Topgumby]

I feel your pain. Literally.

Having been gifted a really nice Clauss USMC issue razor and a strop, I decided to lather up and just use it on my cheeks last night.

My first impression - Hey, this isn't so bad! I may as well finish the shave!

Next came - How in blazes do you do the left side?

Then - What in the world was I thinking? You'd have to be a madman to use one of these around your chin? Can't quit now, however...

And now, after completing my first straight shave, the day after finds my face stubbly and sore.

At least I can say I tried it.

 

[Bertilak]

"Three rules for a great shave. Prep, Prep, Prep."

Looks like you need three more rules: Practice, Practice, Practice!

 

[Bulldawg]

Good luck,IMO it takes a fair amount of balls to shave with a straight. God Speed!

thanks, I agree. The first go round is a little nerve racking

You will get better. The straight requires a considerably large amount of skill than a DE. Search YouTube for some good videos.

I see...with straights I get random cuts that show up hours after the shave...at least with DEs I knew when I screwed up in real time.

Don't worry about it too much. Knowing how to shave with a DE helps as you know how to do your passes, build lather, do a good prep, etc.

Take your time and make sure you keep a steady angle. Reduce that angle on pass 2. Reduce it again on pass 3.

Thanks Luc, I hope to progress like you've been doing

Your experience is typical.

I had a short period where I *almost* though this straight razor stuff was bunk but now I get a better shave than I used to get with any DE. About on par with a GEM SE but I am still developing my skills.

Can't wait to get there...seems like a ways away based on my crappy shaves

Hang in there bud, amazing enjoyable shaves await. It may take at least a week of straight shaves to get the angles right. Im glad you decided to continue with it rather than give up.

thanks Ambrose, I'm not a big fan of giving up so I think I'll stick with it

We're spoiled by these stories or first timers getting great shaves. Those are the exceptions. For most of us straight shaving requires a skill set and it does not come quick or easy. Shaving with a DE by comparison is really no comparison. Just keep at it and the skills will come.

It sucks being a newbie again but I know it'll get more enjoyable later.

Ugh I know what you mean. I've only been at this a week and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it. I would blame the razor, but I can get decent results on my cheeks/chin/lip now so I know it's my noobery.

I watch these youtube videos of people hacking off a full beard or several days growth with long clean passes. Even ATG right off the bat, on the neck. I just cringe.

yeah it seems like those guys do it with no problems...that can be bad business when you or I try to emulate that. I should make a video about a crappy/awkward straight shave...people could probably relate to that

I feel your pain. Literally.

Having been gifted a really nice Clauss USMC issue razor and a strop, I decided to lather up and just use it on my cheeks last night.

My first impression - Hey, this isn't so bad! I may as well finish the shave!

Next came - How in blazes do you do the left side?

Then - What in the world was I thinking? You'd have to be a madman to use one of these around your chin? Can't quit now, however...

And now, after completing my first straight shave, the day after finds my face stubbly and sore.

At least I can say I tried it.

wow...you just summarized exactly what I've been thinking what little confidence I had on the cheeks evaporated when I got to the chin. The chin was a true Whiskey Tango Foxtrot moment for me

Looks like you need three more rules: Practice, Practice, Practice!

true

 

[Bulldawg]

shave # 2

tools:
Blatzly 5/8 full hollow spike point (I think I got that right???)
Simpsons Chubby 1 Super
Body Shop Maca Root

improvements:
- built confidence in the sideburn area and was more comfortable moving the blade around my face (in that area).
- learned how to grip the razor correctly with both hands. Also equally comfortable using the left hand.
- no blood loss visible during shave.

problems:
- Not really sure I'm cutting hair??? took several passes in some easy areas like the sideburn area and didn't see a whole lot of hair removal going on or hair on the razor.
- I have cuts on the bottom of both earlobes I guess that's why newbs shouldn't use spike points
- I have a tough time starting in certain areas without feeling like I'm cutting into my skin. The moustache area is horrible and I have no idea how to get the razor started cutting without hurting myself. I have extremely thick/tough hair and I don't know if the resistance is skin or hair
- needless to say, the chin area is impossible right now.
- The razor is noticeably less sharp than when I first used it. When I first used it it was sharp as hell and popped the hairs off. I may have screwed something up by stropping on a newspaper It's not passing the hanging hair test. I'm waiting for my Filly strop to arrive from Kenrup razors (sp.?) That leads to my questions.

questions:
- Does your razor(s) pass the hanging hair test after a shave or does that come after stropping?
- will proper stropping (with a strop) make it as sharp as it was when I rec'd it?

thanks

 

[leighton]

I highly advise not diving headfirst into the goatee area. Its just damn hard. While I was able to do it in the first shot, not everyone can. Or at least thats what I remember.

Keep at it, great shaves await you, its like a light at the end of a very long tunnel, whose length is different for different people. You can practice shaving balloons with a pocketknife if you like.

Don't give up! I have it on good authority that someone is working on an addendum to the current newbie threads to address many issues that show up on the forums.

 

[Bertilak]

shave # 2

Some comments.

• You may have dulled the blade a bit, but there is hope that anything (within reason) that was messed up by stropping can be fixed by stropping. The Filly will come with some CrO2 paste on the backside. 5-10 laps on that might make things all better again. Always use a light touch when stropping.
  
  
• When you say "grip the razor correctly with both hands" I assume you mean one hand at a time. It is good to get used to this.
  
  
• Earlobes can be early casualties. They were for me, but never both in the same shave. They are good at bleeding and it is hard to get a little piece of toilet paper positioned just right in that area.
  
  
• The moustache area is the most difficult for me. My approach is to come at it from several angles (starting WTG which for me is from the center out and slightly down). Then go XTG from a couple of directions, working your way towards part way between XTG and ATG. That may be enough for now. Next pick the end of your nose from the sink and get the emergency room surgeon to stitch it back on.
  
  
• Chin is also tough.
  
  

Some general advice:

Use LIGHT pressure at all times! This may be the key point. If you think you need to press harder, it is most likely something else you should be fine-tuning.

In order to get a really good shave in the areas with the toughest whiskers you will need to get a little slicing action going. This means when you move the blade you want to move it in a direction that is mostly perpendicular to the edge of the blade but also slightly towards either the toe or the heel. Think of the way a guillotine works. Practice in the easy areas first.

You may want to skip all that and live with some stubble until you are comfortable enough handling the blade that the above doesn't seem too scary! This might best be saved until AFTER you go through your first period of overconfidence.

The point here is not to get discouraged -- there is more to be learned and it will help.

 

[Luc]

Don't give up. I'm starting to get a decend shave on the chin. You might need to do a few extra laps on your strop if you don't feel it's cutting. If you want to see how your razor performs (sharpness), try to shave part of your arm or leg.

I did about 3 months ago and still have some patches

I think the most important parts of a straight shave is stretching the skin and angle.

 

[professorchaos]

Did you cut yourself? If not, your first shave went well. Stick to your cheeks while getting the hang it. The chin and mustache areas are the toughest to master.

 

[gugi]

- I have cuts on the bottom of both earlobes I guess that's why newbs shouldn't use spike points

I disagree, it's not a matter of whether you're newb or not, but whether you're good at judging depth. I've watched live an expert cut himself too. He also admits that he does it fairly regularly with that type of blade. I've always liked spikes and my first 5 razors were like that. I hate them neutered.
If you managed to cut your earlobes, watch out for that nose of yours. Something's telling me it is located dangerously in the way of the edge

 

[gugi]

- will proper stropping (with a strop) make it as sharp as it was when I rec'd it?

It does it for me, but it's not clear you can do proper stropping, or that you haven't damaged the edge where strop can't fix it.
But don't worry about it too much, just strop carefully. I think this may be helpful: http://straightrazorplace.com/srpwiki/index.php/Razor_stropping

 

[ambrose]

For the mustache I use an almost flat blade position and I blade buff. Be careful this is a fairly advanced technique but works best.

 

[BEAR DEN]

We're spoiled by these stories or first timers getting great shaves. Those are the exceptions. For most of us straight shaving requires a skill set and it does not come quick or easy. Shaving with a DE by comparison is really no comparison. Just keep at it and the skills will come.

I agree wholeheartedly!

I honestly used up 2 stypic pencils and a good portion of some liquid stypic before I started to get shaves that were respectable. With a DE a stypic pencil for me would have been for for show then anything else. This is why I don't want to just hand my son a shave ready str8 and tell him...go for it. I can see him getting a bad shave, giving up and not returning.
Don't give up...it does take time...you will be rewarded.