First Shave

[Mannovation]

Well.. I just did my first shave with my new (and first) safety razor. (Gillette SS). I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I used the sandalwood pre-shave oil (warmed first) and then soaked my face with a hot towel for about 3 mins. I then got a nice hot lather going and started. At first I wasn't cutting anything and then realized you have to get the angle just right. after I figured out the angle I was doing little baby passes (the horrible technique I picked up with plastics) and went WTG across my face and XTG on my chin edge, WTG on my neck.

After that first pass I ran my hand across my face and felt I still needed to go across the chin/jaw line and neck again. So I lathered up again and did another pass.. this time nicking myself a couple times and still missing areas! Pass #3, lathered and hit the jaw/neck. Jaw is good, required coming up ATG to get the hair (I even had to with plastics) and ATG on my neck. This seems to be the only way I can get the hair to shave..

Overall I just had maybe 3 or 4 tiny areas I nicked.. Put a hot towel on my face and then hit them with a Styptic pencil (first time ever using that, holy crap that burns) and they immediately stopped. Finally I used the sandalwood scented after-shave balm.

I have just a bit of razor burn on my neck and I can still see spots it didn't cut. Not bad for my 1st time, I thought it would be much much worse. With practice and technique I should have it down!

 

[The Dean]

Outstanding! Sounds like you had a good time, too.

Warming the oil? In the microwave or just in your hands? I have never heard of that. It sounds interesting.

If I may offer one small piece of advice: Try finishing with a cold towel or rinse. That might lessen the need for any styptic.

 

[Mbuckwash]

It definitely seems like you have the essentials down: 1) the understanding that the preparation is absolutely key, you seem to have down pat 2) You already know what works for you and what doesn't, as far as going ATG in certain areas to get it smooth against tougher beard growth 3) Your beard mapping is key as well. Knowing which way your beard grows makes it possible to appropriately shave in the direction you'd like (i.e. with or across the grain) 4) You've already moved onto the hot towels. These can really help prepare and finish off your beard before/after shaving and some gentleman only learn this secret too late.

If I may offer some suggestions:

1) You say you miss a few spots here and there. Are these total misses or just areas that you cut just a little too softly due to a delicate touch or something, and they aren't baby smooth? May I suggest you only cover each area of the face one time per lather, and only stop shaving on a given pass once all the cream on the face is gone. Therefore, you can ensure a complete shave, knowing that you didn't miss a spot. Whether or not it's BSS (baby smooth shave), is another story - but at least you know you've at least shaved there.

2) Continue to map your beard growth, even while you are shaving. Before you make a pass with a blade, just do a light feel of your beard to ensure that you're going in the proper direction you want. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given with wet shaving is to "get intimate" with your shave. Meaning, it's a two hand task, one to stretch my skin and feel the direction of the beard growth, and the other to shave with the razor. You will definitely notice a difference in your shave when you stretch the skin, making it flat and most likely avoiding some nicks.

3) In an effort to close the pores after you shave, may I suggest a cold towel, instead of your hot towel? Ice cold, if you can and you'd like. You'll hear gentlemen on B&B say that it's totally up to preference, and I agree, but I understand that a majority of gents like the cold towel post shave.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mannovation]

I am in the military therefore we have to basically be BSS. Ill just keep playing with technique. as for the post-shave hot towel, I love the feeling of a hot towel. A cold finish to me just doesnt feel right.

 

[gdavila]

Thick lather helped me in the beginning to protect myself against my inexperience. Also make sure to take your time until you figure out a technique that works for you.

 

[Mannovation]

Ill keep trying. Here in korea the water is horrible building a decent lather is tough.. though It could be the soap. Ill try the new AoS cream I got tonight before work.

 

[The Dean]

Keep it up and good luck. You shouldn't have trouble with the AOS cream. You don't really need to build the lather--it IS lather.

 

[celestino]

Congratulations and continued success!

 

[Mannovation]

Well I tried the AoS shaving cream today. I love the stuff.. Unfortunately I dont have a good mug to use (my other soap is a puck and its in a round tupperware) Ill have to pick up a scuttle. I dont care for the badger brush that came in the set, its too small. I think Im going to stick to my giant poofy boar brush until I save up for a nice big badger brush.

as for the shave, MUCH better results this time. I only got razor burn in one spot on my neck and I know why I got that - I ran the blade across an area at a funny angle and it didnt have any lather on it! I kept saying in my head "use longer passes, no lather no shave" I made sure to shave only areas with lather, I only had to do 3 passes this time and got much better results than last time.

 

[Chris H]

Welcome to wet shaving! You might also consider the blade. If that was your first shave, it's likely you have not yet found your perfect blade. Make sure that you are using a blade sampler pack so you can try a wide variety. Every face is different and two different razors can present the same blade with different levels of aggressiveness. I found the Blue Birds to be too aggressive when I first used them with my Edwin Jagger DE89, but when I tried one in my vintage Schick Krona, it was perfect!

Regarding a scuttle, a large cereal bowl or latte mug will work just fine. You don't need a special mug or scuttle.

Here is a link to an inexpensive badger brush to get you started. These are good quality, so you may not need to spend more money on another one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIJUN-SHAVI...241?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab6a26e21

One more thing, the BX carries Van Der Hagen soap for about $1.50 per puck, and it lathers pretty easily.

 

[The Dean]

Well I tried the AoS shaving cream today. I love the stuff.. Unfortunately I dont have a good mug to use (my other soap is a puck and its in a round tupperware) Ill have to pick up a scuttle. I dont care for the badger brush that came in the set, its too small. I think Im going to stick to my giant poofy boar brush until I save up for a nice big badger brush.

as for the shave, MUCH better results this time. I only got razor burn in one spot on my neck and I know why I got that - I ran the blade across an area at a funny angle and it didnt have any lather on it! I kept saying in my head "use longer passes, no lather no shave" I made sure to shave only areas with lather, I only had to do 3 passes this time and got much better results than last time.

Have you considered face lathering? No bowl or scuttle needed. There are several methods of face lathering cream. One is to put a small amount of the cream into the breach of the brush. The method I prefer is to use the cream as if you are using it brushless. That is, spread a small amount on your face and then take the brush and lather it on your face. I have nothing but fabulous results when I use AOS in this manner. If the lather isn't quite as thick. rich as you'd like. Use more product!

 

[Mannovation]

Welcome to wet shaving! You might also consider the blade. If that was your first shave, it's likely you have not yet found your perfect blade. Make sure that you are using a blade sampler pack so you can try a wide variety. Every face is different and two different razors can present the same blade with different levels of aggressiveness. I found the Blue Birds to be too aggressive when I first used them with my Edwin Jagger DE89, but when I tried one in my vintage Schick Krona, it was perfect!

Regarding a scuttle, a large cereal bowl or latte mug will work just fine. You don't need a special mug or scuttle.


Here is a link to an inexpensive badger brush to get you started. These are good quality, so you may not need to spend more money on another one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIJUN-SHAVI...241?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab6a26e21

One more thing, the BX carries Van Der Hagen soap for about $1.50 per puck, and it lathers pretty easily.

So far here in Korea I havent found any other blades except the ones the BX sells. SO I am pretty limited unless I buy online and they take forever to get here. I have the VDH soap puck and I actually love it. It makes my face feel smooth and hydrated all day.

 

[Mannovation]

Have you considered face lathering? No bowl or scuttle needed. There are several methods of face lathering cream. One is to put a small amount of the cream into the breach of the brush. The method I prefer is to use the cream as if you are using it brushless. That is, spread a small amount on your face and then take the brush and lather it on your face. I have nothing but fabulous results when I use AOS in this manner. If the lather isn't quite as thick. rich as you'd like. Use more product!

Ill give that a try this weekend! Thanks

 

[Chris H]

You should order a sampler pack of blades, even if it takes awhile. Some vendors will send 5 of each blade instead of 1, so if you find the perfect blade you have time to wait for a large pack of them. Start with Amazon, also check out West Coast Shave and Shoebox Shave Shop.

 

[Mannovation]

So here is an Update: Ive been using the razor for a week now and I must say! I've never in my life gotten a shave as smooth as the ones I give myself. I have noticed a pretty significant difference in when my stubble starts to show up too! I really like the AoS shaving products and look forward to trying some other products as i find them online (since there are none available here in Korea). I started putting the shaving cream right into the brush and lathering on my face.. this works great, It just doesn't stay very warm.

Also I managed my first shave last night without any cuts or razor burn. I think my technique is dramatically improving! Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[The Dean]

So here is an Update: Ive been using the razor for a week now and I must say! I've never in my life gotten a shave as smooth as the ones I give myself. I have noticed a pretty significant difference in when my stubble starts to show up too! I really like the AoS shaving products and look forward to trying some other products as i find them online (since there are none available here in Korea). I started putting the shaving cream right into the brush and lathering on my face.. this works great, It just doesn't stay very warm.

Also I managed my first shave last night without any cuts or razor burn. I think my technique is dramatically improving! Thanks for all the advice guys!

Glad things are going well. Here's another tip that may, or may not, work for you. I take my mug (I use the green rubber Marvy shaving mug) fill it with cold water and microwave it for about 40 seconds. This is hotter than my tap water but nowhere close to boiling (if your tap water is really hot, you can just use that). That's what I soak my brush in. So my first face lather is usually pretty warm. When I relather I just dip the tips of the brush--just a touch--back in the hot water and then my second lather is warm, too. I repeat this for each pass. I'm sure it isn't as hot as a scuttle, but it's better than cool lather, IMO.