First straight shave today

[kmlavoy]

Zero cuts. Lots of burn, and patchy as hell. I had to take a 2nd WTG pass just even it out some (and even then I missed a big spot, which I only noticed after I left my house). Still pretty bad, but it's a start. It's obvious how important all the prep is; lathering, stretching the skin right, etc. Basically, I did a lot of face scraping as opposed to hair cutting.

That said, I'm pretty happy. No blood loss, just a lack of experience. It was enough to just figure out which hand to use and how to see in the mirror what I'm trying to do. I'm going to strop the blade this evening and go for it again tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

[wifwaf]

Zero cuts. Lots of burn, and patchy as hell. I had to take a 2nd WTG pass just even it out some (and even then I missed a big spot, which I only noticed after I left my house). Still pretty bad, but it's a start. It's obvious how important all the prep is; lathering, stretching the skin right, etc. Basically, I did a lot of face scraping as opposed to hair cutting.

That said, I'm pretty happy. No blood loss, just a lack of experience. It was enough to just figure out which hand to use and how to see in the mirror what I'm trying to do. I'm going to strop the blade this evening and go for it again tomorrow. Can't wait!

chapeau !

 

[gash]

Congratulations! You sound very can-do about it, which I love. After about a dozen shaves, you'll start feeling much more comfortable with it.

 

[rockviper]

Well done! Sounds like a great start.

 

[incucrash]

Its a learning curve, which im still learning.

Whipped dog offers awesome newbie gear and instructions

I think the biggest thing is being slightly less careful, that being said, please dont cut your neck open, lol.


What I mean is, it helped me to use more pressure, play with angle for most comfortable cut.

Also, keep the lather slick!

Shave with your DE first, then practice on your face. I find that longer hair is harder. It is about hair removal, sometimes it takes several passes.

 

[Loganpass]

There is a lot to absorb at the start, face prep, blade prep, muscle memory which was a biggie for me while I got used to the angles and hand positions that felt new but in no time it "clicks" and you'll be shaving away like an Italian barber. Enjoy!

 

[Slash McCoy]

Be sure to get your man card punched in the appropriate block, and don't forget to swagger a little when you walk. You are one of us now.

 

[HLS]

A little bit of preshave oil goes a long way while you're learning. It helps even things out like, poor lather, etc. Eventually you won't need it.

 

[kmlavoy]

2nd shave today: Way less patchy today, with lots of burn and quite a few nicks on the goatee area and right side of my neck. I feel like it's a combination lather and skin stretching issue.

Left side and sideburns/cheeks, it shaved like butter. Just sooo smooth. It felt really gratifying to take the first few strokes and feel it just sliding along. The nice thing is that the lower left side of the neck was always a real problem for me with cartridges, because the hair goes in so many different directions, but with the straight, I'm not feeling ANY burn. I can see how a guy might get obsessed with this.

 

[grump]

Remember less pressure and slick lather. Also I don't know what you are stopping on but I suggested to a few new to straight that you lay your leather on a table and strop. Also croox on balsa (a few laps) before stropping will keep it fresh.

 

[chuckr9]

Good start - no blood is very good start!

 

[Slash McCoy]

Remember less pressure and slick lather. Also I don't know what you are stopping on but I suggested to a few new to straight that you lay your leather on a table and strop. Also croox on balsa (a few laps) before stropping will keep it fresh.

Personally I believe it is a mistake for a newbie in particular, to strop or hone against a fixed, immobile base. In unskilled hands, pressure irregularities, imbalances and excesses will affect the results. I never rest strop, stone, or lapping plate on any fixed object.

CrOx on balsa is great. Diamond on balsa is better, though. The only fault with CrOx is there is basically only one grade, and particle size is not very consistent.

 

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

Zero cuts. Lots of burn, and patchy as hell. I had to take a 2nd WTG pass just even it out some (and even then I missed a big spot, which I only noticed after I left my house). Still pretty bad, but it's a start. It's obvious how important all the prep is; lathering, stretching the skin right, etc. Basically, I did a lot of face scraping as opposed to hair cutting.

That said, I'm pretty happy. No blood loss, just a lack of experience. It was enough to just figure out which hand to use and how to see in the mirror what I'm trying to do. I'm going to strop the blade this evening and go for it again tomorrow. Can't wait!

Congratulations ! Its been said, but I will say it again, use just the weight of the blade for pressure with your skin stretched and with a blade angle that is right for your face. And, don't keep going over the same area a bunch of times on any given pass...you will get that missed spot on your subsequent pass(es) / touch-up(s).
Oh yeah, try some Osage Rub for that burn.....

 

[kmlavoy]

Fourth shave this morning, and it's getting a LOT easier. The shave is getting closer, and I'm getting less burn each time. I feel like each time I do this, I figure out a different part of the face, and how to attack it. The area directly below my lip and straight down under the chin seems to be the most problematic, but I feel like I'm getting there.

I've been stropping in the evening to save time in the morning. I bought a really cheap strop, and I'm glad I did, because I've dinged it a couple of times already. That definitely needs improving, as much as the shaving.

 

[Marco]

Congrats, mate! Not bad at all!

 

[ridnovir]

welcome to the club