First Straight Shave

[CEFranklin]

Alright, got my 6/8 straight razor in today (thanks Seraphim!) and gave it a go. It was AWKWARD! It was really tough trying to shave with my left hand and when I tried with my right, I couldn't see what I was doing in the mirror lol.

Second, I guess I can't just start shaving with 3 days growth on my face until I get the hang of it. The blade kept getting hung up because I don't have the "confident" strokes down yet.

So, I had to finish up with the DE because the shave looked like trash, and my face feels like trash. Pretty bad razor burn right now. Guess I was being too aggressive but, I wanted to get the confident stroke through practice.

But, I am proud to say, no nicks!

I will keep trying but, I think I will let my face settle down, get a really good DE shave and then start when I have very little stubble. No getting around it I guess.

Thanks for the blade, Seraphim but, I looked in the package and I didn't get a love note with it

 

[mdunn]

congrats, mate.

A bit more practice and youll be able to whip that blade around your face no problems

 

[JPM]

Congrats! It is awkward at first, but it gets better with a little practice.

 

[richmondesi]

Congrats. It'll come. Enjoy the journey

 

[Klarion]

Alright, got my 6/8 straight razor in today
So, I had to finish up with the DE because the shave looked like trash, and my face feels like trash. Pretty bad razor burn right now.

Good. I was getting sick of all these first timers getting smooth, irritation free shaves right out of the gate. Nice to know you didn't cut yourself though, since that leads to giving up early. You have to build some confidence before you slice yourself up really nicely, that way it's a bigger let down. I should know, it happened to me!

Seriously though, congrats.

 

[CEFranklin]

Thanks, ya'll!

 

[Luc]

Congrats!

It's un-natural at first using both hands but it will become an habit...

 

[netsurfr]

Congrats! Learning from the start to shave with both hands is useful (at least for me it was).

 

[Seraphim]

The love note costs extra!




So, #1--keep the spine of the razor v e r y close to your face. Don't go angling the razor up at what you think is a 30 degree angle, as that will undoubtedly be too steep, which will make the razor hang up in your stubble, and scrape, instead of cut your whiskers. No more than the width of the spine off of your face.

Also, skin stretching is very important! Nice taut skin helps keep the razor skimming along on top of your skin, instead of into it!

Now, go out there and give it another go!

P.S. Do you have a strop?

 

[Mulie1]

Good show! Keep going... I just finished my 5th straight shave after 25 years with a moustash/beard. I am having to relearn the whole thing. Each shave is getting closer, takes less time, and is more comfortable. They don't know it but the guys on this site have opened my eyes and made it work, lots of good info on these pages. I look forward to learning more and more from the B&B crowd. The pic is today's shave line up.

 

[CEFranklin]

Nope, no strop yet. I ordered the $20 starter strop and am waiting for it to arrive.

Okay, I did shave number two tonight. Better but, still a pretty crappy shave. No cuts but, getting better at it. I am working on my angle, keeping the blade almost against my face as you were saying. I am working on making light strokes instead of trying to get BBS in one pass. Problems on the chin area. I am noticing my face is getting chubbier as I get older so, making funny faces isn't really working as the skin still moves. Will try to work with the alum block on my fingers to get some grip (read this in another post somewhere). Slight razor burn. I wanted to shave every single day as my face can take it despite the burn, that way I can become more proficient faster but, I have to wait for the strop to come in. I think three shaves with out stropping will be pushing my luck. Still can't go against the grain (I have too much stubble left and it catches pretty bad) but, I did two WTG, then two XTG. I am optimistic

Is the alum block supposed to burn? I ran it under cold water, applied to my face and it burned, then I didn't even feel a coolness at all but, it dried my face.

The love note costs extra!




So, #1--keep the spine of the razor v e r y close to your face. Don't go angling the razor up at what you think is a 30 degree angle, as that will undoubtedly be too steep, which will make the razor hang up in your stubble, and scrape, instead of cut your whiskers. No more than the width of the spine off of your face.

Also, skin stretching is very important! Nice taut skin helps keep the razor skimming along on top of your skin, instead of into it!

Now, go out there and give it another go!

P.S. Do you have a strop?

 

[huntmol]

Yep, both hands takes time. But I feel it's much better to learn that way, in the long run.

My first straight shave went something like that. The 'confident' stroke is a tough thing to get down. One thing I learned early on is that with straights, often a short, quicker stroke is better than long, slow strokes.

Keep at it!

 

[CEFranklin]

Alright, Ken from RupRazor is backed up and is hoping to get my strop out this weekend.

In the mean-time, my blade sampler came in from West Coast Shaving for my DE. I immediately put in the Personnas and let me tell you! BBS shave (3 passes for 3 days stubble) and one little spot of blood. Very nice indeed!

So, from here... I am starting to contemplate whether staying with the straight is a wise choice. I really want to stick with it and learn it. I hate giving up so, I've decided that once I get my strop, I will shave with the straight every day for 2 weeks. If I don't see an improvement, I may give it up and just stick with DE. I am finding that, yeah, it pulls the hairs, no matter which angle, even when I got it newly honed.

My other thought is this. I may have to try different blades to find what works with my beard just like the sampler pack, yeah? I am using a 6/8 wedge right now.

 

[Luc]

Alright, Ken from RupRazor is backed up and is hoping to get my strop out this weekend.

In the mean-time, my blade sampler came in from West Coast Shaving for my DE. I immediately put in the Personnas and let me tell you! BBS shave (3 passes for 3 days stubble) and one little spot of blood. Very nice indeed!

So, from here... I am starting to contemplate whether staying with the straight is a wise choice. I really want to stick with it and learn it. I hate giving up so, I've decided that once I get my strop, I will shave with the straight every day for 2 weeks. If I don't see an improvement, I may give it up and just stick with DE. I am finding that, yeah, it pulls the hairs, no matter which angle, even when I got it newly honed.

My other thought is this. I may have to try different blades to find what works with my beard just like the sampler pack, yeah? I am using a 6/8 wedge right now.

That was my excuse for buying 24 blades... I am slowly re-selling those that I am sure that I don't like and will buy the prefered size/grind/maker if I find them. It's awesome!

 

[Scissors]

So, from here... I am starting to contemplate whether staying with the straight is a wise choice. I really want to stick with it and learn it. I hate giving up so, I've decided that once I get my strop, I will shave with the straight every day for 2 weeks.

I've only been using straights since November, so those with more experience can (please!) correct or amend anything I say here that's mistaken or incomplete. But my straight shaving has improved very much in that time, and I've gotten advice and info from folks with much more experience under their belts. With that out of the way, here's my $0.02 on your situation:

I found that if I don't strop before I shave, the razor will pull and stick, resulting in an uncomfortable shave and possible razor burn. Strop well before each shave and they'll be markedly more comfortable.

As for why your blade pulled and stuck out of the box: well, rust—meaning not visible spots or corrosion but microscopic oxidization—never sleeps. I've had more than one straight come from a store or honemeister with fine reputation for skill and diligence that I found pulled and stuck on the first shave, so I can only conclude oxidation will sometimes defeat the care and skill of the very best of them. Microscopic oxidization is all that's needed to change the character of a shave for the worse. And now that you've shaved several times without stropping, that oxidization has only gotten worse, in addition to which the edge of your blade is—again, microscopically—not quite straight, something a stropping will bring back into alignment.

I'd recommend oiling the blade to stop or at least slow any further oxidization and not shaving with it until you get your strop.

OTOH, It's very good that you're working with both hands from the start. I tried for a while to get away with only using my dominant (left) hand, and regret it now.

Wait 'till you get your strop and see what a difference it makes. I don't get BBS yet with my straights yet, but I'm starting to find areas on my face where they beat my DE cold, and I get no razor burn even if I'm shaving minimal stubble.

If I don't see an improvement, I may give it up and just stick with DE. I am finding that, yeah, it pulls the hairs, no matter which angle, even when I got it newly honed.

My other thought is this. I may have to try different blades to find what works with my beard just like the sampler pack, yeah? I am using a 6/8 wedge right now.

That way lies SRAD! If you give into it, (as I did ) as you improve, you'll find that the different widths and grinds have different personalities rather than being right or wrong for your face. It's one of the pleasures of having several straights: being able to choose among different, but all good, types of shave.

As far as what else to try, maybe someone here can offer suggestions based on your current taste in DE razors and blades?

 

[CEFranklin]

Thank you! I won't give into SRAD then, until I have mastered this one, such as I did with my DE and the blades I had at that time.

I am thinking a new soap will help as well.

 

[Luc]

Thank you! I won't give into SRAD then, until I have mastered this one, such as I did with my DE and the blades I had at that time.

I am thinking a new soap will help as well.

It starts with a new soap, then a new cream, then 2 new soaps, a few brushs, another straight...

 

[tleiland]

Congrats on no nicks! That's a pretty good accomplishment in and of itself.

 

[Big_Fuzzy]

I'm up to my 20th shave, and the past 3 have been absolutely flawless. My first was also extremely awkward. It WILL get better. I get my sisters to rate each shave and they absolutely love how good the shave looks.

Dare i say it, but I find you must handle the blade not as a timid beginner, but as someone who is confident and in control. The human body is extremely adept at sorting out fine motor coordination on its own given the intent is there.

There is a difference between being cautious, and being timid.

 

[Zenas]

It starts with a new soap, then a new cream, then 2 new soaps, a few brushs, another straight...

It's happening to me now. VDH, Conk's, going to go get AoS on Saturday. Picked up some other pre-shave oil and aftershave balm from make-up.com's close-out sale. I'm also eyeing trying out a DE for fun...