Came home form work today to find my sight-unseen package waiting. Unfortunately I also found a sick wife and three cranky kids waiting. So after taking care of family matters and doing my rehab for my knee I got home at ~10:15 and decided," I'll just oil the strop and save the razor for tomorrow". Well after the stop was oiled and that fresh razor was calling my name a shave with it had to happen.
Washed my face and did my regular lather (e-shave's lavender soap with a Simpson's CH1 in best) but made it a little thinner. Took extra time to lather my face to make sure my whiskers were ready. Since I had shaved this morning there was no need for a WTG with a DE first.
Started on the area below the sideburns on my dominant side (right). After working to get a comfortable grip I just went for it with a light short stroke. Just focused in on light and short with a shallow angle and before I knew it my right cheek was done and time for the left.
Left side felt a little awkward but strangley was easier to keep a light touch. Cheek went well and moved on to the chin.
Much trickier with so many different angles in a small space. I shortened the strokes even more and just tried to use the toe area of the blade. Glad I was using short strokes as a couple of times the skin bunched up ahead of the razor and if I was going for a longer stroke I would have cut myself badly.
Got the chin done and decided to go for the neck (I know I know save the neck for later but what the hell; nothing ventured....). Very difficult. Suffice to say It looked like my son had shaved my neck for me (he's eight). Patchy and a 1/8" cut under my jaw. I figured it was time to wind things down. I rinsed, relathered, did my cheeks again and then finished up with a DE.
Applied the Alum and....yes it told me I was a complete newb with the straight. Neck is actually still feeling it as I type. However I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next shave.
Stropping went alright. Not sure if I was doing much for the razor but I didn't cut the strop or flip the razor over on its edge. So for the first time not so bad. I guess I'll find out at the next shave.
Newbie advice for other newbies:
1) Short strokes. If it was a bad angle, approach, etc. you will minimize the possible bad consequences.
2) Since you are going so slow watch your lather and be prepared to rinse it all off and relather with a wet face even if you haven't finished you WTG pass on all areas. I found this smoothed things out better than just touching up my lather.
I would like to thank the gentlemen on this forum; as I have been reading a ton a threads while waiting for my razor and feel it went as relatively smoothly as it did due to your net knowledge.
Also thanks to Larry Andro for allowing so many to try straight shaving that otherwise might not have, due to the start up costs.
Washed my face and did my regular lather (e-shave's lavender soap with a Simpson's CH1 in best) but made it a little thinner. Took extra time to lather my face to make sure my whiskers were ready. Since I had shaved this morning there was no need for a WTG with a DE first.
Started on the area below the sideburns on my dominant side (right). After working to get a comfortable grip I just went for it with a light short stroke. Just focused in on light and short with a shallow angle and before I knew it my right cheek was done and time for the left.
Left side felt a little awkward but strangley was easier to keep a light touch. Cheek went well and moved on to the chin.
Much trickier with so many different angles in a small space. I shortened the strokes even more and just tried to use the toe area of the blade. Glad I was using short strokes as a couple of times the skin bunched up ahead of the razor and if I was going for a longer stroke I would have cut myself badly.
Got the chin done and decided to go for the neck (I know I know save the neck for later but what the hell; nothing ventured....). Very difficult. Suffice to say It looked like my son had shaved my neck for me (he's eight). Patchy and a 1/8" cut under my jaw. I figured it was time to wind things down. I rinsed, relathered, did my cheeks again and then finished up with a DE.
Applied the Alum and....yes it told me I was a complete newb with the straight. Neck is actually still feeling it as I type. However I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next shave.
Stropping went alright. Not sure if I was doing much for the razor but I didn't cut the strop or flip the razor over on its edge. So for the first time not so bad. I guess I'll find out at the next shave.
Newbie advice for other newbies:
1) Short strokes. If it was a bad angle, approach, etc. you will minimize the possible bad consequences.
2) Since you are going so slow watch your lather and be prepared to rinse it all off and relather with a wet face even if you haven't finished you WTG pass on all areas. I found this smoothed things out better than just touching up my lather.
I would like to thank the gentlemen on this forum; as I have been reading a ton a threads while waiting for my razor and feel it went as relatively smoothly as it did due to your net knowledge.
Also thanks to Larry Andro for allowing so many to try straight shaving that otherwise might not have, due to the start up costs.
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