My journey to becoming a real man!

[jwtiger69]

I have suffered from razor burn and ingrowns hairs ever sense I started shaving and my facial hair started to really come in. The last few months I started researching how to prevent that I came across DE and straight shaving. So then I came here......

I recently ordered the "sight unseen deal" from whipped dog and last night was my first attempt. Sadly it wasn't as good as I wanted but over all I am happy with with. I had 4-5 days of growth which made it difficult. I was still able to get two WTG passes on my face and neck with only 2 cuts. It wasn't very good and of course that is contributed to my inexperience and technique. I had to do one pass with my old cartridge razor to clean up. But the good news is that I have no razor burn and as far as I can tell no ingrowns. I plan on running this journal for as long as I can keep up, or at least 100 shaves if I can.

 

[neilyasno]

I think there is something wrong with the link, when you click on it, it takes you to the photobucket home page

 

[jwtiger69]

Oh well! I removed it. It was just me and my razor before I shaved.

 

[jwtiger69]

2nd shave


It was bad. I face was bloody! I didn't not cut any hair but my face lol. I only attempted my checks but had to just use my crappy cart razor to finish my hack job. After that I tried to shave a patch of my arm hair and that didn't even cut. Any advice on what's going on? Just got this for Larry at whipped dog and of corse second shave. I have only stripped once adds that was today before that shave. Is it possible I messed up the blade much?

 

[jwtiger69]

Third shave today and it was great. I tried beard reducing and just did two passes on my checks. Then I cleaned up with my other razor.

 

[global_dev]

A 5 day beard should have been tough on a newbie. Keep it up though!

 

[Coler]

One newbie to another, are you happy that you know the correct way to strop ? If so you're not making a mess of the blade by doing that - and you need to do it before and after every shave.

Otherwise, persevere and keep on keeping on ! Don't be afraid to give your face a rest though, either by going back to your prior routine, or even taking a day off shaving just to let everything settle down.

 

[jwtiger69]

Actually I think my technique sucks. I really think that is why my second shave was so bad. I just used the balsa strop today 10 on the red side and 10 on the red follows by 40-50 on the leather. I went slow and think I did pretty good. The next thing I am buying is a good strop when I get the money. Which will be a while. I had to save a few months order from whipped dog. Hard times in this house but we are doing alright.

 

[jwtiger69]

Beard reducing is key. Learning as I go! At least I have been getting really great lathers lately! I am loving my TOBs sandalwood

 

[noahpictures]

Keep it up, be patient and have fun. Assume a learning period of six months, that way you don't put too much pressure on yourself.

 

[jwtiger69]

I aassume about 100 shaves into this I should be doing alright. I got 97 more....

 

[jwtiger69]

My 4th shave was last night and it was pretty good. I started off with my cheeks and was feeling really good so I went for the chin and neck for the first time. My neck and chin were of course difficult and I didn't get a close shave at all. I left my upper lip area because I just didn’t feel comfortable attempting it. Today I also attempted my first XTG pass on my cheeks and it was great! I still finished my shave with one quick pass on my old razor just to clean up my chin, upper lip, and neck. Overall this was my best shave. I even used some Old Spice AS for the first time. I will say that was the best part and made me feel great. It burned for a few seconds but left my face feeling refreshed.

 

[CountZer0]

I like the title of your thread. It really made me think. I would agree with you, learning to shave with a straight will help you become a man. I know it has helped me.


Lessons I have learned so far:

Patience - You will not learn to shave with a straight overnight. It will take time, practice and commitment. (I am still learning and every shave is a lesson … sometimes a painful one J) You will not experience immediate success in everything you do in life, SR shaving is a perfect example. I will link perseverance with patience, it’s easy to give up to just call it an experiment and move on. However sticking with it proves so much more rewarding. Simple things like your first shave with no pink lather, or the first DFS, it makes everything worthwhile. Don’t give up… hair grows back and skin heals.

Humility - Asking for help, admitting you don't know, and looking for advice. Getting online and admitting I have no idea how to do something is a bit embarrassing, I was so nervous the first time I looked in the mirror and brought the razor up to my face. This website and its incredible members are an amazing resource, I quickly realized that everyone was here to help and encourage. It was a great feeling to have members post kudos and suggestions to my journal thread. It was humbling in a very positive way.

Relax – I learned to take time to enjoy a simple, necessary daily chore, find the joy in doing it well and with passion. I can’t say that everything in life can be made to be as exciting, but there are quite a few things that I took for granted before that now I do with purpose and enjoyment. Shaving taught me just because something is a potentially tedious routine doesn’t automatically mean it has to be that way.

Generosity – This is going to sound like a stretch but it really isn’t. I have seen countless PIFs, freebees, and outright acts of kindness on this site. It can’t help but make an impression. I have made a renewed realization that doing good to others is not only beneficial to the recipient but at times much more for the giver, and kindness can be contagious.

I apologize if I rambled on or hijacked your thread. Enjoy your straight and keep posting, it will be fun to follow your progress.

BTW - I have a tub of TOBS Sandalwood that doesn’t agree with my skin (burns like crazy) even though the cake of soap of the same product doesn't, PM me if your interested and I will send it your way.


-jason

 

[jwtiger69]

@CountZerO:

Totally agree on all points. I have made a few threads asking for help already and I am not afraid to ask for help if I need it. So far I am really enjoying this. I know it will be a while but I cannot wait to have that great close shave with my straight. I think at this point I am committed to it and I am already looking at investing into better products such as: a better strop, and of course the tools that I will to hone my own razors. Sadly it is tight in my house so this will take a while to aquire. Lucky with the whipped dog kit has the balsa strop that is treated. So that should keep me going for a while. I am already looking at investing in a new razor in the future as well (of course will need to save for it). I will take you up on the offer for the TOBS! Someday I will pay it forward.....

 

[jwtiger69]

My 5th shave was Saturday morning. This was by far the best one. I felt so good that I shaved my whole face. I did ATG on my neck and cheeks. I am stil lnow getting the good of a shave on my neck but I feel at this rate that I will be fine.

 

[jwtiger69]

It has been a few days sense my last shave. I ended up sending my razor back to LArry at Whipped Dog to have him rehone it. The first shave it was sharp but after the last one I think something went wrong and that will lead to my stropping technique. He even sent me a new strop to make sure I had a good even surface to use. Should be back in a few days. This Saturday I am going to the barber for the first time for a haircut. I am pretty excited for that. Update on that later....

 

[jwtiger69]

Shave number 6:

This was by the the best one yet. My first WTG pass was pretty close. Today I attempted to shave my upper lip. That wasn't very good. I seem to tug and pull to much when I get there. I guess a few more times and I should get it. I ended up two WTG passes and was very happy. Sadly I got a nice cut on my cheek. I just got this back from Larry @whipped dog and it is razor sharp again.

 

[jwtiger69]

I am happy to say that I have not been getting any bad razor burn and more importantly ingrown hairs after these shaves. I am still getting a few cuts here and there but I of course still need more time to learn and work on my technique. I do think I am pressing a little too hard when shaving. I feel confident enough now to try XTG grain every time I shave. I am trying to shave 3 times a week for now. My next purchase is going to be a new strop and of course after that I would like a new razor to rotate with the one I bought from Larry.

 

[jwtiger69]

Shave number 7:


Today wasn't very nice. It was just a real bad shave. I honestly have no idea why this one was so bad compared to my last one. I had cuts everywhere and my face was on fire. Maybe I just went to quick and I need to slow down. After my shave I just practiced stropping and actually feel good about now. I feel like my x pattern is pretty good. I probably did 70-100 passes so my next shave should be good.

 

[paco664]

Shave number 7:


Today wasn't very nice. It was just a real bad shave. I honestly have no idea why this one was so bad compared to my last one. I had cuts everywhere and my face was on fire. Maybe I just went to quick and I need to slow down. After my shave I just practiced stropping and actually feel good about now. I feel like my x pattern is pretty good. I probably did 70-100 passes so my next shave should be good.

pressure and speed......