Newbie All Over Again

[blackfoot]

I have shaved three time with a straight now. I'm not sure about this one. The first time, I just cut my upper lip a little. No big deal, I expected a learning curve. The shave was a shave. Nothing close, but it was at least equal to anything I did with a M3.

Second shave, I made a nice slice on my lower neck. I was about to go against the grain, when I moved the blade over a little, not realising it was against my neck. That hurt, but didn't bleed too bad. I got a much better shave this time. Not perfect, but pretty good. This had me excited.

Shave three was when disaster struck. Right at the curve of the jaw line under my ear, I cut in. It hurt! And it bled! I tried to finish shaving, but my sink full of water was pink from the blood and I knew I had to quit. I didn't know how I was ever going to get the bleeding to stop before going to work. It did, eventually.

I am on my second day without a shave, since it is my nights off. I have tomorrow night off, but I go to church. So I haven't decided if I am shaving tomorrow or not. But, this isn't looking promising. I said I would use the same razor for a month. I might not have any face left!

 

[luvmysuper]

It takes a brave man to step up and put bare blade to face. I don't have it, and I'm impressed with those who do.
Hope you can work it out and get through the tough part, seems like you have the worst of it under your belt now anyway.
At least you don't have to worry about that moment when you might cut yourself. It's like you have been pre-disastered and can now go forward knowing you have seen the bad part already.
Good Luck with your learning curve.

 

[tsmba]

I sometimes wish I could skip shaving on a daily basis....at least prior to wet-shaving. Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[AFDavis11]

I'd take some time off and make sure everything heals up right. If you're using any pressure when shaving, then: the razor is dull, improperly stropped, you're simply using too much pressure.

Two things are pretty typical when cutting yourself. Either you accidentally move the blade sideways or you hit a facial protrusions and the razor slides sideways inadvertantly.

I hold my razor pretty lightly so it responds to problems by reacting in my fingers rather than against my face.

I suggest also shaving only the cheeks and then finishing with a DE for a while.

 

[ambrose]

Let your face heal and take a little time to watch straight shaving videos for inspiration and technique. Hang in there great shaves await you.

 

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

Right at the curve of the jaw line under my ear

That's like my shaving Bermuda Triangle. Whenever anything bad happens it's right there.

I'd say let it heal and go from there. Besides, if anybody asks "So, why didn't you shave?" you can always have this conversation:

You - I sliced myself with a razor.
Them - Oh, you nicked yourself.
You - No, I sliced myself.

Then reopen the wound while staring them dead in the eyes. They know they'll never match that story. Not even if they've wrestled a bear.

 

[blackfoot]

That's like my shaving Bermuda Triangle. Whenever anything bad happens it's right there.

I'd say let it heal and go from there. Besides, if anybody asks "So, why didn't you shave?" you can always have this conversation:

You - I sliced myself with a razor.
Them - Oh, you nicked yourself.
You - No, I sliced myself.

Then reopen the wound while staring them dead in the eyes. They know they'll never match that story. Not even if they've wrestled a bear.

I didn't read this until now. I quite literally just finished giving it another go. I only got one nick on my cheek bone. I thought I was in the clear and tried to do a quick touch up. I know better. But, it wasn't anything bad. Maybe I will survive this.

 

[SiBurning]

Sorry to hear this. Maybe you should slow down. Or are you in a rush? Do just the cheeks, or just a single WTG pass, or stay away from the harder areas for a while. At least until you get a better grip (pun intended) on the razor. The truth is, though, that as you learn do do more parts of your face, your skill will get better, your touch lighter, and your shave will get better even on your cheeks. So I give this advice with mixed feelings, and only as a defensive measure. Take with a grain of salt, since I'm pretty new to this myself--3 or 4 months.

 

[mdunn]

keep at it mate, it takes a little getting used to, but its totally worth it

 

[Luc]

Good news minus the bleeding! The learning curve feels longer at the moment but I think I will get there! Straights are so cool!

 

[blackfoot]

Last night, I got through a shave without bleeding. I messed up on my upper lip, but it didn't bleed. The shave is great at all, but that isn't the goal right now. I do need to slow down though.