Well... That didn't go so well, did it?

[Legion]

Well, I just finished my first tentative straight razor shave. It's harder than it looks, and it looks kind of hard.

I have made a bit of a mess of myself, including a small cut on my chin that was actually dripping Also a fair few scrapes where my blade angle was wrong. I did a "sort of" one pass and then tidied up with a DE. Sigh.

A few notes about the things that hindered me.

Trying to be ambidextrous in the mirror. At first I started using just my right hand. Then, on my left side, I found my hand and wrist covered my eyes! Doh! So now I have to learn to shave lefty too. I might practice that with a safety razor for a while.

Also, I should not have tried this with a three day beard. I think the longer hair was a bit harder to mow through, causing me to have problems applying the right pressure on the blade. Next time, just stubble.

Also, it takes a long time. For me, anyway. This can cause my lather to dry out a bit before I get to certain bits of my face. Does anyone else have that problem or just me?

I'll keep at it. I'm nothing if not stubborn to the point of ridiculous. I see this being a long learning curve, though. Maybe I'll try doing different bits of my face each time with the straight and then doing the rest with a DE. I do try to rush things sometimes...

 

[dancraig]

You can do it. Sharp razor, light touch, stretch the skin.

 

[BillEllis]

Baby steps. Don't try to get it all the first time... or second time...


....... or third time.

It will take some practice and some muscle memory coordination between eyes, hands, mirrors to get successful at it. Try just doing the sideburn area and cheeks until you can do it without mishap. Then progress to the upper lip and the chin. Do it until it's a thoughtless process like tying your shoes.

Not in a cavalier sense, but rather one of respectful confidence. Do all of it with the master hand first, and after you get decent at it, then work with your off hand. For instance, if you have progressed to the lip/chin area, then use the off hand to practice on the sidburns...

baby steps, as Bill Murray would say.

 

[Pumpkin]

Well, I just finished my first tentative straight razor shave. It's harder than it looks, and it looks kind of hard.

I have made a bit of a mess of myself, including a small cut on my chin that was actually dripping Also a fair few scrapes where my blade angle was wrong. I did a "sort of" one pass and then tidied up with a DE. Sigh.

A few notes about the things that hindered me.

Trying to be ambidextrous in the mirror. At first I started using just my right hand. Then, on my left side, I found my hand and wrist covered my eyes! Doh! So now I have to learn to shave lefty too. I might practice that with a safety razor for a while.

Also, I should not have tried this with a three day beard. I think the longer hair was a bit harder to mow through, causing me to have problems applying the right pressure on the blade. Next time, just stubble.

Also, it takes a long time. For me, anyway. This can cause my lather to dry out a bit before I get to certain bits of my face. Does anyone else have that problem or just me?

I'll keep at it. I'm nothing if not stubborn to the point of ridiculous. I see this being a long learning curve, though. Maybe I'll try doing different bits of my face each time with the straight and then doing the rest with a DE. I do try to rush things sometimes...

It WILL get better and easier!

You will get a few nicks (and cuts), I'd almost forgotten where my styptic pencil was when I switched from DE's to straights...I quickly remembered

Unless you're really lucky, it's highly likely your early shaves will be a bit patchy.

Personally, I have found it easier to use my left hand shaving my left side and right hand shaving the right side, then using my dominant (left) hand to do the more central sections. After about 6/7 shaves it started to feel less unnatural. Now that I'm approaching 40 shaves, the muscle memory is making it feel much more intuitive

I keep my loaded brush in a bowl on the side of the sink, if I need to add a bit more lather or rehydrate it slightly it's nice and handy. Or you can just wet your fingertips and give the lather a touch up.

Don't rush things and make sure you stretch your skin as you shave, it certainly reduces the chance of the blade digging in.

 

[johnmrson]

Stick with it Legion. I had a false start a few months ago but decided to give it another try. I'm so glad I did. I found a straight that suited me and it's been so much easier this time. I posted a couple of cuts earlier in the week but they weren't serious and I look at them as learning experiences, not failures. After a few shaves, I can now get a straight shave as good or better than a single DE pass so I'm pretty happy with that. It'll take a while for you to develop the right dexterity and muscle memory to get BBS but there's going to be a fun journey from now until then.

 

[W_B_K]

Like the above advice says, keep at it . If you are having a lot of trouble do just try to master one section.

If you are still having trouble, try a different type of razor. Sometimes size and grind type can make a big difference.

 

[natchez]

Took me 6-7 weeks of daily use to get it sort of right and I still get a cut now and again. Keep at it and make sure you have the time, are undisturbed and are as relaxed as possible. If I can do it anyone can, as I am about as graceful as a hippo.

It will come in time. A few months later I am able to do an adequate job of honing, can use razors of differing sizes without issue and get the smoothest shaves I have ever had. Now, I have to admit I did not really care if I ended up with some small battle scars, since I am older, married forever and coupled with not being all that vain. In fact, every time I get a decent nick I get a comment from SWMBO saying why don't you go back to the other way of shaving (DE), you never had any issues with that. Way back when I initially learned to shave DE.

Keep going you will be rewarded.

PS- A spike point is not for beginners. They can catch you when you least expect it.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Like everything else some learn fast and some slow. You see too many posts from guys who just pick up a razor and get great results from day one. That is not typical and gives some the wrong impression.

For most it's a skill that has to be learned through doing and there are plenty of bumps along the way and for every guy who picks it up in one day there are those who takes months.

You just have to keep at it and things will improve.

 

[calcustom]

Start on the flats.
Do just the right cheek.
Then finish the rest of the shave with your DE.
When your comfortable with that try the left.
Then later you can start thinking about the chin etc.

 

[azmark]

Baby steps. Don't try to get it all the first time... or second time...


....... or third time.

It will take some practice and some muscle memory coordination between eyes, hands, mirrors to get successful at it. Try just doing the sideburn area and cheeks until you can do it without mishap. Then progress to the upper lip and the chin. Do it until it's a thoughtless process like tying your shoes.

Not in a cavalier sense, but rather one of respectful confidence. Do all of it with the master hand first, and after you get decent at it, then work with your off hand. For instance, if you have progressed to the lip/chin area, then use the off hand to practice on the sidburns...

baby steps, as Bill Murray would say.

+1
Shakespeare? No.....Ellis

 

[DE Shaver]

Well, at least you lived to tell the tale. Many people underestimate the difficulty of jumping into straight razor shaving. It doesn't guarantee you'll get a bad shave but it's more work and the results are often not particularly good. However, the payoff is that eventually you'll master it and get great results.

 

[dpmtherrien]

Reading what you've described makes me think that the same things happened to me, as I'm sure it has to many members. And yes, as has been mentioned, it will get better, just keep working at it.

One thing that I've found helped me greatly was to do the easy areas of me face with the straight, and then finish off with my DE. Then for my clean up I'll use the straight. Now the skin is already conditioned from the DE shave, and of course there's no long whiskers to slow down your straight. Just do a warm water clean up, and this will allow you to get a feel for the straight without the longer whiskers slowing your strokes down, and its a good way to take care of any rough spots. Just watch your angle, and of course lay off the pressure. I've also found that by doing this it allows you to get a good feel of holding and moving the straight around all areas of your face. You'll find yourself subject to less nicks and cuts too. Give this a try and see how it works for you.

 

[maj_planb]

I feel you because I'm right there with you. I started my first shave with my dominant hand (lefty) on my left jaw. Despite all my study, visualization, and practice runs, my straight seemed to phase through my beard, cut no hair, and still make fine cuts on my skin. It wasn't that bad but emotionally I felt that only Grant at Cold Harbor lost more blood with less effort (no disrespect to my fallen brothers in uniform). My second try cost me no blood but alas, it also cost me little hair, though I did attain some first class razor burn.

Maybe I'll post about it in depth some time but not now because I'm girding myself for the long haul as I'm clearly not a natural nor am I gifted in the art of straight razor shaving. Don't quit. You can always think of me and know that someone else is out there who's not doing nearly as well as you.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Yeah...alot of folks have had the same experience. Dont let it get you down though! As a fellow Str8 Newb I can assure you, it does get better over time!

Edit: this is the same thing folks tell me about twin parenting...so far they have been right there as well

 

[Legion]

I've been just doing my sideburns area and cheek for the last few shaves.

Last night I cut my ear. ***???

 

[Undream]

This is your razor's way of teaching you to respect it and always be mindful of where it is..... Especially the point. Hehe.

 

[Aussieshaver]

You have to be careful with those square points!

 

[huntmol]

It takes a few months to be really comfortable with your shaving technique, and even after that you'll modify or improve certain aspects of your shave from time to time - straight shaving is an art that you can always improve on

 

[Slash McCoy]

Well, I just finished my first tentative straight razor shave. It's harder than it looks, and it looks kind of hard.

I have made a bit of a mess of myself, including a small cut on my chin that was actually dripping Also a fair few scrapes where my blade angle was wrong. I did a "sort of" one pass and then tidied up with a DE. Sigh.

A few notes about the things that hindered me.

Trying to be ambidextrous in the mirror. At first I started using just my right hand. Then, on my left side, I found my hand and wrist covered my eyes! Doh! So now I have to learn to shave lefty too. I might practice that with a safety razor for a while.

Also, I should not have tried this with a three day beard. I think the longer hair was a bit harder to mow through, causing me to have problems applying the right pressure on the blade. Next time, just stubble.

Also, it takes a long time. For me, anyway. This can cause my lather to dry out a bit before I get to certain bits of my face. Does anyone else have that problem or just me?

I'll keep at it. I'm nothing if not stubborn to the point of ridiculous. I see this being a long learning curve, though. Maybe I'll try doing different bits of my face each time with the straight and then doing the rest with a DE. I do try to rush things sometimes...

Congratulations on getting your cherry busted. It was a major learning session, was it not? Now you know to keep the angle shallower, i.e. the spine of the blade closer to your face, and use less pressure. Also be careful that the edge leads squarely in the direction of the stroke. In other words, do not allow any sideways slicing motion.

Since you are having problems, you should probably limit the next few shaves to only WTG. (With The Grain) ATG and XTG are unforgiving.

If your lather begins to dry out, just pick up a little water with your brush and work it into the drying area. Or if you bowl lather, you could pick up a bit more lather and apply it. Don't shave dry or drying skin! You need that lubrication.

I would not switch hands if I were you. Position your hand and razor such that your view is not blocked. You can do it. Everyone else does. Check out all the straight shave vids you can find on you tube.

The worst is behind you. Things will only get better! Hang in there, and good luck!

 

[kg4ghn]

Keep trying it just gets easier!

I shave with both hands. I also find that turning my body in relation to the mirror can help with being able to see.