Your first time...

[Vir]

You might have been nervous; with no prior experience to support yourself but only the hearsay from others, for the most part you were flying blind into this new experience. There was so much to keep in mind: how much pressure to apply, the right amount heat, did you have enough lubricant, could you handle your equipment properly, did you have proper the protection on hand? And then there was the pressure for results: would you be satisfied with your work? After you were done, could you look eye-to-eye with someone else with confidence? And overall, did you enjoy the experience that you would want to try it again?

So B&B members, what was your first REAL shave like?

 

[SUNA]

...

EDIT: Oh we're talking about shaving...

 

[ackvil]

The year was 1956 and I was 14 years old. There was no Internet or anyone to discuss Kyle's prep, blade angle, or pressure. My father gave me a razor, a Gillette blue blade, a can of cream, and told me to shave. I did and nicked and cut myself in many places. He told me to use witch hazel and to put patches of toilet paper on my face where the cuts were. Since I started to grow a beard at that age it was a task I had to do. Back then it was not something to be enjoyed - but something that had to be done.

As a result, I was ripe for any "improved" razor. I don't recall which version of the Gillette I had back then but do recall it was not an adjustable. My next razor is what is now called a FB.

 

[BlackBard]

The year was 1956 and I was 14 years old. There was no Internet or anyone to discuss Kyle's prep, blade angle, or pressure. My father gave me a razor, a Gillette blue blade, a can of cream, and told me to shave. I did and nicked and cut myself in many places. He told me to use witch hazel and to put patches of toilet paper on my face where the cuts were. Since I started to grow a beard at that age it was a task I had to do. Back then it was not something to be enjoyed - but something that had to be done.

As a result, I was ripe for any "improved" razor. I don't recall which version of the Gillette I had back then but do recall it was not an adjustable. My next razor is what is now called a FB.

WOW! Your account sounds just about like my experience, although I don't recall the actual first shave, but a year or two earlier. Only difference was that I didn't use witch hazel then. I think I used Aqua Velva.

My second DE was also a Fat Boy - brand new. I wish I had kept it.

 

[mskembo]

Dear B&B Forum,
I'm in my thirties, and like to think of myself as in pretty good shape. She was absolutely beautiful with tight lines and a waist that made you want to put your hand around her. I started out stroking her shining silvery hair, and leaned her back into the hot water so she could warm up as I prepared for what was to be my first time.

Sorry I need a smoke break...

 

[SUNA]

I think I used Aqua Velva.

I used to use Noxzema astrigent as my post shave.

 

[Vir]

Dear B&B Forum,
I'm in my thirties, and like to think of myself as in pretty good shape. She was absolutely beautiful with tight lines and a waist that made you want to put your hand around her. I started out stroking her shining silvery hair, and leaned her back into the hot water so she could warm up as I prepared for what was to be my first time.

Sorry I need a smoke break...

 

[Luc]

If I don't count the 3 days of electric razor that I tried...

Then my one-on-one with my dad showing me slap the gel, here's a sensor, just go down. Don't rinse at the end, walk away it will dry...

It was in November 2008 when I was 29... Armed with a Weishi and a Dorco ST-300 a puck of Wilkinson Sword black bowl that smells like grandpa and a Wilkinson Sword bristle brush.

I finished with Nivea Balm. It wasn't too close but it was better than the mighty mach3 or Fusion!!

 

[peacefrog33756]

Early 60's here. My dad died when I was young, so I didn't have anyone to guide me, but remembered how he shaved with a Gillette and Blue Blades and simply emulated him. Lots of cuts if I recall, self-taught.

 

[Uncle Erik]

The first "real" shave happened around 1990. I bought a straight and gleaned as much information as I could in the pre-Internet era. I had practiced shaving balloons (as I had been instructed), graduated to shaving parts of my arms and legs, then managed to get a decent straight shave on my face.

It worked pretty well. But the maintenance saw me fade back into the darkside of cartridges. Only about two years ago did I drag out a Fatboy, start lurking B&B and start learning the One True Way.

 

[Alec79]

Oh I remember well.

An aerosol tin of Palmolive classic, a blue Gillette disposable. Scrape, scrape, slice, cut, leaving the sink looking like a massacre had taken place, a splash of Brut leaving my face feeling like it had been soaked in petrol and set on fire, half a role of toilet paper stuck to my face to soak up the blood, my father telling me I'd soon get the hang of it. What fun!

My dad was right, I did get the hang of it. This morning, a perfect shave as usual, Lord razor, Wilkinson sword blade, Erasmic shave stick, boar brush, Alum block and Gillette Mach 3 aftershave balm, not a drop of blood in sight.

Shame it took about 16 years to get the hang of it...

 

[_JP_]

Dad taught me by mail while he was stationed in Vietnam. With one his DE's in hand and Mom standing beside me reading the instructions, I did the best that I could. Several months later Dad instructed me in person.

 

[gull]

My first "shave" was when I was 3. I was curious about my dad's razor so I picked it up and tried it out on my arm. The minute I put the razor to my skin, I started to bleed and I learned my lesson.

When I was coming of age, I just bleached my hair to avoid shaving and then when I couldn't do that, I used a Quatro and some canned stuff. It's been 10 years since then and now I'm trying out DE shaving for the first time

 

[Vir]

Dad taught me by mail while he was stationed in Vietnam. With one his DE's in hand and Mom standing beside me reading the instructions, I did the best that I could. Several months later Dad instructed me in person.

By mail? Wow I would love to see what directions he wrote, if you ever feel like scanning them definitely put them up here.