Thread: 1st half of face shaved

Obviously I am starting out and impatient. Yet I am slow and methodical too.

I have read some of the pages and recommendations and needed a shave pretty bad. I was scratching at my 4 or 5 day beard and had decided I wanted to shave my dominate side (right). The razor I have is one a barber/hairdresser might have with a replaceable razor blade. The razor was brand new and ready to scalp what it could.

Before I got in the shower I took my cup, cake, and brush and prepared them by getting the water very hot and adding some. I made a lather and got in the shower. I took a nice hot shower and washed my face twice.

Once out of the shower, I lathered up. I hate lather on my lips, might be why I have shaved in the shower for years. I began the shaving process. Holding the razor was fine and came naturally. Pulling my skin was not so natural but right above my ear. I shaved my right side, cheek, right neck, center and right upper lip.

All went pretty well. I did great for the most part and kept @30 degrees or less. The side, neck and most of my cheek was easy but still took a lot of time. I nicked 1 good time and 1 slight time. I cannot say I was nervous, but I was leery of a razor and my ability. I was also leery of the razor, stated twice on purpose.

I believe I shaved the skin more so then the beard. I have razor burn (no redness) and have only done that a time or two when I was going for a super close shave and went over areas 3 or 4 times, or more. The left side of my face is much more smooth and soft to me as I can feel a need to shave on many places on the right side. The left side was rinsed and shaved with only hot water and it is very comfortable (triple blade reusable about 2-3 moths old was used). I understand that I was able to go in all the grain directions on the left and not on the right and so I should feel cleaner on the left but I did believe it/I would do a better job then it/I did.

So, I am not giving up by any means. I believe that a SR will do differently then what I am using. Remarks?

I dont like having to use after shaves and creams and all that. I am a man after all and I do not believe it is needed. If a man does this right with the right razor the desired outcome will be there. I believe this for I have had it done to me and seen it done by others.

Overall the experience was so-so and I am left thinking about how hurried we are here in America and what we have been trained to accept and expect. Perhaps I need a reflective moment and a slowed down mentor.
Well that is that, my story and all so I bid you all a great shave, where your face feels like my babies ass, smoooooooth......

Sounds like a good start to me. Remember that the issue is not how quickly you start, but whether you keep going. The learning curve is at first steep, but it is also long. Ride the curve for a while, and you will be rewarded. Good luck on the journey!

It sounds like you're off to a decent beginning. Remember to take it slow. This is not about rushing a learning curve, this is about perfecting a fundamental skill. Perfect practice makes perfect.

When I began, I too used a disposable blade, and I found that my second shave with the blade was better than the first. Some of the keenness had worn off and it felt a bit smoother. Razor burn is also a direct result of too much pressure. The razor should float on the top of your skin, the blade literally just resting on your cheek. Check out AFDavis11's post on "pulling". He explains is much better than I can.

Keep going. You're doing just fine.

Good luck and enjoy it!

Sound like perfectly normal first shaves to me. Take your time and think about technique. When you've got the easy parts of your face down move on to other spots. Don't try to do too much at once. Finish off with a double edge or disposible if you have to. BBS will come if you want it, just don't rush it.

BTW, don't worry about after shaves and all that. The prep and soap you choose are more important to getting a better shave. An alum bar rubbed over your face after the shave can help with small nicks and cuts. But, after shaves can sooth your face quite a bit, it's just a matter of finding one that you like the smell of. I've been using a little bit of Jack Black. Very soothing and both me and my girlfriend like the smell. Definitely not overpowering at all.

+1 on disposable blades being very keen and sharp on the 1st use. Despite my skill and experience, if I use one of my disposable straight razors on its first shave, its bound to give a minor weeper or two that goes away with a rinse. By about the second-third use, it has the balanced performance that I prefer, sharp enough and forgiving enough.

Its does take a few shaves to become comfortable with the straight razor. I started straight shaving only a few years ago and I just kept trying to improve on each shave while using my Mach 3 to clean up the shave. Then one day, I stopped using the Mach 3 and considered it passe. This process didn't take long and I think it was about 12-20 shaves. At about 20+ shaves I became consistent with a BBS shave and thereafter, it was about becoming more efficient and learing how to keep the Straight Razors sharp and performing well.

Just keep doing what you are doing and taking small steps up the learning curve and you will get there just like the rest of us.

Welcome to Straight Shaving,

Pabster

First off, welcome to the forums and congrats on embarking on the journey of straight razor shaving. I say "journey" because it's not a quick one. It takes time.

I think some people judge what the experience is like based on the first few shaves with a straight razor and think, "That's what everyone is talking about? It's not that great." Then they quit. I have only shaved THREE times with a straight razor, but I can tell you that #3 was way better than #2, and #2 was better than #1.

Remember, you are basically RELEARNING how to shave, all over again. You have new hand positions, new equipment, and new angles/pressures that you are putting against your face. Little by little, it will get easier and become what it should be: AN EXPERIENCE, not a chore.

I would venture to say that most people who shave with a straight razor do it because they ENJOY everything about it. Shaving now is much more than cutting hair off your face. It's FUN to strop, to make the lather, to prepare the face with a hot towel, to take your time and get better & better at it, etc.

If all a person wanted to do was shave, then I would say to stick with a cheap disposable (or worse yet, an expensive disposable MACH3, FUSION, etc). But if you want a new experience, and make shaving something to look forward to, then this is definitely the way to go! My wife still rolls her eyes and tells me daily, "Oh God, do you REALLY need all that stuff just to shave?" Need, no. Want, YES!

One thing you said in your post was that you don't feel you need aftershaves, lotions, etc. I say "to each his own." However, I personally don't do those things because I NEED to, or because it makes me feel more like a man. Again, I do it all for the EXPERIENCE. It's much like going to get a haircut. They probably don't HAVE to massage your scalp when shampooing you, but damn, it feels so good when they do! So after I shave, personally, I like to smell good and end my shaving experience on a smooth, nice-smelling note! But that's just me. It's by no means a requirement of shaving that you have to use any post-shave products!

I hope you continue your journey and as always, post your questions, thoughts, and feedback here on the forums. Lots of good guys here are willing to help out!