Thread: Beginners 1st shave

Too much pressure, or bad, ineffective stropping, most likely. Bad angle is another possibility. Next time try a 20 degree angle even if you think it's not shaving.

I felt like my face was on fire after my 1st shave as well but I realized it was my attack angle and pressure that got me. My last few shaves have been awesome just letting the blade cut using the sything motion in short strokes and reapplying shaving cream when it feels dry helped a ton for me.

Mine did. It hurt the first time. The second time I used less pressure and it was better. After a week there was no pain at all. You may want to go a day between shaves to let your skin regenerate and heal itself before your next shave. It all gets better though in a couple of weeks you will be hooked and will get the hang of it. Its like anything else you try for the first time, it just takes experience.

Originally Posted by jelway

Hmmm, would you agree with another poster that said if he (at least I hope it is a "he") is shaving and transitions to an area with no hair to an area with hair he really doesn't notice the difference? To me that would be fantastic wasy of knowing if I am doing it correctly but that sounds too good. Also, did your face hurt after your first few shaves even if you didn't cut yourself. My face is still smarting 24 hours later like I rubbed it raw.

All those replies above me ther ar pretty much what I would have said, but in my own words to answer your questions, Yes I would believe them, because a truly shave ready razor requires no pressure on your face to shave. It requires good angle (1.5 - 2 spine thickness' off your face approx) and good technique to shave well, and this can be had through trial and error, reducing the error by learning from us as you are doing so already.

Did my face hurt?! Damn right it did! My first shaves were had without the benefit of this forum (actually I don't know that household use of internet was even around then! It might have been, but I didn't have it.) My shaves were absolutely atrociaous, and what's worse was that I was too pig-headed to stop and let my face have a break. I kept on with it and had the worst shave rash I ever had for about two weeks straight. I took the work of the seller that the razor was shae ready and that I wouldn't need the strop straight away, so it was alright that he didn't have any in stock, I had one on order and that was good enough. It would arrive about two weeks later. I ended up getting it four weeks later due to work. So, yes, I had some woes of my own. Once I got my act together and finally honed the razor properly, it was about two weeks of practice everday to finally get a passable shave and two months to match what I had been getting from the M3 and not much longer than that to surpass it...


Mick

Originally Posted by TucoRamirez

It seems that the razor is not shave-ready. Does the blade shave arm hair? If not then the razor needs to be honed. Also a 30 degree angle might be too steep. Try as flat of an angle as possible. Patience is key at the beginning stages. Most newbies ruin their edges by using steep angles, incorrect stropping...etc. We have all done it at one point or another Most important thing is to have fun and not rush it.

Originally Posted by MickR

Keep in mind that just because a razor can shave arm hair, it doesn't necessarily mean you would want to try shaving the courser stubble on your face with it. It is not an indicator of 'shave ready'.


Mick

Originally Posted by ccase39

All Dovos from that sight come shave ready by Lynn Abrams.

Good points gentlemen but that particular post of mine was directed at Scotland not the OP. Sorry for the confusion.

I gathered that by the way you quoted Scotland's post in your reply. My post was directed at anyone who thinks that something that can shave arm hair, is good enough to shave a face with. I keep most of my knives arm hair shaving sharp, but the keenness of the edge, doesn't take into account the angle of the bevel or the level of finish. I would get a smoother shave from my kitchen knife than I would my bush knife simply because my bush knife bevel is 30 degrees, where as my kitchen knife is 20 degree's. Not that I would shave my face with either one, because I have honed both up to 1000 grit only. My razors, on the other hand, are honed to 12k. And therein lies the difference. Even though my knives and my razor will both shave arm hair very nicely, only the razor has the degree of finish and geometry required to smoothly and comfortably shave a face. The coursest I've ever used (mistakely) for a shave was a 3000 grit finish on my razors edge, and it felt a bit rough to say the least.


Mick