First SR shave today...

Warlockdlx69 · 09-08-2007, 06:50 AM

What an experience

well, using the trusty lathering technique from all these weeks of DE shaving, i did my usual routine, and prepared for the shave... contrary to what i heard, and what i assumed (i assumed the razor would glide effortlessly over my face just mowing down anything in its path) the razor grabbed, pulled, scraped, you name it! im positive it was my technique, so thats what im here to discuss... obviously not stropping probably didnt help, but the guy i bought it from said he honed it and stropped it so it would be good for at least 1 shave... it was definitely sharp, no doubt about it... the parts i DID get good angle on and whatnot went pretty smoothly, but my technique sucks... is there any pointers i can recieve on the first SR shave? i think the biggest problem for me was my upper lip... sensitive, and hard to go ATG... but WTG and XTG didnt get anywhere near the amount of stubble off i wanted.. so, to all those who are willing to help a newb... what can i do to start improving on these skills?

DwarvenChef · 09-08-2007, 07:14 AM

Can't say much about the upper lip problem... Not loosing that by choice... Try a shallower angle. At times I tend to go around 25 degrees but 30 seems to be standard.

Strop... I (at first) didn't strop (didn't have one) on my first shave, if you could call it one. After getting a strop and really using it, like 30 passes, I noticed a HUGE difference.

gugi · 09-08-2007, 07:32 AM

Stropping helped me, but it's just a matter of practice I think. I don't think the stropping was the problem in your case.
Watch the videos, reread that pdf, read the threads about first shaves in the newbies section
and you'll get some more ideas of what you may want to try.
I also found the consistency of my lather is quite important. You have some experience with lather, but as far as i understand for straights you want it drier. And don't vary more than one variable at the time, otherwise you won't have any idea if anything is making it better or worse.
Oh, and I'm not going to pursue BBS until I get better with my technique. I can do it with bunch of passes now, but that's a lot of irritation. So right now I do 2 passes wtg, may be xtg on some places and that's it. Quite comfortable and I can see that my handling of the razor is improving.
So, patience I think is the key.

heavydutysg135 · 09-10-2007, 05:40 PM

This would get more responses if it were posted in the shaving or newbie section, as this is not really the section for posting questions. Try a shallower angle (like 30 degrees) if you feel like the razor is digging in or skipping. Also try to use a little momentum. Start your pass a little above the patch of hair that you want to shave so that you have a little bit of movement before you hit the hair. This seems to work a little better than starting out inside a patch of hair. Stropping the blade should help as well.

Warlockdlx69 · 09-10-2007, 07:17 PM

someone who PMed me suggested i post my shave in here to see what kind of responses i got... if a mod in here wants to transfer it, go right ahead

if not, let me know if i can copy/paste without getting scolded for spamming lol

Creel · 09-10-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

the parts i DID get good angle on and whatnot went pretty smoothly, but my technique sucks...

Well you have done your buddy proud by trusting his good for 1 shave. Now it is on you to properly prepare both your razor and your face for the job at hand.

Congrats on getting some of the shave to go smoothly. You can concentrate on those areas for the next shave and re-enforce what is working for you.
As your dexterity improves the technique will too. That will carry over to the more difficult areas and you will bring what works to work.

You sound like you are on to the forum thing so I'm sure you will find what you look for. It is all here.

Or when you get some specific questions bring em.
When you can define the right question we can divine the right answer.
Good luck

Warlockdlx69 · 09-10-2007, 08:06 PM

well, one thing i notice is my use of the razor itself... my grip is just rotten... in most areas i find the only way i get a comfortable grip on the thing that will allow me to shave, is holding it much like a knife... or one of those japanese non folding straight razors.... i need a good video

gugi · 09-10-2007, 08:29 PM

How about Lynn's demo on the DVD and the pdf from Dr. Moss?

jscott · 09-10-2007, 08:45 PM

start with talkin about WTG or N/S passes as thats what you should start with as your first stage of your straight journey.

RIGHT HAND HOLDING RAZOR:
hold your R hand straight out infront of you, palm down. now flex your wrist so your hand comes up like you are telling someone to STOP. now using your other hand put the razor out infront of your hand for you to grab. i personlly put 2 fingers on both sides of the scales. the razor should be opend to look like this

|
____|, scales up vertically, blade out to the left with edge down towards the ground. basically you have opend the scales up 270degrees

grab the blade, 2 fingers each side of the scales(1 in the front/ 3behind if its more comfortable for you) thumb underneath. thats how you hold it, it doesn't change at all from that grip while doing the right side of your face with N/S passes. yes your hand turns, spins around so that your palm faces in to your face. don't change the grip .. then stroke N to S.. top to bottom of your right cheek and right neck. i hold it like this for my entire lip and chin.

i then change to my left hand using the exact same thing but left hand to do my left cheek/neck.

pretty simple and it will become second nature very quickly.
~J

Warlockdlx69 · 09-10-2007, 09:22 PM

you make it sound easy lol i know how im SUPPOSED to hold it, but the problem i have is it feels so awkeward when i try to do so... plus, in many areas, i have a hard time seeing where the blade is, and the angle i have it set to... i dont know if you have ever shaved your head, but if you do, its kinda the same way when you are looking in the mirror trying to shave the top of your head with a mach 3... sometimes you get confused with which way you are supposed to turn it, you know? i guess its purely a matter of skill... and skill takes time... no question about it... hopefully ill get it one day

lol

Bruce · 09-10-2007, 09:49 PM

Warlock,

So long as you were able to prevent any gushers, you're doing just fine. Keep at the areas that are comfortable to shave with the straight until you get to feel comfortable with handling the razor. Once there, you can then worry about disconnecting your lips. Wouldn't you think a face could do without so many inside corners? And the remodeling gets so messy.

Bruce

Warlockdlx69 · 09-10-2007, 10:33 PM

lol well, no serious cuts yet... got 2 nice ones just from using too much pressure... but the cuts were so clean they didnt even bleed lol 2 long slits, one next to my chin and one on the bottom right of my neck.. THAT one scared me... a little deeper, and about 2 inches to the left... i wouldnt be talkin to ya (O_O)

heavydutysg135 · 09-10-2007, 11:36 PM

It sounds like you NEED to borrow a copy of Lynn's DVD so you can watch at least the shaving section. He goes over the proper grip, shaving angles, and skin stretching in great detail. Very helpful for a newbie and advanced user alike. I still find myself watching it from time to time. It would definately be very helpful to you.

Warlockdlx69 · 09-11-2007, 03:25 AM

well, borrowing i dont think would be an option... lol there are some very generous people on this forum, and i am greatful to many of them... including you!

but i wouldnt dare even ask for someone to be that generous lol

heavydutysg135 · 09-11-2007, 04:04 AM

I will send it to you the next time I take a razor that I sell to the post office and you can send it back when you are done. Trust me, you would be doing us all a favor by watching this DVD; because it would save us A LOT of time answering your future questions. I don't want to even think about what it will be like on this forum when you are trying to learn to hone.

Warlockdlx69 · 09-11-2007, 04:08 AM

am i really that big of a pain in the ass?

(flamers need not reply lol)

seriously though... i mean i do post a lot of questions, but im a newbie... and there are 2 ways to become a pro... trial and error, which is expensive and time consuming... and asking questions... just so happens this takes a lot of meticulous attention to detail... its not like assembling/disassembling a glock lol that i can do with my eyes closed... and i was able to do quite proficiently within a week of buying mine (that was quite a while ago) but even then, i still had questions... mostly, before i bought it... i took time out for about a year to research and ask questions about guns and look into the options available before purchasing mine... mostly because i was saving up for it, secondly it was because i knew i wouldnt be buying another one for a long time, so i needed one that was going to be up to the task, and wouldnt fail me if i needed it... currently, i have just about enough experience with them bad boys to be an armorer

heavydutysg135 · 09-11-2007, 04:23 AM

I think that you took my comment the wrong way, because I was not trying to be rude, just a little funny. Seriously though, I think that it is a good idea to ask questions, it can just get time consuming to answer questions that have already been covered in detail many times. Lynn's DVD is a great place to start. If after you watch it you still have a question that you cannot find the answer to on the forum, then by all means ask the question. You definately will not be the only person wondering about something. Also straight razor shaving, like any true art, cannot be learned just by reading and asking questions (although this can make the learning curve much easier); only actual practice will make one a great straight razor shaver as we all strive to be. If it were easy then everyone would be doing it and straight razor shaving would not be so special.

IsaacRN · 09-11-2007, 04:24 AM

I just threw Lynn's DVD on my ipod tonight. Gonna be watching that in the subways and learning and refining.

Warlockdlx69 · 09-11-2007, 04:44 AM

no i didnt think it was rude or anything, but i do know sometimes humor lets a little drop of a persons true feelings come out... and i can see how someone might feel i ask too many questions... just wanted to let you know there is an end in sigh

just not for a while

anything worth doing is worth doing right, and most things worth doing take time, dedication, knowledge, and a whole lot of skill... and yes, this is what makes our choice of shaving method special

Dewey · 09-11-2007, 05:19 AM

Hey Warlock,
Have you checked out the Guide to the Straight Razor Shave on the homepage of SMF http://www.shavemyface.com/? It's by Dr. Chris Moss and it's a nice intro (and a free download). Other than that, diamond pasted strops in 1micron, .5 micron and .25micron can really give you a great keen edge to do your damage to your ole mug

After that and 30 or so trips on the plain strop and you should be ready to practice the perfect angles and directions of the pass. Good luck!