Used my straight blade for the first time (longish post ahead)

designbydan

I thought I'd post something up here about my first experience using a straight razor, Maybe it will be useful for somebody, maybe not, lets find out.

I got a razor as a gift for xmas, along with a brush and soap in bowl, and a gift voucher for a hot towel shave in town. My plan was to use the voucher first so I could at least have some knowledge of how the blade should feel on my skin before attempting to shave myself. That plan went out the window last week when I out of nowhere just decided to go for it.

My first mistake was the fact that I hadn't shaved at all since before xmas week, so I was shaving long enough fairly rough hair. I would suggest to others to definitely not do it this way, it made things much more difficult I think. as my second time shaving 3 days later was much easier.
The razor I used came 'shave ready' I was told, and it seems just fine, although I've no experience of anything else to compare it, But I'll be buying a strop soon enough to make sure it stays/gets sharp.

I lathered the soap up on the brush for about 2 minutes, the brush itself had been soaking in hot water for about 10 mins beforehand. Although I still found that the soap dried out fairly fast on my skin, and just using the brush on my face had it feeling fairly sore too before even going near the skin with a blade.

I kept the blade at about a 20 degree angle, but I think some of the time I had it basically hugging my skin as I was prob overcompensating for trying not to have it at anywhere near 45 degrees.

When trying to pull my skin with my other hand I found my glasses got in the way a lot. I couldn't take them off as when I tried I had to hold my face right up to the mirror just to see clearly. My glasses proved to be a problem for most of the shave.

I have a fairly large goatee which got in the way a whole lot too, as I was trying not to cut into the line at all but when I was using my left hand it was in the way of my vision, so I had to guess, which ended up with me being more cautious and leaving some stubble around the edges of my goatee instead.

I tried to shave up just once, I didn't feel comfortable at all, I couldn't hold the razor comfortably and wasn't sure what the best way to hold it at all was so I ended up just leaving it.

My second time shaving was much like the first but I got the hang of using at least my right hand better. I still found working along my neck and especially near my goatee because I can't really see what I'm doing I'm leaving lots of stubble. I haven't cut myself at all yet, but maybe that's because I'm being too cautious hence some stubble still being left when I'm done. My left hand wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be, although it's still awkward to get the angle and tilt of the blade correct as things are kinda backwards.

After my shave both times my face looks really clean apart from a few problem areas mentioned above, but when I feel my face if I run my hand down my cheek it feels very smooth, but up I can feel hairs still, I'm guessing this is because I've only shaved in one direction so far.

I've been leaving each shave 3 days apart so I'm due another tomorrow, hopefully it goes better again, I'm sure it just takes loads of practice. Although I'm still very nervous when shaving my neck, definitely if I even attempt to shave upwards.

Well, that's my little (sorry, long) story If any of the problems I've had sound familiar, or if I'm plain doing it wrong, let me know.

Hopefully it helps put other newcomers minds at ease, even though I prob done it all wrong, I still didn't slice my face open. so there's hope for everyone

I may wait and use that voucher on Sunday, so I can see the difference between my first couple of attempts and how a professional does it.

hitemfrank

Couple of things I picked up on reading your post.

designbydan wrote: »

I got a razor as a gift for xmas, along with a brush and soap in bowl,

You can't tell us this and not say what they were

designbydan wrote: »

My first mistake was the fact that I hadn't shaved at all since before xmas week, so I was shaving long enough fairly rough hair. I would suggest to others to definitely not do it this way, it made things much more difficult I think. as my second time shaving 3 days later was much easier.

I have noticed a tiny bit of a difference between shaving off one day of stubble growth and shaving off a weeks worth. It's only a bit of a difference but I wouldn't recommend someone taking off a beard on their first shave, as you suggest.

designbydan wrote: »

The razor I used came 'shave ready' I was told, and it seems just fine, although I've no experience of anything else to compare it, But I'll be buying a strop soon enough to make sure it stays/gets sharp.

Depending on where the razor came from will determine if it really is 'shave ready'. Also a strop won't get a razor sharp but it will help align the microscopic teeth at the edge, in effect making it feel sharper/more comfortable than when using it when it hasn't been stropped. Making it properly sharp will take honing, if it needs it. How long that takes will just depend on what the edge is like.

When you do get a strop, just take it slow while you are getting used to stropping. Trying to rush it will result in the edge rolling over and becoming dull.

designbydan wrote: »

I lathered the soap up on the brush for about 2 minutes, the brush itself had been soaking in hot water for about 10 mins beforehand. Although I still found that the soap dried out fairly fast on my skin, and just using the brush on my face had it feeling fairly sore too before even going near the skin with a blade.

You more than likely have a sensitivity to an ingredient in the soap. If it continues to happen, get rid of the soap and get a different one.

designbydan wrote: »

I kept the blade at about a 20 degree angle, but I think some of the time I had it basically hugging my skin as I was prob overcompensating for trying not to have it at anywhere near 45 degrees.

A lower blade angle is perfectly fine with a straight razor. There is some sort of belief that a straight razor needs to be at 30 degrees (maybe to do with it being the recommended angle for a DE) but I honestly find than getting the razor at a really shallow angle leads to less irritation.

designbydan wrote: »

When trying to pull my skin with my other hand I found my glasses got in the way a lot. I couldn't take them off as when I tried I had to hold my face right up to the mirror just to see clearly. My glasses proved to be a problem for most of the shave.

I have a fairly large goatee which got in the way a whole lot too, as I was trying not to cut into the line at all but when I was using my left hand it was in the way of my vision, so I had to guess, which ended up with me being more cautious and leaving some stubble around the edges of my goatee instead.

I also have glasses and a goatee so know how you feel about this. To overcome the issue with the glasses I learned to shave using both hands. It means I don't have to cross one hand across my face so I can actually see what I'm doing.

On my first pass I will intentionally leave a bit of stubble around the edges of my beard and clean them up by shaving in a different direction (in the direction of ear to chin) so that I can get right up to the edge of the beard.

designbydan wrote: »

I tried to shave up just once, I didn't feel comfortable at all, I couldn't hold the razor comfortably and wasn't sure what the best way to hold it at all was so I ended up just leaving it.

Assuming up is against the grain, don't bother trying it until you are completely comfortable using the razor. It's only likely to end up with cuts and irritation.

designbydan wrote: »

My second time shaving was much like the first but I got the hang of using at least my right hand better. I still found working along my neck and especially near my goatee because I can't really see what I'm doing I'm leaving lots of stubble. I haven't cut myself at all yet, but maybe that's because I'm being too cautious hence some stubble still being left when I'm done. My left hand wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be, although it's still awkward to get the angle and tilt of the blade correct as things are kinda backwards.

After my shave both times my face looks really clean apart from a few problem areas mentioned above, but when I feel my face if I run my hand down my cheek it feels very smooth, but up I can feel hairs still, I'm guessing this is because I've only shaved in one direction so far.

Don't be worried about being too cautious. Cautious is good when learning to use a straight razor. Once you are comfortable shaving with the direction of the growth of your beard, try shaving across the direction of growth. It will help get the remaining stubble even closer to the skin.

designbydan wrote: »

I've been leaving each shave 3 days apart so I'm due another tomorrow, hopefully it goes better again, I'm sure it just takes loads of practice. Although I'm still very nervous when shaving my neck, definitely if I even attempt to shave upwards.

Well, that's my little (sorry, long) story If any of the problems I've had sound familiar, or if I'm plain doing it wrong, let me know.

Hopefully it helps put other newcomers minds at ease, even though I prob done it all wrong, I still didn't slice my face open. so there's hope for everyone

I may wait and use that voucher on Sunday, so I can see the difference between my first couple of attempts and how a professional does it.

A few days between each shave is a good idea as it will give your face time to recover between shaves. Don't be too disappointed if the hot towel shave you get isn't great. Depending on where you get it done it may end up being with a cartridge razor. Straight razor shave aren't all that common in barbers anymore.


It certainly sounds like you are on the right track with a straight razor. You'll get the hang of it in no time.

designbydan

hitemfrank wrote: »

Couple of things I picked up on reading your post.

Thanks for the detailed reply, I really appreciate it.

I'd posted a picture of the razor on here not long ago, so didn't want to make a double post essentially, The razor is from A.P Donovan and the soap/brush set is from 'Bend in the Barrow' http://bendinthebarrow.ie/

I'm not sure of all the ingredients in the particular soap but it has a spicy / cinnamon smell, On my second shave my skin wasn't nearly as red, if red at all, So I think it was just the first time using the brush that had my face irritated.




The hot towel shave I'm getting is in the Waldorf in Westmoreland street, I seen the guy there using a straight razor before so hopefully it'll be the same when I go.

Oh one major mistake that I forgot to mention was that after the first use of the brush the handle split right down the middle, I'd just left it standing to dry but the wood must have just soaked all the water up causing it to split.

Something to note about the bend in the barrow is that when I contacted them about this the guy sent me out a new brush immediately and it arrived in the post the next day. He was a really nice guy and I'll be buying soaps off them in the future when needed.

hitemfrank

Looking at the ingredients of the soap it seems like it should be good. The fact that it is bay rum may have contributed to the burning you first felt.

I was hoping your towel shave would be in the Waldorf. Should get a pretty decent shave there.

With the wooden brush, make sure you are not putting the whole brush into the water - just about half of the bristles should be enough for it to soften up a bit. Great that bendinthebarrow looked after you with the brush.