My Straight Shave Saga (continues...)

Sure enough!! I applied it to my still-damp face this morning, and it feels much better! Still too tacky for my liking, but better.

Shave#22:

Sir Irisch Moos shave stick
Vulfix 2233
Wapi WTG/XTG only
Musgo Real A/S
Pacific Nick Stick (no TP today!)

I decided to take it easy today and allow my face to recover from yesterday's (minor) laceration, so only WTG/XTG this morning. Still not a horrible shave, all things considered!

I have also confirmed that at least 50% of the discomfort I've experienced within the first hour of shaving is a secondary result of the styptic product I've used. Not only does the PNS sting on application, it continues to sting a bit every time I move the affected area. Also leaves a "pulling" sensation that I don't like.

So, either a) I need to quick nicking myself in the first place (duh), or b) I need to find a styptic that doesn't do any of this pulling/stinging stuff. I'll get me some talc/powder this afternoon, and try omegapd's suggestion to use it instead, after tomorrow's shave.

Thanks for all the great ideas/suggestions, fellas!

ps: the Irisch Moos stick kicks so much butt, that all of my other shave soap sticks have officially been either given away or are currently for sale, and it's now the only shave soap in my gym bag. Woohoo! (happy to find something that "just works")

Note to self: must stock up...

 

Shave #23:

Taylor of Old Bond Street's Jermyn St. shaving cream (thanks, Dr. Mike!)
Vulfix 2233
Wapi
Brut aftershave
Gold Bond Ultimate powder after-the-aftershave

So, the TOBS cream didn't suck as bad as I expected! I had such a bad experience with the shave sticks, that I didn't have high hopes for today's shave. Being the adventurer that I am, though, and grateful for Mike's generosity, I decided to give it a shot. Here are my thoughts: first of all, it smelled FANTASTIC. Truly great. However... I only made it through 2 1/2 passes worth before running out of lather (I "hand" lathered, since I was at the gym), and the skin protection factor ("SPF"?) was lousy - more nicks today than usual, and I blame the cream. Who knows.... I'll try it again next week and give it one more chance.

I tried the ol' powder-after-applying-aftershave thing, and wasn't particularly happy with the result... initially. Perhaps it's because I applied it after Brut, which is not the most moisturizing stuff out there? Anyways, the powder (which I found in our medicine closet - who knew!) really highlighted all the divots and scrapes that I had just caused with my razor. I had no idea what the "damage" looked like on my face until that powder highlighted everything! It looked like the surface of the moon or something. Disturbing.

I think I might do better with a fast-absorbing moisturizer (glycerin) than I do with either super-moisturizing (aloe, mineral oil) or dry (powder). I don't like it when my face looks peely dry, and the powder made it do that.

Now, on the other hand, a couple of hours later, I kind of like how my cheeks are more matte than I'm used to. A morning of natural skin oil production has balanced out the powder's dryness. Nice! I put in an online order for some Pinaud's shave talc this morning, so I'll give the powder thing another shot when the "official" stuff arrives. Meanwhile, must track down some Gold Bond... which, by the way, I've never had occasion to use before. Or maybe I had occasion, but didn't know I needed it? See, this is the stuff I'm going to teach my kid that my dad didn't teach me. Who knew there was such fun stuff at the local pharmacy!

 

Shave #24:

Sir Irisch Moos shave stick
Wapi WTG/XTG/WTG
Spanish Floid aftershave

I started a new job this morning, so wanted the best shave possible. Naturally, I went back to my old buddy IM, and was not disappointed!

The Wapi performed admirably, of course. Sadly, I "oopsed" once, and somehow managed to dig a 1cm long nick into the side of my chin. HOW!?!? Dangit...

I tell you what, you don't get to screw up ONCE when you're using these straights. Talk about unforgiving!

I tried something a little different this morning, and avoided the ATG pass altogether. Instead, I made many little very gentle WTG/XTG passes over the same 1" wide areas up and down the underside of my neck. Like brushing the blade over the surface multiple times. And whaddaya know, I got the closest and least-irritated neck shave so far! Still not perfect, but very nice.

It's fun realizing that I can tell the difference between smooth skin and haired skin, just by the feel and sound alone. With my little short-stroke repeated-scraping-away motion, I could tell when I was "done" with an area when there was no longer resistance to the blade. Cool!!!

I've also decided I do a MUCH, MUCH better job with my jawline when I close my eyes and use the sound and feel of the blade to guide my hand. Huh!

I think my little sample of Spanish Floid had lost some of its alcohol (my own lousy container) because there was ZERO burn this morning, just some nice menthol and wonderful healing/moisturizing. And of course the fantastic Spanish Floid smell I love. Hmmm... maybe I'll leave the top off on purpose next time......

 

May the force be with you!

 

The less intense burn is probably because your shave was less irritating than other shaves. When I get a good smooth shave with little to no razor burn then the alum or the aftershave doesnt burn...but if the shave was less than stellar it will burn really good.

 

I'm going to take that as a compliment.

 

Shave #25:

SHAVING NIRVANA!!!!!!

Noxzema shaving cream (the Italian stuff in a squeeze tube - thanks, Dr. Mike!)
Wapi
Mama Bear's alum block
Thayer's Unscented alcohol-free witch hazel
Musgo Real aftershave mixed with Thayer's

Finally! A completely pain and irritation free shave!!! How the heck did I do that?

I'm not even really sure, but BOY IT FEELS GREAT!

The addition of an alum block to this shave routine (my first ever use of this product) was awesome! On application to my wet face, I felt some little prickly stings on one cheek, where obviously I had gotten closer than I had intended. And I had one tiny little nick that closed up instantly. What a pleasure! No stupid painful styptic stick! Yay!

Applying Thayer's after the alum was redundant, and I will likely skip this step next time. However, adding it to the Musgo Real to water it down was GREAT. I'm still a little sticky from the MR, but not nearly as much as before dilution. And oh, how hydrated and soothed my face feels!

I honestly walked out of the gym a new man today, full of confidence. So THAT's what you guys have been talking about this whole time!

BOY it was nice to walk into work without an injured face!

Not my closest shave ever, by any means, but all in all a beautiful experience. Yay!

 

To take 25 shaves sounds about right to reach shaving nirvana with a straight lol

congrats

 

Yep! 25 sounds about right to me too!

Congratulations Olafurson! Here's where you now start chasing that nirvana for the rest of your life...

James.

 

Reading this thread has pushed me closer to wanting to tray a straight razor than ever before.

 

Shave #26:

Proraso Red shaving cream
Shumate Barber's Delight 5/8 square point
Mama Bear's alum block
Floid Blue aftershave
M7 cologne, Yves Saint Laurent

Alright, I broke not one but TWO of my own rules this morning.

First, I didn't wait 48 hours in between shaves. After yesterday, I just couldn't wait! And second, I went back to my original full hollow, the Barber's Delight, just to give it one more go for old times sake.

But rules are there for a reason.

Ouchie! Day 2 with the alum block was less fun than day 1. Because I didn't wait the full two days, my neck was still pretty sensitive from yesterday (apparently) so the alum stung like MAD. Well, you know, only for a second then it quit. But STILL.

Yup, I don't like my hollows. Too much noise, too much scraping and not enough cutting, too light and flimsy. They're both pretty to look at, and all that, but I'm going back to my dear Ms. Wapi once and for all.

Well, for now anyway.

Oh, one other thing I've decided. There's just something unsettling about menthol DURING the shave. Yes, the Proraso Red is a great cream (except for that weird initial smell) but I just don't like feeling menthol until I'm DONE shaving. It takes away from the experience somehow - too many sensations at once. So I'm going back to Musgo Real as my go-to cream.

The M7 was simply a treat for myself. An unusual choice for work, I admit, but it makes me happy.

And of course, Floid Blue goes with anything.

 

Well, I'm sorry you had a bad one this time...

It's interesting, with a DE my neck was the number one sensitive spot, but I have found straights to be MUCH easier on my neck. My upper lip, on the other hand...Not so much.

 

Shave #27:

Happy 32nd Birthday to Me!

Irisch Moos shaving stick
Wapi
Thayer's Unscented Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel
Hattric aftershave
Mama Bear's alum block
Pacific Nick Stick

Ms. Wapi, Ms. Wapi... you are a fussy little minx, aren't you?

You guys claiming to be able to get BBS with a straight are foolin' me, right?

Why is it I keep getting these red, unhappy, tiny-little-razor-burn spots on my neck that last all day long? And I can never get as smooth a shave as I used to with my electric razor? Where is this "improved skin" and "better shave" I'm supposed to be seeing? My skin is all mottled with those red spots, and partially-shaved hair... Shoot, if I ever get as close and irritation-free a shave with this thing as I did with my $40 electric, I'll consider myself a master.

You dudes reading this and considering straight razor shaving, be prepared for a looooooooong learning curve. I'm a pretty patient guy, and this is testing even my patience. All for the love of my son... (must remember that!)

My poor, poor face has all these little cuts on it, some from days (or weeks!) ago, all in different stages of healing. And I'm pretty sure one of them on the tip of my chin (the underside, thankfully) is going to turn into a permanent little scar/divot.

This "hobby" is not for the faint of heart.

How come there aren't other fellows walking around with scars all over their face from shaving? Surely other men nick themselves as badly and as often as me? Do the cartridge razors that 99% of the other men at the gym use simply not cause that kind of damage? (excuse my ignorance, I've only ever used an electric).

Maybe part of the problem is that I tried ATG too soon in this process. By the time I arrived at my one-and-only great shave a couple days ago, I was REALLY hesitant to go ATG. I could tell I was actually getting SCARED of the blade. The pulling, the scraping sound as the razor jumped over the hairs instead of cutting them, that annoying, taunting little sting you feel when you know you've been "bit" by the razor but there's no blood visible yet.... Not cool. Respect of the blade is one thing, but I've got no time for fear in what's supposed to be a pleasurable hobby!

Jimbo would probably tell me my blade isn't sharp enough, and maybe he's right. I wonder when I should get little Ms. Wapi honed again? Seems pretty sharp to me...

Somebody tell me all this is worth it! Tell me I'll get a close-but-not-irritated shave some day, and keep getting them more than just once every week or two.

Oh, and for the record? I tried it again, and I think Hattric contains acid or something. That s&%t BURNS. Fool me twice, shame on me. But shoot, it smells so darn good! MUST get the cologne. Anybody here on TSD live in Germany?????

Hooray! I got a shipment of Pinaud shave talc, Pinaud aftershave and Osage rub in the mail today. That made me feel better. Brut on one wrist, Pinaud on the other... hmmm... they smell very similar! How come I never noticed that before?

Also ordered a Semogue (Portuguese) limited-edition "Excelsior" Finest Silvertip Badger, Genuine Buffalo Horn Handle shave brush from Leon at VintageScent, that looks freaking AWESOME for my boy. Who needs a $199 Rooney or $250 Simpson? I'll take something that only 29 OTHER DUDES WILL EVER HAVE, for $130, any day. Kick ass. Thanks for arranging production of such a fine looking instrument, Leon!

Oh, and I also got two little faux leather shave bags from Kohls the other day, on clearance for $3 each. I'm going to use one for the gym, and fill the other one with my boy's shaving toys. How exciting!!

So all in all, a mixed bag today.

 

well, happy birthday at least.

EW

 

:happy102

Because your practice has only given you a certain amount of experience thus far and as you keep pushing the envelope for closer shaves then you shave beyond your current level of experience

I don't know - I've never used an electric, but maybe your face is well suited to one

It was there but then you shaved it off in an effort to remove every evidence of micro stubble from your face

Hehe - shoot for comfort most of all and then the closeness will come in time with practice so long as you keep your razor in tip sharp shape

This is true for many people - it took me 2 or 3 months to finally get to a point where I could be consistently satisfied with my shaves if I wanted to be. Be sure to closely examine your reasons for wanting to use a straight! For me the drive to be rid of my dependency on dull, expensive cartridges was enough to carry me through the rough patches on my face to the daily shaving nirvana I now experience

When I began shaving as a young teen, it took me about 3 or 4 shaves to be satisfied with my Trac II blade-powered shaving technique. After a week or two I rarely ever cut myself except on rare occasion I would get red spot of blood here or there (from not realizing the importance of shaving with the grain). I don't think cartridge razors normally lead to the same red scratchy face that a new obsessive straight razor shaver could produce

Probably

Then aim for comfort first and let the closeness come along! As long as you have a comfortable shave then you have what you need to enjoy it. It is up to you to make your expectation of closeness though - if you choose to go beyond comfort in search of shaving closer than you know how to do yet then it is fine but do not be worried when you get irritation from it. I think that is entirely expected and part of the learning process if that's how you want to approach it

PS You seem afraid to stop shaving when it starts hurting (redness all over? bumps everywhere? at the first "ooo that doesnt feel right" then why keep on? Stop and take stock of what is happening. Did you shave very lightly with the grain first? maybe you are coming against the hair too directly or perhaps you lapsed your skin stretching. maybe the lather is drying up or perhaps you used too much pressure on your first pass and now your skin is rebelling against any more attempt to be shaved - anyway I would suggest not having time for that kind of fear. There is no reason you should have to fear the blade unless you are trying to use it in a way that is uncomfortable to you. Baby steps! practice in baby steps

Try stropping one hundred laps on linen then one hundred on leather (if you have them) and see if there is an improvement. If so, you know your razor was not sharp enough and either it needs honing or just better daily stropping from you. If there is no improvement and it does not tug then I would guess it is still good to go

It is all worth it to me

It took me about 50 - 75 shaves before I started getting close but not irritated shaves on a regular basis. Maybe it will not take you as long - maybe longer? lol

Good luck!

 

Tis why I sold my bottle of Hattic A/S as well. It burns like I imagine napalm would.

 

Nah, I'm not going to tell you your blade is not sharp enough again

Lee's response is a great one!! If it hurts during a shave, just stop. Finish with something else. Let your face recover a bit - I have known people who leave it 2 or 3 days between straight shaves for this reason.

I think it is worth it. If it helps at all, I know a very respected member of the straight razor fraternity who confided in me once that it took him 9 months before he was able to get smooth and irritation free shaves. That was shaving every second day.

It is, as Lee points out, something that can take a long time to get on top of, particularly in isolation with no one to physically show you what to do. So don't be so hard on yourself - if you keep at it, it will come.

James.

 

I guess I'm going to have to try my Hattric sample again tomorrow... I recall a slight burn, but not a napalm death! :happy102

I've only been at this straight thing probably about as long as you have. However, I've only been doing it every other day at most, and sometimes 2 or 3 days inbetween. Part of that is razor issues, but the biggest part of that is technique issues. I've only just begun to get what I call "work acceptable" shaves, meaning it'll do, but it's not quite DFS nor even close to BBS. I have yet to even consider going ATG. One WTG followed by one XTG pass is about it. And you know what? I find that I get a closer 2 pass shave with the straight than I would doing the same 2 passes with a DE. I've only just the last week or so been getting these shaves, and after the first 2 like that with no irritation, I got a little sure of myself and burned the heck out of my face the next time....

Have patience, slow down, and don't worry about BBS or even DFS. Focus more on irritation free.

Just my $0.02, from another newbie...

 

Shave #28:

Irisch Moos shave stick
Vulfix 2233
Wapi
WTG/XTG/partial ATG
Mama Bear's alum block
~30:70 mix of Pinaud's Clubman and Osage Rub in hand for aftershave

Halle-freakin-luja!

Word to the wise, from one not so wise: if all else fails, give your skin the weekend to recover.

I had a great shave this morning, thanks mostly to the fact that I haven't shaven since Friday (72 full hours).

No irritation at all. None. I managed a few weepers somehow (hard to tell when they're happening since they don't show up until 2-3 minutes after I've gone over the area!) but the alum block took care of those lickety split.

Man, oh MAN do I love that Osage Rub! What a kick in the pants!! WOW. Now that's some serious menthol cooling right there. If only, oh of only the Osage Rub had some kind of moisturizer in it. I might have to make my own concoction with some glycerin or something, cuz that stuff was AWESOME.

And, naturally, since my face wasn't irritated, it didn't burn at all. Imagine that.

Must, MUST skip at least one day between shaves! MUST!

Surprisingly, not enough Clubman! I rubbed the leftovers of my little aftershave mix on my forearms, and can barely smell it. I forsee a little chemistry experiment re: mixing Clubman, Osage Rub and glycerin to find the "correct" proportions.....

 

If you find that the growth is too much between every-other-day shaves, you could also try doing just a single or double-pass shave every day. So, you can still be presentable, and keep improving your shaves.