Results of official de-virginization

[dustind]

Well Saturday was my official de-virginization. With my new setup of a Merkur HD, Merkur blades, Vulfix #2234, and a tub of Nancy Boy, I set out to in what I expected would be a blood bath.

I did my homework and preped by drawing a circle on the mirror with a dry erase marker then noting my growth pattern. Not as a reference, but more as a reminder. It's a very handy trick, just make sure to reassure your wife that "yes it will come off the glass."

This time I went all out and boiled hot water in the kettle then filled my ceramic mixing bowl with boiling water while I showered to soften the beard. The bowl was nice and hot when I got to the sink... so was the brush that was in the water.

I mixed up a good later, worked it in for a few minutes on my face, then got started slowly. First pass was very slow and methodical. Then I realized that years of Mach3 Shaving had served me well as I noticed that I used to hold my old razor in the same way and angle needed for my new HD. As a result the second past was more relaxed a faster.

This morning was my second attempt and I had about the same results as Saturday. Some rough patches persist just under the jaw bone and the spot under my nose is REALLY hard to get to. I'm only doing two passes for now until I get it all down. I'm also looking forward to trying some different blades this week (once I get my sample pack) to see the difference.

Well there you have it. And so far, no blood bath.

[ada8356]

Sounds good! Just keep going with the baby steps and before you know it, you'll be knocking out BBS shaves routinely.

[Jim]

Well Done!!:a17: It only gets better, and keep us posted!

[jduffy]

Are you stretching your skin to get at your jawline? Check out straight razor shaving videos for some great tips on how to stretch your skin with your freehand.

[dustind]

Are you stretching your skin to get at your jawline? Check out straight razor shaving videos for some great tips on how to stretch your skin with your freehand.

Yeah, from the top as I normally would. But perhaps I could do more.

[vox_rox]

Jawline can be tough, it took me over a month to get it. I was getting a little perplexed because the rest of my face, including my neck which was always a problem area, were coming out fantastic, but I could always feel stubble along the jawline.

It just happened one shave where I hit the absolute right angle (kinda SW-NW thing, opposite on the other side), and I could feel and hear the shaving. It worked and I've not looked back.

Take it slow, try the 4-pass method that appears on this forum, and keep at it.

The rewards are there for sure. Don't rush though, just enjoy.

Peace,

Pierre

[thatbrian]

Welcome! You sound like you are right on track. Good idea (imo) to do only 2 passes for now.

-Brian

[av8or234]

Hello! I have only been doing this for about 3 weeks now and am still having trouble under the jawline. I will say that today I had more success than usual and am hoping that it continues tomorrow. Best of luck!

[dustind]

Jawline can be tough, it took me over a month to get it. I was getting a little perplexed because the rest of my face, including my neck which was always a problem area, were coming out fantastic, but I could always feel stubble along the jawline.

It just happened one shave where I hit the absolute right angle (kinda SW-NW thing, opposite on the other side), and I could feel and hear the shaving. It worked and I've not looked back.

Take it slow, try the 4-pass method that appears on this forum, and keep at it.

The rewards are there for sure. Don't rush though, just enjoy.

Peace,

Pierre



Gotta look up what you mean by "4 pass method". I assume it means 4 lather and shaves.

[kozulich]

Are you stretching your skin to get at your jawline? Check out straight razor shaving videos for some great tips on how to stretch your skin with your freehand.

Another technique that works for me is to tuck my chin down and then take an ear to chin pass. I usually do this after stretching the area by pulling up on the cheek and taking a cheekbone to shoulder pass. After these two passes, the jawline is usually flawless for me. Hang in there, you'll figure it out.

[Tinzien]

I have a HD and had a issue getting the patch you speak of under the nose until I tilted my head back a bit and the blade angle was much more natural for me that way.

[readyme]

nice post...i am about to de-virginize myself.

[vox_rox]

Gotta look up what you mean by "4 pass method". I assume it means 4 lather and shaves.

Yup, that's what it means. Click HERE (http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1001) for all the fun and adventure as outlined by you host, the ever-gracious guenron (http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/member.php?u=9) who, I've heard, knows a thing or two about wet shaving.:ohmy:

Don't worry if you stop at two or three passes if your face isn't up to it, but once you get to know you face, and you skills improve, the 4 pass method will give you a great shave.

Be aware that you may need to tweak it to suit you face and skin, but it's still a great guide and one of the reasons why B&B is such a fantastic resource.

Peace,

Pierre

[htownmmm]

You will never forget your first!!


Marty

[JMT]

The thing to remember is that what works for one may not work for all. During my normal daily shaves I usually only perform two passes. My results are pretty consistent and very smooth. For my Saturday shave I do an additional pass. Mostly just because I have more time and I think it helps tide me over until my Monday shave.

Find what works for you. This will include buying one of every razor, blade, soap, cream, shaving brush and trying every technique you read about.:biggrin:

[dustind]

The thing to remember is that what works for one may not work for all. During my normal daily shaves I usually only perform two passes. My results are pretty consistent and very smooth. For my Saturday shave I do an additional pass. Mostly just because I have more time and I think it helps tide me over until my Monday shave.

Find what works for you. This will include buying one of every razor, blade, soap, cream, shaving brush and trying every technique you read about.:biggrin:


On that track. As I mentioned before I'm waiting for my blade sample pack to try out, then it's off to try some different soaps. A different razor would be last.

[dustind]

nice post...i am about to de-virginize myself.

Good luck. What are you using for your first time setup?

[dustind]

I have a HD and had a issue getting the patch you speak of under the nose until I tilted my head back a bit and the blade angle was much more natural for me that way.


Tinzien,
Yeah it's a hard spot. Did better this morning but pulling down my lip and going for a full horizontal short strock. Still some stuble under there though.

[gc_30286]

congrats on the shave.

i shave with a HD and the best way i have found to get under the nose is to start by curling you upper lip over your teeth then push the tip of your nose up (like a kid making a "pig" face) this should keep the skin really tight and make enough room for you to get the right angle with your razor.

matthew

[Leisureguy]

Under the nose can be shaved with the across-the-grain pass. Better not to put your brush in boiling-hot water: hard on the bristles.

I find that I'm tending toward a 3-pass shave: with, across, and then against the grain. Works well, doesn't take much time.

[dustind]

Under the nose can be shaved with the across-the-grain pass. Better not to put your brush in boiling-hot water: hard on the bristles.

I find that I'm tending toward a 3-pass shave: with, across, and then against the grain. Works well, doesn't take much time.


Leisureguy,

Ha, I was just reading your blog. I tried the boiling water once, mostly becouse I wanted to heat my bowl enough to get some warm lather. Don't have time in the morning to do that everyday so I'm just using hot tap water.

Not sure I want to go for 3 passes quite yet. Not sure if my skin could take it right now. Even with reapplication of hot water and lather my face feels a bit to dry after the 2nd pass to continue. I'll keep playin with it though.

[Leisureguy]

Hope the blog is helpful. Interested in any feedback you care to offer---PM me or send email to address on the blog.

Yeah, fewer passes are better at the beginning: probably just two: with the grain then across the grain, and skip against the grain.

[dustind]

So are you using an Alum block before aftershave? If so do you use it before your cold rinse or after? Wondering if that would help with some mild irritation at the base of my neck. Sounds like some folks on here are swearing by it.

[Tinzien]

I use it from the start of the cold rinse cycle of my face. Wet the alum up in cold water, rub it on my face, splash more cold water on and then do another application of the alum block. The first run takes care of any sting I might have while the second does a bit of tighten and tone work before I put on my aftershave.

My block has a smooth and a textured side, and I use the later only because it feels good.

PS: Other folks here swear by an application of talc on the neck as well but I have not tried that yet.

[Tinzien]

Tinzien,
Yeah it's a hard spot. Did better this morning but pulling down my lip and going for a full horizontal short strock. Still some stuble under there though.

Yep, generally I will also do an against the grain just at the top where the stubble is, even if not doing an against the grain shave on the rest of my face, because the "head" of the razor does not get in the way as much.

[dustind]

I use it from the start of the cold rinse cycle of my face. Wet the alum up in cold water, rub it on my face, splash more cold water on and then do another application of the alum block. The first run takes care of any sting I might have while the second does a bit of tighten and tone work before I put on my aftershave.

My block has a smooth and a textured side, and I use the later only because it feels good.

PS: Other folks here swear by an application of talc on the neck as well but I have not tried that yet.


Don't think I'll use Talc. That would remind me to much of haircuts by mother growing up. She used to coat us in Talc on the neck after she finished.

[Leisureguy]

At the end of the shave, I rinse with hot water, then with cold water, then rub the alum block over my wet face. I let my face drip while I rinse out and put away brush, lathering bowl, and razor, then I dry it (without rinsing) and apply aftershave.

[kennethw]

I'm still a newbie, but I've somehow managed to learn to tackle my nose and cleft chin pretty well.

For my nose, with a Merkur HD, I put the edge of the razor into a nostril a little, and hit it at a 45 degree slant from vertical (down and towards the same-side jaw area). Then I get it from the other 45 (opposite side of the razor into the same nostril and going down and towards the opposite lip corner). Repeat with other side. Voila!

I do tighten the skin by stiffening my lip, and sometimes push my nostril closed, up and to the side if the scruff is being stubborn.

[boboakalfb]

Just be careful...before i had switched to a DE I accidentally nicked the bottom of the nostril opening with a cartridge...I thought I was going to need a blood infusion...I bled like a stuck pig for a long time...my wife thought she came upon a crime scene with all of the bloody tissues I had lying around the sink.

[dustind]

I'll give that a try.

[dustind]

Just be careful...before i had switched to a DE I accidentally nicked the bottom of the nostril opening with a cartridge...I thought I was going to need a blood infusion...I bled like a stuck pig for a long time...my wife thought she came upon a crime scene with all of the bloody tissues I had lying around the sink.


Damn. That sounds more like a gash not a nick.

[kennethw]

Bob, good call. :redface: Yes, sorry, please do be careful. :eek: The first time I tried this I got a nice cut myself. A nostril can easily be cut just by touching it with a sharp blade. I made the mistake of going for the area too quickly and barely poked my nose with the razor. After a few more tries with more caution, I got the hang of it.

Thank god for styptic. :crying:

[boboakalfb]

Yeah...unfortunately at that time I didn't know about styptic...I just walked around the house looking like an idiot with squares of tp on my face until my cuts stopped bleeding...:blushing:

[dustind]

Note to self: Shaving nostril bad.