My first DE shave ever!!!

**BadgerMilk** · 08-12-2009, 05:50 PM

Here is a little background about my shaving journey. My dad never really taught me to shave. When I noticed little hairs sprouting on my chin I basically bought a package of disposable razors and shaved after a shower. After a year or so, I switched to a Mach 3 and did the same routine and added shaving cream out of a can. A few months later, I switched to a Norelco electric and shaved when my face was towel dried (yowch!). I was essentially given no instruction on how to shave, and learned off the Gillete and Norelco commercials. I came across the idea of classic wetshaving from another forum when I read a thread about what people use to shave. And voila, I lurked the forums here for a while and did some research before deciding which products to buy:

- Merkur HD
- C&E Badger brush
- Proraso pre/post
- Variety pack of blades (Feather, Crystal, Derby Extra, Red Israeli Personna, Astra Superior Platinum).
- AOS Lavender shaving cream
- Styptic stick

You guys already know what those look like so I’m not going to post pics. One thing I am proud of is my lathering bowl that I picked up from a Japanese store for $1.50. It’s grooved and lathers like a badboy:

Despite having a bunch of blades to choose from and based on reading the advice here on the forums, I plan on standardizing my routine. This means sticking with one type of blade for a good month to get adjusted to the feel of this style of shaving. For this aspect, I chose the Derbys. I decided to keep things simple first (even after reading Kyle’s pre-shave routine which sounded fantastic) to see how things work out and adjust from there. So my routine is as follows:

- Shower (not towel drying my face)
- Splash hot water on beard area a few times
- Apply Proraso pre/post
- Lather
- Shave (downwards only for now)
- Proraso pre/post

Overall, I did OK for my first time. There is a very Zen-like feeling to shaving this way and I enjoyed it. It was Zen in a sense that my concentration was 100% because I didn’t want to cut myself badly

I came away unscathed, although I can still feel some rough patches along my face. There are a few issues I came across:

- I was able to build lather rather quickly and the foam was able to support itself when it made peaks and mountains on the brush, however when I started brushing my face it felt like the badger brush would remove it all. In other words, if I worked the brush around my face, the brush would absorb a lot of it and my face would be left with minimal lather.
- I get the feeling my hang/arm is too light, which I guess isn’t too bad as a beginner. I know that you shouldn’t be putting pressure on the blade into your skin, but you should be making a conscious effort to pull it in a certain direction yes? You shouldn’t be relying on the weight of the blade to pull itself down, correct? I may be going too slow, because it felt like in the more hair dense areas of my face the blade would just stop, and it felt like I was mowing down hairs one at a time very slowly.

I also want to thank everyone for their contributions on this forum

Certainly if it wasn't for reading all of the stickies, my first shave would've been horrendous and I might've came out looking like leatherface.

**DunEdinRanger** · 08-12-2009, 05:54 PM

Congrats!

I gotta say that is one nifty looking bowl. Just when I thought SBAD was under control...

As for the shave, don't worry, they will get better and so will your lather making skills. Maybe adding a few drops of water?

**rm71** · 08-12-2009, 05:55 PM

Welcome to B&B. Glad you discovered us.

**BadgerMilk** · 08-12-2009, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

As for the shave, don't worry, they will get better and so will your lather making skills. Maybe adding a few drops of water?

Yeah, I thought about that actually. Once I finished shaving I went back and watched Mantic's lather video. One thing I realized is that he used more water than I did.

**foyola18** · 08-12-2009, 06:48 PM

Do you find the grooves help you lather faster?

**BadgerMilk** · 08-12-2009, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by foyola18

Do you find the grooves help you lather faster?

I thought so, I tried it in a standard bowl and I felt like the groves sped it up.

**BadgerMilk** · 08-18-2009, 09:03 PM

Ok guys, I've shaved 5 times since I posted this and I am having a problem shaving just under my chin and jawline, and tips for that? Is a downward stroke still ideal in this situation or across? I've cut myself the most times on the neck area.

**JLA334** · 08-18-2009, 09:05 PM

Congratulations and cool bowl.

**GoClick** · 08-18-2009, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by BadgerMilk

Ok guys, I've shaved 5 times since I posted this and I am having a problem shaving just under my chin and jawline, and tips for that? Is a downward stroke still ideal in this situation or across? I've cut myself the most times on the neck area.

You can give it a whirl from a different angle, breaking the downward direction and not cutting yourself is better than sticking to a formula that is cutting you.

You might also try leaning your head WAY back so you can't see it, puffing out your chin with your tongue pushing down and doing it by feel (rather than look).

It's a tricky spot for sure, I found it tricky even a zillion blade cartridge from 3 angles, sometimes it just seems impossible.

**Luc** · 08-19-2009, 12:57 AM

Congrats on the shave!

**dwnwrdishvnwrd** · 08-19-2009, 01:01 AM

My chin is a problem area also. Stretching the skin in that area definitely helps with making sure that I keep that area irritation free. I also leave that area for last as I've found that leaving the soap there longer softens up the whiskers even further. I also make it a point to relather the area for added protection.