First Shave Saturday

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 07:53 AM

I'm looking forward to it very much. I'm continuing to read on here as well as watching mantic's videos to the extent of nausea. I haven't found a thread yet but was thinking this to myself this morning.

What kind of sanitizing do I have to do for my new Merkur prior to my first shave if any, and what is the normal routine for maintenance? Also, I'm going to be using col. conks soap, would people here recommend to take it out of the package and put it in a coffee mug, or put it on a soap dish once I'm done using it?

I appreciate any feedback, thanks!

**DJSneak** · 01-14-2010, 07:58 AM

Welcome to the boards!

RE: Sanitizing - If you are concerned, you can use a small dish with some rubbing alcohol to clean it off. Swish it once or twice, flick it off, and it will be ready to go. Most do not do this between shaves, but it can increase the life of your blades due to oxidation from left over water.

Re: Soap - Easiest and cheapest solution is to grab a mug out of your (likely) overstocked coffee mug cabinet and toss the soap in there. Put a dash of hot water at the bottom, throw the puck in, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully dump the water out. When the puck dries, it will most likely stay put when you are rubbing your brush on it. No need to transfer it to a soap dish, just leave it in the mug.

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by DJSneak

Welcome to the boards!

RE: Sanitizing - If you are concerned, you can use a small dish with some rubbing alcohol to clean it off. Swish it once or twice, flick it off, and it will be ready to go. Most do not do this between shaves, but it can increase the life of your blades due to oxidation from left over water.

Re: Soap - Easiest and cheapest solution is to grab a mug out of your (likely) overstocked coffee mug cabinet and toss the soap in there. Put a dash of hot water at the bottom, throw the puck in, let it sit for a few minutes, and then carefully dump the water out. When the puck dries, it will most likely stay put when you are rubbing your brush on it. No need to transfer it to a soap dish, just leave it in the mug.

Thanks alot DJ, a fellow NW wet shaver! I wasn't so much concerned as I want to be sure to be able to extend the life of my razor and the blade once I find a blade I feel is "my blade". Very excited to start all this.

**JPM** · 01-14-2010, 08:55 AM

Good luck! Let us know how the first shave goes.

**mark2cars** · 01-14-2010, 08:59 AM

You are on the right track!!! Keep asking all the questions as the answers are most probably here !!!
Happy Shaves!!!

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by JPM

Good luck! Let us know how the first shave goes.

I definitely will. I plan on taking some pictures of pre-shave. The lather, and post shave. Like I said I'm expecting either a total disaster, or not a huge difference.

One question would be, how many passes would you guys recommend on your first shave? My guess would be 2 passes first time around.

**cfriend** · 01-14-2010, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Vicious89x

I definitely will. I plan on taking some pictures of pre-shave. The lather, and post shave. Like I said I'm expecting either a total disaster, or not a huge difference.

One question would be, how many passes would you guys recommend on your first shave? My guess would be 2 passes first time around.

I started with 2 WTG passes. Gives you a good introduction to a method of shaving that is much different than what you are used it. Add more/different passes after a week or two when you are getting comfortable with your technique.

**mkevenson** · 01-14-2010, 09:55 AM

Is this your first shave ever, or just 1st with a DE? I would say do a wtg pass. If you feel comfortable and haven't cut yourself,do another wtg after relathering. This all depends on your beard growth and what you want-need the finished results to be. The first thing that you will want to learn is how the razor feels on your face and how to hold the razor. You can always pratice without a blade. Relax, it will all work out.

Happy Shaving

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by JPM

Good luck! Let us know how the first shave goes.

Originally Posted by cfriend

I started with 2 WTG passes. Gives you a good introduction to a method of shaving that is much different than what you are used it. Add more/different passes after a week or two when you are getting comfortable with your technique.

Awesome! Yea I did plan to go with the grain. I've been obsessively rubbing my face this week to get a much better idea of the grain as with the Mach 3 I'd just hack at it in one direction. Hence the irritation issues.

Originally Posted by mkevenson

Is this your first shave ever, or just 1st with a DE? I would say do a wtg pass. If you feel comfortable and haven't cut yourself,do another wtg after relathering. This all depends on your beard growth and what you want-need the finished results to be. The first thing that you will want to learn is how the razor feels on your face and how to hold the razor. You can always pratice without a blade. Relax, it will all work out.

Happy Shaving

First with a DE. I have the razor and have been practicing the "rocking" technique on my arm to get a feel for it. I also have just taken the blade out and tried to get the angle and motion without the blade. I think 2 passes will suffice for now until I'm ready to get a little more advanced. Of course the funny thing is my neck will require an upwards pass to go with the grain.

**winkydink** · 01-14-2010, 10:52 AM

Good advice above.

Welcome to Badger & Blade! Happy to have you join us.

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 11:57 AM

So I just watched the mantic video's again. He mentioned he always goes N to S for the first pass. In feeling my beard it grows in all sorts of weird directions. Do most of you follow the grain of your beard for the first or first two passes and then change it up? Do any of you go stricly N to S? Just want to get some feed back before I hack up my face this weekend and I'm starting to feel like I'm gorging myself and going into information overload.

**mkevenson** · 01-14-2010, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Vicious89x

So I just watched the mantic video's again. He mentioned he always goes N to S for the first pass. In feeling my beard it grows in all sorts of weird directions. Do most of you follow the grain of your beard for the first or first two passes and then change it up? Do any of you go stricly N to S? Just want to get some feed back before I hack up my face this weekend and I'm starting to feel like I'm gorging myself and going into information overload.

I go wtg 1st pass which above the jaw line is N-S, below the jaw is S-N. 2nd pass I do xtg from ear to chin but I don't think it matters if you go chin to ear. If you hold your razor very lightly, enough to keep it stable but no enough to force it thu a difficult area you should be ok. At this point I would do a normal pass, BUT, if you hit resistance or the blade wants to stop then let it stop, don't plough thru a hazard zone. If your lather is good and your pressure is lite no problems. Oh, Don't go sideways, OUCH!!!!

**Vicious89x** · 01-14-2010, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by mkevenson

I go wtg 1st pass which above the jaw line is N-S, below the jaw is S-N. 2nd pass I do xtg from ear to chin but I don't think it matters if you go chin to ear. If you hold your razor very lightly, enough to keep it stable but no enough to force it thu a difficult area you should be ok. At this point I would do a normal pass, BUT, if you hit resistance or the blade wants to stop then let it stop, don't plough thru a hazard zone. If your lather is good and your pressure is lite no problems. Oh, Don't go sideways, OUCH!!!!

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like that is what I'll need to do, as most of my neck feels S-N. The one odd part is from my chin to my adams apple it feels like it's N-S and right at the adams apple goes S-N. I'll let the blade guide me and will be sure to use even LIGHTER pressure on my neck.

**titan_021** · 01-14-2010, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Vicious89x

So I just watched the mantic video's again. He mentioned he always goes N to S for the first pass. In feeling my beard it grows in all sorts of weird directions. Do most of you follow the grain of your beard for the first or first two passes and then change it up? Do any of you go stricly N to S? Just want to get some feed back before I hack up my face this weekend and I'm starting to feel like I'm gorging myself and going into information overload.

This is probably a YMMV type of thing...for me, a N-S pass works fine EXCEPT on the chin, where I shave from center out. Second pass is XTG (except chin which is now N-S).

I have also noticed (after approximately two months) that my skin is getting more used to razor and direction is less of an issue.