First DE Shave

[TommyB]

First I want to say that the past 3 weeks I've spent lurking, reading posts, watching videos and just learning have been very helpful. Although I have to admit, I was cocky and stupid, thinking to myself "bah, it can't really be that hard, I mean it is "just" shaving"....heh, I'm sure you can guess the rest of my post.

I bought a Merkur HD set from vintage blades, Vulfix 1000A, and Conk BayRum. Went for a run, came back hot and sweaty, hopped in the shower, rubbed some head and shoulders on my face in the shower (I figured it's shampoo and conditioner in one, that should help...) got out, tossed the soap/brush in the sink with hot water, dried off for about a minute then got to work.

I tried making lather, although I took the soap out of the plastic container and dropped it into the cup that came with the set. So I was trying to whip up lather ontop of the soap, which now I know wasn't working (tommorrow I"m going to use a soup bowl). I put, what I thought was an ok amount of lather on my face and went to work.

The cheeks and upper lip seemed easy enough, 1 WTG, 1XTG and I felt almost perfectly smooth. Then I went to the scary part, the neck. I did a WTG and didn't feel like I had really shaved at all, so feeling confident I did an ATG. WOW
WOW again, it was the closest shave ever, then the bleeding started. I think I ripped the entire top layer of skin off my face. I rubbed the heck out of it with the Alum, and let it bleed some more then more Alum... Finished the process with Neutrogena Triple Protect

I was sore and the skin felt tight/raw all day.

This morning, was day 2, I realized that day 1 I used too much pressure, so I held the HD almost at the very tip, on the knob that loosens the top. This made the pressure just the weight of the razor. I also did a much more conservative, WTGx1 and a XTGx1 on my entire face, neck included. Then I stopped, went on with my day.

It wasn't a perfect shave, very presentable looking, but not that smoothness I wanted, but at least I don't feel like a bruised, shaved sheep.


So thats my saga so far, I'm having fun, the sound is satisfying, and the idea of making shaving personal is a very Hegelian concept.

Question is, when done shaving, I wash out my brush, shake it and then pat it dry on a towel and hang on the stand. I wash off the soap and the bowl, too easy. But the razor, I wash it in some water..and then just leave it on the stand? or do I need to dry it as well?

Thats it,
TommyB

[Hobbesoxon]

Hey, not so brutal a start as some (mine, for example), so consider it a win!



Don't dry your razor would be my advice, just shake it like crazy and then leave it (and the brush) in a room that gets some air. I wouldn't like to leave my razor and brush in the bathroom, as it's very humid in there. I know some people leave them in bathroom cabinets, which must be quite a challenge to keep them dry.

Do you have an alum block? Wetting it and dabbing it over the neck after the shave is a great way to counter the sting of the learning process.

You're very brave for soldiering on for a second day in a row! I had to wait a day for healing to occur when I started... :)


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

[Limey]

Yea...sounds like too much pressure on the first shave. You could try a light pressure third ATG pass if you are feeling adventurous and want a closer shave.

I like to tap my razor on a face towel thats either on the sink counter top or in my hand. Doesn't dry it completely but gets most of the water out.

[Mr. Gillette]

Rinse it...shake it, put it away...good idea to put it in a dry place with good air flow, but it will be fine. Don't dry it.

Glad you used the head and shoulders in your face...stubble dandruff can leave unsightly flakes on your blue suits!

Seriously-- thanks for sharing your shave with us...I laughed, I cringed...but the important thing is, you're back at it, and you'll get better each day.

Practice doesn't make perfect-- practice makes improvement.