Thread: First shave

Hey all,

I recently acquired an old C.V. Heljestrand razor (maybe 80+ years old) and decided that I wanted to try shaving with a straight. I read these forums, which were very informative on everything from Lather, to stropping, to the right brush...every question I had was answered, which is great! When I first got the razor, it hadn't been used in 20+ years and was in its container...safe, I know :P, so I stropped it for the first time since the last time and took my first shave...

I know its been said that for the first straight razor shave, it's better to start slow and maybe just do a sideburn, but I did my right sideburn, and it went so well that I went ahead and did both cheeks. The lather wasn't perfect, since this was the first time I ever made lather with a brush, but the shave wasn't that bad. I went WTG for both cheeks and also right along my jawline, but left my neck alone for when I get more comfortable. It was actually a shave that I could compare to when I first shaved with a Gillette, not horrible, but not great either.

Still though, I'm very impressed with how well it went, I didn't have a single nick or cut and only missed a small spot on the left side of my face. I actually did both sides with my right hand, using my left hand felt extremely unnatural and it felt like I might slip with the razor, so I used my right instead.

Well, I just wanted to share that there's been another happy shaver and now I actually look forward to shaving and can't wait to shave again once I get my razor back from Lynn

Welcome to the hobby and to the forums. Glad it went so well and that you started with such enthusiasm.

Congrats on your 1st shave !!

It sounds very similar to mine. If your learning curve is like mine, you'll be getting BBS cheeks & jawline in no time.

I hope you have more success with the mustache & chin than I do, I've been shaving with a straight for about 2 months, and I'm not even close to getting that right.

Good luck and keep at it !!!

Thanks guys!

It's a good thing I have a goatee then, Glenn! The last time I shaved my goatee off, the sides of my lips and chin looked like I took a knife to my face >.> I'm not looking forward to shaving my neck though, the hair on the right side of my neck grows straight to the right and is impossible to get it all, even with a disposable. It irritates me so much > Still though, it can't all be perfect

If you do your skin stretching and pay attention to the growth direction of that trouble spot on your neck, your newly sharpened razor will take care of it, guaranteed.
I was a little surprised when you said you were shaving with it straight out of the box, but relieved when you said Lynn was taking care of it for you. You'll be happily impressed.
Welcome and good luck!

Actually, Kenneyty, I was shaving with it straight out of the container it was in. It was my grandfather's regular shaver for the 30 or so years he had used it, and then it wasn't used for 20 years, and I just recently found it and brought it back. So, technically, it hasn't been used in that time frame, but I did strop it.

I could feel the years it was sitting on my skin, trust me That's why I decided it would be best if a professional touched it up

Sounds like a great experience. It's always nice to have a family heirloom continue to find use in the later generations.

I'm looking forward to asking my grandfather if his dad left any razors behind so I can get my selfish hands on them.

Yea Nae, I remember when I was a child watching my grandfather shave with his razor and was always fascinated by it, but I didn't even think about it until recently when we went back to Poland. I found the razor just sitting in it's little red worn box in the garage like it was just left there a few minutes ago.

I honestly don't even know how old it is, I know that my grandfather's uncle had used it before him, and that was sometime in the 20's, possibly even earlier.

Goodluck with asking your grandfather Nae, something close like that will always be cherished by those who care for it

Welcome and Congrats on fine first shave. I did the same thing when I started, I just went for it. I too wear a Goatee, which turns out to be helpful, You don't have to worry about the chin.....

Welcome to SRP, and conrats,

It sounds like you had a very successful 1st shave. You're really going to like that razor when Lynn gets through with it! As questions come up, if you can't find the info, ask away. These guys can certainly help.

Gerald