Just did my first shave.... oh my!

[Chief86]

Mornin boys.

So I did to the barber yesterday and they got it pretty close with a straight razor.

I'm not too sure if I'm happy with what I see right now after MY first shave. I think maybe I had unrealistic expectations.... perhaps that with my first pass of the headblade my newly shaved scalp would leave a streak of clear defined sly-ness!



*MY TLDR because I type too much* Want to get that smoother more natural look. What kind of razor refills to purchase for headblade? Do I tan? how can I help the skin look more natural. I also failed at shaving METHOD... I'm not sure the best directions and patterns to get close and this is after watching videos.

Well for one... I spent at least 40 minutes going at my head. It feels fine now because I splashed coldwater and applied some matte headlube but I am pretty afraid for what will happen later (razor burn rash... god knows what else). The point: I was literally like an 8 year old kid doing the lawn for the first time. Up... down.. back forth.. oh that feels uneven let me try that again... etc etc!
I did as most videos suggested. I went WITH the grain first (as its my first shave + sensitive skin). After that I tried whole passes from back to front against the grain as it wasn't as close as I wanted.

I think its not an issue with closeness (I can still feel a few spots I missed but I don't know how to hit them properly and don't want to hack up more) that bugs me on how it looks right now...Perhaps its just the look/colour of the newbie skin? Either way I'd like to get to that smooth skin-coloured head look asap! What can I correct or do differently to achieve this?

I was using the headblade sport with the blade it came with. Is this perhaps not the best blade? It only came with the one so I need to go out and buy some new anyways. I heard people talking about "atra" (sp?). I'm game to try anything.
I also used headwash in the shower and headslick while shaving. I was constantly 'reslicking' as I knew I was going over areas MANY times...

It seems logical that CAREFULLY tanning would help the skin colour differently... but I don't think I bought the headlube with SPF (might be wrong) ... and I'd like to think it would have to be approached VERY carefully as the scalp is already going through so much.


I just really want to achieve that awesome looking smoothness I see in all of your pics... and frankly I'm not sure what I did wrong but I want to figure it out!

**A POSITIVE NOTE: I was more than pleasantly surprised post barber to realize the bald look suits me... so I know I am going to stick with this. I just want to get up to speed. I know there is a learning curve... and I'm probably being impatient. I'd just rather ask MANY questions than go through X amount of days with a burning or rash filled or unclear looking head!


Sorry... I'm terrible at keeping things short! haha

[D.A.L.U.I.]

It's the same answer as you'd get on the streets of NYC if you asked the natives how to get to Carnegie Hall, "Practice, practice, practice!"  The time it takes will decline rapidly over the next couple of months, trust us.  

Look at the threads on how to shave your head and routines--loads of good ideas there.  Also, don't feel bound to use any particular products or razor--try them all until you discover the combination that yields the melon you're totally happy--well almost totally happy--with.  The "perfect shave" is the holy grail--and it is always just one step further.  You will probably be drawn to the shave section of every store you enter--and at first you'll buy something new everytime--that's natural.  You'll wind up with a large supply of stuff you won't use again, stuff you use almost everyday and stuff that you use if the need arises.  You'll have room for that because all the "hair tonics" can be tossed.

Again, welcome to the World of Sly--be free, live happy.

[-Doug-]

First, welcome. I've seen some of your other posts, but I don't recall making a formal welcome.

Like Saint said "Practice, practice, practice." I wouldn't worry about the amount of time your taking. I would focus on technique. With good technique, speed will be a byproduct. Also, I would recommend looking at each pass as a reduction process rather than trying to get every last inch of every little hair with one swipe.

Since your using the HB Sport I'll speak to your blade question. Personally, I've used the Atra with good results. However, I recently switched to the Wilkinson Sword Atra equivalents. They work just as good as the Atras in my opinion, are a relatively inexpensive cartridge, and seem to me at least to be a forgiving cartridge. I got a pack at Wally World for a decent price. Personally I didn't like the cartridge that came with the HB. It clogged to easily.

[Paul the Headblader]

I'm glad you did it by yourself.
you'll see that everything will be ok.

[DCdome]

Hey Chief!

Congratulations on the first of thousands of shaves.  And that's the point.  You are, no doubt lookin good right now and getting close enough.  But with the practice, practice, practice mentioned earlier, you will get closer and less time consuming shaves.  ENJOY THE TRIAL AND ERROR.  The process is an end in itself.

[xnewyawka]

Congrats Chief, way to go. This is only the beginning, and it will get better each day. Keep at it. 

[warhawk]

hey chief:  congrats on "doing the deed".  it only gets better each and every day.  keep us posted on all the reactions of your new look.  enjoy your new found freedom.

WARHAWK