Thread: The Ponderings of a Beginner

Originally Posted by RichZ

Yes that is what I do about 2 - 3 inches.. It is just alot better.

Thanks Rich.

In another thread somewhere on SRP there is a link to a video of a barber giving a shave. I think it is titled "A Turkish Shave" or something like that.

Lynn compliments the barber calling him an "artist", which he certainly is. A tonsorial artist.

Notice the rapid short strokes he uses during parts of the shave. This is the "sawing" described in the barber manual.

You'll also see that he does some long, graceful strokes. It's just a matter of knowing how and when = experience.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

In another thread somewhere on SRP there is a link to a video of a barber giving a shave. I think it is titled "A Turkish Shave" or something like that.

Lynn compliments the barber calling him an "artist", which he certainly is. A tonsorial artist.

Notice the rapid short strokes he uses during parts of the shave. This is the "sawing" described in the barber manual.

You'll also see that he does some long, graceful strokes. It's just a matter of knowing how and when = experience.


Scott

There's another video that is a Tunisian shave. The barber here also uses light, short strokes --almost delicate strokes.


Justin

Originally Posted by honedright

In another thread somewhere on SRP there is a link to a video of a barber giving a shave. I think it is titled "A Turkish Shave" or something like that.

Lynn compliments the barber calling him an "artist", which he certainly is. A tonsorial artist.

Notice the rapid short strokes he uses during parts of the shave. This is the "sawing" described in the barber manual.

You'll also see that he does some long, graceful strokes. It's just a matter of knowing how and when = experience.


Scott

I saw this guy. I was impressed by how light the blade seemed to be on the face. Almost like it wasn't even touching.

Of course, then I got nervous every time he wiped lather onto his left hand

Originally Posted by steve

I saw this guy. I was impressed by how light the blade seemed to be on the face. Almost like it wasn't even touching.

Of course, then I got nervous every time he wiped lather onto his left hand

I've seen lots of barbers do that...wiping lather from the razor onto parts of the off hand. Looks dangerous.

As you get more experienced you develop what I would call Razor Spatial Awareness. You are aware, at all times, the position of the moving business end of your razor in relation to all parts of your body. Just a proprioceptive function of the cerebellum, that's all.

This allows you to shave quickly (if you prefer to) and efficiently without cutting yourself to ribbons.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

I

As you get more experienced you develop what I would call Razor Spatial Awareness. You are aware, at all times, the position of the moving business end of your razor in relation to all parts of your body. Just a proprioceptive function of the cerebellum, that's all.

Scott

Elementary, my dear Scott. Elementary.

I am developing this a little bit but I don't think I'll ever try what he does. A simple lather paper (paper towel) works AOK for me

Originally Posted by honedright

. Just a proprioceptive function of the cerebellum, that's all.

Scott

I think I had that once --took a shot of penicillin and cleared it all up.

why do I keep slapping my face with my own hand?

This is a great thread! Thanks, Steve for sharing your experiences. When I started straight shaving in the mid '70s, there wasn't this kind of info. I knew nothing of honing, but the advice on stropping and putting "English" on the blade while shaving that the man in the old barber supply told me were good tips. After I got married in '83 and grew a full beard again (the wife loves it) I got away from straight shaving, using a Merkur Slant Bar to go around the beard. Thanks to this forum, I now have better technique and skills. Honing w/ barber hones from Tilly, etc. The most valuable thing I've learned here is probably the simplest, stretching the skin w/ the off hand. That has made all the difference to me in shaving around the beard.
Interesting to hear that you also like fedoras, fountain pens, pocket watches and three piece suits. Add walking-sticks and pipe smoking to that, and we could start our own club.

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

This is a great thread! Thanks, Steve for sharing your experiences. When I started straight shaving in the mid '70s, there wasn't this kind of info. I knew nothing of honing, but the advice on stropping and putting "English" on the blade while shaving that the man in the old barber supply told me were good tips. After I got married in '83 and grew a full beard again (the wife loves it) I got away from straight shaving, using a Merkur Slant Bar to go around the beard. Thanks to this forum, I now have better technique and skills. Honing w/ barber hones from Tilly, etc. The most valuable thing I've learned here is probably the simplest, stretching the skin w/ the off hand. That has made all the difference to me in shaving around the beard.
Interesting to hear that you also like fedoras, fountain pens, pocket watches and three piece suits. Add walking-sticks and pipe smoking to that, and we could start our own club.

I'm in for the walking sticks but any type of smoking is out for me. Never mind debatable health hazards, I have asthma and anytime I get anywhere near smoke, it sucks the air right out of my lungs and I have trouble breathing.

I don't wear the fedoras much anymore because I don't have to wear a suit to work. There was a time when I wanted to get a fedora in every color of my suits but I much prefer not wearing suits to work so the standard black and navy blue are just fine.

I just got a new fountain pen in tongiht (I dropped and busted my old one) so I'm looking forward to filling her up with ink and testing her out.

Glad you like the thread. By the way, I haven't seen you post lately so.. welcome back.