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For us newbies must always be vigilant of our shaving strokes! Just when I thought I had this str8 shaving down, never had nicks with a str8 except for zits or a mole on side of neck I've learned to avoid, got too casual with my strokes last night and paid for it with 3 pretty nicks. It was like I forgot how to shave, might have thought I was using a DE safety. So whatever you do always pay attention and respect the STR8! Probably won't be able to shave for a few days. Thanks for listening.
Yes sir, be confident but not overconfident and it is a fine line too. Heal well.
Bob
It's the point in your journey where confidence is greater than skill. I went through that phase, too. It will pass.
Probably best to park the R.V before you start your morning shave! :)
Mick
By the way it was described, I'd attribute it to inexperience rather than carelessness. As I gained experience, I didn't have to burden my mind with thoughts about what I have to do next with the razor. You aren't to that point yet, and tried to be. Out of necessity, newbies have distract themselves with what they are going to do technique-wise. Once you no longer have to do that, your shaving is perfected, and an occasional nick or cut is something you won't worry about. It happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by RVShave
+1 to this. I liken it to when you first learn to drive a car (or, an RV in certain cases :) ). At first, it feels awkward but eventually it becomes second nature. You're still alert to an extent of what's going on around you, but your mind is really more on auto pilot. Most wrecks occur due to carelessness or over confidence in one's driving abilities. The same could be said of shaving with a straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun
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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun
Kudos to both of you.Quote:
Originally Posted by crouton976
I think I am at the point where there is only one spot left in my face-riddle that needs to be figured out. When I get to that pass and that spot I am most vulnerable to distractions and to doing damage. The rest of the time, my shave is close to running on auto, though I am still perfecting things and suspect I will for years to come.
The process of learning to shave with a straight is much like raising children.. For those who have had children, you'll know what I mean.
At first, you can't take your eyes off them at infant age, even for a second. You track them like a laser guidance system. Danger can be around any corner or right in front of you! I don't think I need to draw a parallel here, it's obvious. As a straight infant, just touching the razor's edge to your skin puts you in jeopardy of losing body parts.
Then toddlers get just a little self-sufficient, but equally more mischievous and daring. So do we with our straights. You are getting comfortable, but not to the point that you are out of harms way and you are inquisitive as all heck. Let me try this.. what if I turn the blade this way.. Then when you're not looking, BAM! You're posting in the Cut-of-the-Day thread.
As a young adult, you have earned just a little bit of wisdom.. yes, earned. You'll have a few wins, loss's, bumps and bruises (scars), but over all, if you're lucky, you're sort of okay with a lot of stuff but every so often you get thrown a little turbulence you need to deal with. In the straight learning curve, I see this as things out of our control. Soap on the shank. Family member muscles in to the bathroom to use the mirror. You splurge for an 8/8 Spiked Tip when you have no business using anything bigger than a 5/8 round point. Yes, that would be considered out of your control. I am an enabler.
Then the young adult grows up. All full of responsibility. Serious. A player. The Boss. The decision maker. But one or two bad decisions like the wrong hire, bad stock, misplaced/misinserted body-part and again.. BAM. You're in the newspaper. Or, you have all your ducks in a row on auto-pilot and Mother Nature sends Super Storm Sandy to remove the bottom floor of your house and all it's contents.. (yup, been there. Big FU Sandy). So, maybe your eye-sight isn't as good as it was. Or you're getting the shakes a little. You can stretch the skin on your neck to your cheek bone and nose, at the same time, but can't see where your jaw ends and ear lobe begins. BAM!
No way you can get through this straight razor experience if you lack care, confidence or if you lack respect. Absent any of these will have Mr Pink Lather paying you a visit.
Having said this, there is one other thing I would expect you can NEVER take casually... those wicked square tips! Always keep an attentive brain cell locked on the where-abouts of the tip of the razor!!
I have been straight shaving three years and it is only during the past year that I quit getting bitten by square tips. When I started acquiring razors, believe it or not, I didn't pay attention to whether the tip was square or round, but I sure did when I started shaving with it! But I will admit to you that I still prefer round tip straights and haven't bought a square tip for a long time.
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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun
I've yet to shave with a round tip...
Just prefer the look and feel of other styles.
A very interesting read. I'm very early on in my straight shave career, as in about 12 shaves in (and also attested to by the few cuts and scars I am currently sporting). I really REALLY can't wait until I stop cutting myself. I don't enjoy it when I get that pink lather, which seems all too often these days. Based on the comments of the experienced guys here, it's nice to see that there is light at the end the tunnel...and it's not a train!
Having said that though I am enjoying my shaves and don't plant to quit anytime soon. I'm nothing if not stubborn. :)