Thread: Reaching back to go into the future

It sounds like you've made the first step toward a good Str8 shave experience. I have a question and a few suggestions.

1.) Is the seller supplying it in "shave ready" condition?
2.) If yes what ever you do don't strop it or touch it up in any way before your first shave.
3.) Start slowly and keep your angles low. No more than 1 to 2 widths of the spine away from your face.
4.) Don't apply any pressure while shaving. Let the razors weight do this for you.
5.) Start with short strokes and stretch your skin. It will help to flatten out your face contours and allow the razor to glide over them.
6.) You can use 2 hands (one at each end) to help steady the blade in difficult areas.
7.) Prep is important but you mentioned your currently using a brush so I'll assume you have no problem building a good lather.
8.) Relax and don't force the issue. If you don't get the full face the first few times don't sweat it. You need to learn new techniques.
9.) Let go of everything you know about blades. You said you know this is different so let yourself be a beginner and learn from the beginning.
10.) As a cook you know that patience is the secret ingredient to all good food. Follow the same logic with learning to use a Str8.
11.) If you can't return the first purchase then turn it into a learning piece. Dull it down so it won't cut you and use it for practicing new techniques in the hard to cover areas. It will at least have a similar feel and balance as your real razor.

Most of all lighten up and enjoy the journey.

Originally Posted by foldedandhoned

So, is it important to pre-shave? How much ritual is necessary?
Best,
Folded

I will cover both - its up to you.
Any pre shave is just there to make the shave more comfortable, I would start with at least some, and then drop it as required.
Any ritual is just there to make the shave more pleasurable, some guys are quite elaborate with what they do, whereas others pretty much just shave and that's it. There are certain things that you can't escape from, ie stropping your razor and lathering up in some manner, it really depends on what you want to do, and thr ammount of time you want to spend doing it.
Ed

Right,
I've been frustrated over this whole SR thing and have got a lot of good advice both on this thread and by way of PM. Thank you all.
One of my particular frustrations is shaving the hollow of my cheeks. I pull the skin but the rounded tip of the blade makes it more difficult to get a grip on the hair. What am I doing wrong? I wind up using my Mach 3 to finish the job.
I'm ready to give up.

Try puffing your cheeks out while you stretch the skin. Gives a more level shaving field. Puff just enough to more or less even your cheek out. At least that's what worked for me. (My 2 cents worth.)

Originally Posted by foldedandhoned

Right,
I've been frustrated over this whole SR thing and have got a lot of good advice both on this thread and by way of PM. Thank you all.
One of my particular frustrations is shaving the hollow of my cheeks. I pull the skin but the rounded tip of the blade makes it more difficult to get a grip on the hair. What am I doing wrong? I wind up using my Mach 3 to finish the job.
I'm ready to give up.

Cannot answere your questions,I feel bad for you and your tribulations.But you are not going to learn this overnight.
Listen to all the above tips and tricks,get a mindset that this will take you 6 mos. to begin to play the sport without frustration.
You have to learn muscle memory,both your facial muscles and your hands.Do not give up,it will all come together.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

It sounds like you've made the first step toward a good Str8 shave experience. I have a question and a few suggestions.

1.) Is the seller supplying it in "shave ready" condition?
2.) If yes what ever you do don't strop it or touch it up in any way before your first shave.
3.) Start slowly and keep your angles low. No more than 1 to 2 widths of the spine away from your face.
4.) Don't apply any pressure while shaving. Let the razors weight do this for you.
5.) Start with short strokes and stretch your skin. It will help to flatten out your face contours and allow the razor to glide over them.
6.) You can use 2 hands (one at each end) to help steady the blade in difficult areas.
7.) Prep is important but you mentioned your currently using a brush so I'll assume you have no problem building a good lather.
8.) Relax and don't force the issue. If you don't get the full face the first few times don't sweat it. You need to learn new techniques.
9.) Let go of everything you know about blades. You said you know this is different so let yourself be a beginner and learn from the beginning.
10.) As a cook you know that patience is the secret ingredient to all good food. Follow the same logic with learning to use a Str8.
11.) If you can't return the first purchase then turn it into a learning piece. Dull it down so it won't cut you and use it for practicing new techniques in the hard to cover areas. It will at least have a similar feel and balance as your real razor.

Most of all lighten up and enjoy the journey.

Wow. That. Plus one more little detail:

12.) Avoid the blade sitting still on your skin; be in motion when you start the stroke and lift the blade before stopping the stroke.

This process is very rewarding but it about the journey at least as much as getting to the destination. Learn the skills gradually; stop when you're miffed and return the next day. Beard'll still be there.

Righty-O Chaps,
Still learning, still scraping my face...but an odd thing happened just a few days ago; I'll tell you the story, so gather around the soap dish and hold the Badger in high regard...
I went into a local shop a few days ago with a very wounded face from a recent attempt at a shave and a friend who works there asked me what the hell happened to my (Hollywood) face? Did I say the wrong thing to some young lady?
I told her that I recently took up SR and the result is what you see.
She then asked me why the right side of my face was more cut up than the left...I thought about it and said that I'm right hand dominate and so I suppose I was more cautious with my left hand when switching sides. That was an Ah-ha moment! My customary speed with cooking knives, or hunting knives, was not what was needed. Slow and steady...like...well, y'all know.
I still get the (*%($*$( cut outta my face but I go about it a lot slower now.
I still don't know if this is for me, but I'll give it a try until I can't.
Anyone want to buy a couple of nice razors?
F&H

Originally Posted by foldedandhoned

Righty-O Chaps,
Still learning, still scraping my face...but an odd thing happened just a few days ago; I'll tell you the story, so gather around the soap dish and hold the Badger in high regard...
I went into a local shop a few days ago with a very wounded face from a recent attempt at a shave and a friend who works there asked me what the hell happened to my (Hollywood) face? Did I say the wrong thing to some young lady?
I told her that I recently took up SR and the result is what you see.
She then asked me why the right side of my face was more cut up than the left...I thought about it and said that I'm right hand dominate and so I suppose I was more cautious with my left hand when switching sides. That was an Ah-ha moment! My customary speed with cooking knives, or hunting knives, was not what was needed. Slow and steady...like...well, y'all know.
I still get the (*%($*$( cut outta my face but I go about it a lot slower now.
I still don't know if this is for me, but I'll give it a try until I can't.
Anyone want to buy a couple of nice razors?
F&H

Heck you have only been at it a month, i am 4ish months in and still haven't got it perfect. In fact I have a "duelling" cut on my cheek from last night.
So all I can say is slow down, reduce your pressure, keep your angle low, stretch well and confirm your angle of growth.

Here's another question:
I have a cheap strop and I'm used to stones and the like...so do I need all those pastes and what-not?
I mean to say, that I would never subject my food to a dull knife (or my fingers for that matter) so how and what do I need to keep this razor sharp enough to cut a fly's dick off in mid flight? (sorry for the language G )
F&H

There are many options in that area, if you search for "touch-up" you'll find hones and pastes/sprays applied to leather, fabric or balsa. While all those options will work in one way or another, I recommend a synthetic 8000 grit stone, such as a Shapton, Naniwa, Norton or King. The magic number around here is 8000. 8000 8000 8000! Once you can get a comfortable shave off the 8000, you can broaden your search to include 12K Naniwas, 16K Shaptons and crox.

Besides, I believe flies don't have dicks