Thread: Straight shave #5 - Success! sorta

Originally Posted by pinklather

Hey Don,

I'm called pinklather for a reason.

A few thoughts w/ benefit of hindsight:

Screw BBS. If its ever possible, it will come without you even trying - 'cause your skills will increase. Making that the goal now will produce lots of pinklather.

Nicks: if you keep shaving over them - they'll never heal. Give 'em a rest. If you can shave around them *successfully* - by all means do. If not, take a break & let your face heal. Also, as the honorable godfather once suggested - neosporin can cut a day or so off the healing time. Even the 'inactive ingredients' are great for skin.

A close, comfortable shave is a great thing. Let those who need to boast - crow about their pinnacles of ecstasy from having whatever the buzzword of the day is. You can enjoy a good shave.

BTW - no razor burn is significant - you're not using pressure. Keep that up.

Great reply - very encouraging to me. When I started SR shaving in December I seemed to be pretty nick free. When I got to hankering a closer shave and started doing ATG passes I kept nicking myself, to the point I'd have to not use the SR for up to a week to let my face heal. Very frustrating. I have lately come to the conclusion that for me at least I need to just go very, very slow, keep working on very basic technique (light pressure, right angle, skin stretching) while just doing north-south passes for a while longer. I would like to get a closer shave at the jowl line and outside edges of my chin, but not at the expense of cutting my face to smithereens.

Originally Posted by 400E

Great reply - very encouraging to me. When I started SR shaving in December I seemed to be pretty nick free. When I got to hankering a closer shave and started doing ATG passes I kept nicking myself, to the point I'd have to not use the SR for up to a week to let my face heal. Very frustrating. I have lately come to the conclusion that for me at least I need to just go very, very slow, keep working on very basic technique (light pressure, right angle, skin stretching) while just doing north-south passes for a while longer. I would like to get a closer shave at the jowl line and outside edges of my chin, but not at the expense of cutting my face to smithereens.

One natural advantage I have is that .... We'll lets just say I ain't skinny. It really helps to have fewer acute angles

i think the best advise I have seen for ATG ( or WTG for that matter ) is short little strokes making sure the razor is moving BEFORE the blade touches my face I found that most of my nicks were trying ATG and having the razor hang up on A hair and end up going sideways

may just be me but this one really cut down on the blood

More excellent advice! Now that you mention it, I realized I have cut myself, even WTG, by placing a non-moving blade against the skin. Just static pressure is enough to cut skin.

Thanks for this tip!

Incidentally, also wanted to say it is encouraging to see I'm not the only one to nick my left earlobe!

I think I realized this week that I am probably doing this by having the toe of the blade contacting my face (actually earlobe) first, rather than having the whole blade contact my face at the same time.

Steve,

The ear thing is getting to be a big issue for me
I have tried to be extra careful land have managed to keep my left ear safe for the last two shaves , but only at the expense or my right ear

I joked about it on Another thread but I am seriously considering taping my earlobe up and out of the way just to let them heal. Doh

Originally Posted by pinklather

Hey Don,

I'm called pinklather for a reason.

A few thoughts w/ benefit of hindsight:

Screw BBS. If its ever possible, it will come without you even trying - 'cause your skills will increase. Making that the goal now will produce lots of pinklather.

Nicks: if you keep shaving over them - they'll never heal. Give 'em a rest. If you can shave around them *successfully* - by all means do. If not, take a break & let your face heal. Also, as the honorable godfather once suggested - neosporin can cut a day or so off the healing time. Even the 'inactive ingredients' are great for skin.

A close, comfortable shave is a great thing. Let those who need to boast - crow about their pinnacles of ecstasy from having whatever the buzzword of the day is. You can enjoy a good shave.

BTW - no razor burn is significant - you're not using pressure. Keep that up.

Don, Pink was around and giving me helpful advice when I first started as well. Always heed his counsel. As for the ear lob I'd suggest staying away from it or only shaving the area next to it with the edge facing away.