When Razors Attack, the prequel

Hello folks,

I'm not sure whether the appropriate place to post this is the newbies area or in shaving, but I'll give it a shot here.

I am new to straight shaving, though apparently addicted. I have watched Lynn's video twice now, as well as some internet videos. I would say that my technique has improved greatly since my first shave, but I have a long way to go and many things to learn.

I have posted a video of myself shaving for you to view. This is a bit different in that it isn't a how-to video of any kind, but the opposite, an 'Am Idoing this right?' video. The link is below, and the password is 'straight'.

http://homepage.mac.com/menoche/SRP/...Theater24.html

I didn't post this on something like YouTube, and added a password, as I look a bit silly. I figured this crowd would understand, and cut me a little slack...

If you've got the time and care to comment, please do. That's what I'm looking for.

Thanks much,
John

Pretty good man --I like how you pull on your forehead a couple of minutes in --got a friendly laugh out of that one. Looks to me like you're doing fine. My hair grows sideways on my neck as well --try to pull sideways opposite the grain --use a wet wash cloth if you're having trouble with the grip. Oh and next time for the audience's sake, do your lathering in the mug at face level ---I didn't know what you were going to shave at first. :D

Justin

I don't have a whole lot to go on, but your definitely doing well. I mean, I could tell that you were still kind of playing around with the strokes and that you were trying to figure out the best angles for different parts of you face. I'm about where you are right now as well. I am good enough that I don't nick my self anymore (most of the time atleast),
but I am still learning my face and the way it grows hair. Once you really learn your face and how to approach the different angles, then I think you start really developing that grace while shaving that we see in the pros.

Matt

I enjoyed that thoroughly!!

Your strokes looked controlled and the left hand seemed to work better than you give it credit for!!

I'm level pegging with you on the amount of shaves you've had, and I think we're doing just fine!!

I can't help on the sideways growth though, because mine is straight down luckily. But i guess the stroke would be something like with the grain diagonally.

Keep it up, and thanks so much for posting a video, i'm not brave enough for that yet, and my chest hair isn't nearly as manly!!!

Cheers

pea

One thing that may help with the sideways growth on the neck is how you stretch it. As I mentioned, my neck hair also grows sideways and down from the center out towards the sides of my neck. I would do a down stroke first, and then an up stroke on the second pass. This would get it pretty close, but I would still notice that when I stroked ATG on my neck that I could feel it, and that bugged me. I want the closest shave possibly obtainable. Anyway, I started playing with how I stretched my neck. I have found that if I take my two middle finger and place them just to the side of my Adam's Apple and then stretch away, this causes the whiskers on the opposite side of the next to stick up a bit more. I can then come across them with the razor going against the grain. This is an up and sideways type stroke, starting from the bottom outside of the neck and then working my way in and up toward the chin. Obviously this will take some playing with to get the right angle to come across your beard right, but it works well for me. If you would like, I can take some pictures illustrating what I am doing.

Matt

You showed some stretching ideas that hadn't occurred to me, and I tried them out today with good results. For that, I thank you!

I have the same problem with the horizontal growth on the neck; so far I haven't worked out a good solution either.

Level pegging, does that euphemism derive from the card game cribbage? Just curious. - John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pea

I enjoyed that thoroughly!!

Your strokes looked controlled and the left hand seemed to work better than you give it credit for!!

I'm level pegging with you on the amount of shaves you've had, and I think we're doing just fine!!

I can't help on the sideways growth though, because mine is straight down luckily. But i guess the stroke would be something like with the grain diagonally.

Keep it up, and thanks so much for posting a video, i'm not brave enough for that yet, and my chest hair isn't nearly as manly!!!

Cheers

pea

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Justin, good point. I didn't realize what I was doing at the time with the lather. I recommend some eye bleach to get rid of the effect.
("The goggles do nothing!!!...", anyone guess the obscure reference?)

Matt, yes I will try to do some more creative skin stretching to complete the under-neck area. Thank you.

Feng Li, I am glad you got something out of it. I am of the opinion that if a bunch of us n00bs did this, we could all pick something up from each other. It also makes for comedy for the veterans on the boards.

Later - John

John,

I believe the "goggles" reference comes from a Simpson's episode. Although if I remember correctly, the quote was, "The goggles--they do nothing!" I'm trying to remember the character: Was it Homer?

Josh

Is it Reineer Wolfcastle (sp??) when Milhouse plays Fallout boy?

James.

Right on, you both got it. Good stuff. - Later, John

http://www.student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~...thegoggles.jpg

I am just starting out myself but you appeared to have it well in hand to me.

Classic!

If any other newbs have the chance, would you mind posting similar.

And, if any veterans would give me some pointers, I'd appreciate that!

Thanks,
John

First of all I think the lather looks great. The stretching looks good. Also a good start with the off hand. I'd say all in all you're on a good path.

As for the neck, I won't pretend to tell you how to shve your own neck, but I've dropped a few crummy phone cam pics in here do expose what I do. My hais grows left to right especially under the chin. I also have hairs which lie completely flat and the only way to get them is to come Against The Grain with a very steep angle. I dont use both hands, so you're going to have to translate some of this to your experience.

The first photo is my usual stretch for the neck and it's also my immitation of a turkey. "Dress me up. I'm done!" :D

The second pic is how I shave a little bit across and a little bit against the grain on the left side of my neck. Notice how far back the scales are.

The third photo is another grip I use to come a little bit against the grain and a little bit across the grain on the right side of my neck.

The fourth shows that grip in action. (gobble gobble)

More on the next post.

As you can see I have to play with the scales to keep them from knocking against my neck. I also find that larger and smiling bladesgive me a better purchase on the directions I need. Since nothing I do seems to get a perfect Against The Grain pass I have to come at it from a few different directions.

The first pic here is the general stretching I use for the next two attacks which are a little awkward for my challenging under the chin area, but seem to get the job done. I can't show you both the stretching and the grip at the same time since I still need to hold the camera (phone). Incidentally, this is me after a full day's growth which is hardly notieable so I won't shave today.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

X

Good set of photos. I use the same holds and strokes on my neck, the only difference is I do a vertical stretch with my thumb and forefinger and shave the area in between.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Namdnas

Classic!

If any other newbs have the chance, would you mind posting similar.


Thanks,
John

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Yeah, I will try to. I am in the process of editing a wedding, but as soon as I am finished with that I will try and do a recording and then post it. I wanted to do it anyway. In fact, when I saw your post I was like, "Hey! He stole my idea :rant:" Just kidding :D.

Anyway I will post it to this thread if it is still alive when I get it done.

Matt