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Well I can shave my cheek nice and easy, feels great...but the rest of my face...wow getting those angles and maintaining blade contact, and not cut myself and actually shave is hard...been trying holding the blade different ways, but not a lot of luck so far...anybody have any tips, besides practice x 100000000?
Hi there and welcome I found the videos really helped. Watch them a couple of times and try and follow which hand is used to shave different parts of your face and the grip used. It still takes some time to get the shave right and you'll probably end up adapting the process to suit yourself.
I've been SR shaving for about 4 months and I'm still refining. I've also learnt that even now a moment's lack of concentration equals a nick.
Use this forum to keep asking questions, you'll get there.
noobs,
Like a lot of things in life, there is a time when you can't do something, and a time when you can
For most people, the bit in between becomes a bit fuzzy after time :)
For me, it seemed that a month or so in, nothing seemed to be going right :(
Then, all of a sudden, BANG,, it all came together - for no reason I can think of !
So, please persevere : you will definitely get there in the end, and then wonder why you ever had any problems :)
Best of luck !
Best regards
Russ
I, too am in the "watch videos" camp. With practice you can reach places you presently can't reach. My favorite characterization of straight razor shaving is that it's like playing football without a face bar on your helmet. Everything is up to you, but the reward is that you can get the best shaves that way because you learn how to reach everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by noobs
This is the video that helped me most:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIM0Coix6Gg
I don't shave exactly like he does or use the same equipment any more, because over time I have developed a routine that works best for me.
From reading your post I know what you're feeling because I was there once, as well as I'm sure many other people who learned straight shaving. Approach it with a feeling that it's going to be fun, and challenging, and you'll be shaving with the rest of us!
I've got angular features; it's a challenge. While working it out, remember _short strokes_ (I can't do those long lawn-mower rows), and avoid the temptation to graze over the same patch of land multiple times on one pass. Once the lather is removed, move on. Otherwise, irritation starts making things worse. Good luck!
With practice always being on the obvious list, the not so obvious part of that is with some consistency. Some things will obviously not be working in your shave and some things are a maybe. Don't change the maybe until you've given it a steady try and then subtle changes. I could shave fairly well before watching any of the videos. I don't hold my razor like anyone else I've watched in a video except when I do my mustache. I think that what I'm trying to say is your technique may not match what others do and when it works for you it doesn't matter what it looks like in the video. The other thing that struck me when I did watch a bunch of videos is how many different shaped faces there are to shave. Perhaps pay particular attention to videos with guys with similar shaped faces as you. The thing that got me from good shaves to incredible shaves is the skin stretching. That was my biggest key, and I did learn that part from watching video. I think we all can do it, just some don't have the patience to get to the good part
When I stated I was very nervous. Almost afraid to touch my face and when I did it showed in nicks and cuts. As soon as I started to trust myself more I let the spine of the razor get closer to my face (I was holding it around 35 to 40 degrees when I was scared). As soon as that happened my shaves got remarkably close and nicks and cuts are few and far between
Yes watch the videos!! And the one above was the most impressive one to date, also glens and Lynn's I have Lynn's video and I watched it over and over ,, it'll come trust me , one day it'll click and then you'll wonder why you had a problem at all !!! And as Rez said stretch the skin, one of the best tips I ever got, I keep my alum block right there while I'm shaving just to get that sure grip for stretching. Good luck and persevere.
Tc
I've also got an angular face with hollows, nooks and crannies in the neck, here and there. I found making it flat, the particular area I am shaving, is what works for me. Hollows on either side of my wind pipe, stretch them flat, one side than the other.
On the neck under the ear, where it goes around, pull it flat. It is a matter of figuring out your particular physiognomy and what stretches, tilting the head, puffing air into the cheek ........ direction of the whiskers in a given area, angle of attack for said whiskers.
If it was easy our wives would be doing it. ;) (old ironworker saying that we had to quit using when women started doing ironwork) I like to say it anyway, just for old times sake. :p
Yup, I also posses several 90 degree angles on my face, was quite the learning curve, but you learn what you have to know.
The video that got me inspired to get into straight shaving, which still amazes me, was done by Wulli (sp?) who is was a member here...and the video was not sped up, and he gets one little weeper from a pimple on his chin...I think he exemplifies, "keeping it simple".
The video was titled, "The Manliest Shave", and when I first saw it, I thought he was going to shave with the big knife hanging on the wall. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q4IRoaJH34
very nice, I hadn't seen this one before. definitely not a video id recommend for a beginner to try emulating, haha, very confident strokes with a razor though. what I do like very much is this video demonstrates the different angles a razor is held at when doing wtg, atg strokes. notice how his wtg passes have more air between spine and face, his atg passes he has the spine very flat against the face. something very worthwhile to practice at.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phrank
to the original poster- don't be in a rush to be a pro shaver ;) since you are handling the cheeks fine try picking one side of the face to tackle the jawline to neck angles. just practice adding that one side in for awhile (with your dominant hand) and let your hand gain some muscle and razor memory before going gung-ho
It's the chin bit that I find the most challenging, closely followed by the upper lip.
stretch your skin with your other hand
Just to add one more voice... I'm almost a year in and I still change things (sometimes by accident) and find a grip or angle that works better. I also still have "off days" where I just can't get it going right. Three days ago, I had an absolutely blissful shave. The next day it was so bad that I gave up and finished with a DE razor. Yesterday I didn't shave at all...I cut the lawn instead.
So, I'd encourage you to keep adjusting and trying different things based on the videos. Also remember that the whole blade doesn't have to be in face contact all the time. In some areas you might use only the toe, in others only the heel..and use short strokes at first while you're learning.
I believe one of the misconceptions about Straight Shaving is that you use the whole blade at one time.
You will only shave with about an inch of the blade at a time, either the toe, middle or the heel.
If you try to use the whole blade you will cut your self.
Even when shaving from the sideburns down, the flattest part of my face, I am using just the 1 inch of the tip. On my neck I use just the middle.
So as said, look at the videos and just try to use one inch of the blade at a time.
thanks for the tips gents!!!
will be headed back to the videos for sure..I wish my beard grew quicker so i could practice more!!
Noobs its the fear and hesitation. I too was scared my first few and those were the shaves where u got cut the worst. Then came the phase of being more confident than skilled which resulted in patches of raw skin I'm just now (~45 shaves) getting to the nice comfy blood free zone. Its worth it