Thread: G'day all from Wollongong Australia

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Oh and you really dont HAVE to use both hands, i am a lefty and pretty much cant use my right hand.

Hi there Ed Thanks for your reply, great to know there are some fellow aussies on here. So there will still be hope if i can't shave with my off hand then.

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

You should bring to SR shaving all the techniques of beard preparation you'd use with a DE, plus an additional item; i.e. skin stretching. With a DE, the bar or slotted comb takes care of it, but with a straight you have to smooth out or stretch the area to be shaved manually. Watch some videos and see what the shaver is doing to achieve this.

With regard to the number of passes, it's really what your face can stand. I've never gone beyond 2, i.e. a WTG to begin with and a combination XTG and ATG to finish- Others use the full 3. I'm assuming you're familiar with these abbreviations for with, across, and against the grain

Mike

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Thanks all for the welcomes!!

Im willing to be patient and just learn in stages, you all seem to be saying the same thing GO SLOW. And I'm willing to do that.

I have decided to start using my left hand (off hand) for my left side of face whilst using my DE razor, so hopefully it won't be a scary jump when using the straight when it arrives.

I have watched the Lynn Abrams beginners straight shave video a few times, can you guys point me toward anything videos or text, that you think is worthwhile watching as well?

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

yes you CAN still do multiple passes, however in the early days your face MAYnot thank you. There is a video around called "chimench's 30th anniversary shave" [sorry i may be more paraphrasing than quoting there, as i cant guarantee the spelling, or exact title}, which is a guy who has used straights for a long time. There is also an area here with videos too, but i can never remember exactly where it is, but you will see plenty there.

Going slow is key, i used to say allow plenty of time, and double it, i should say that more.

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Hi there Ed Thanks for your reply, great to know there are some fellow aussies on here. So there will still be hope if i can't shave with my off hand then.

There are quite a few aussies around actually, they will start appearing soon i am sure.
Yeah, one handed shaving isnt too hard, the difficultest bit was working out how to see what i was doing in the beginning with my arm in the way, but you figure it out quickly enough, and after a while you can sort of do it by just knowing how to do it, and the line of sight becomes less important. i am a one and a bit pass shaver, and dont have any real dramas.

Welcome aboard from a bit further north
Plenty to learn so take your time & enjoy the journey

Welcome, I grew up in the Sutherland shire and spent my many years of university in your fine town.

Knowing your face from your DE experience will give you a bit of a leg up, but a straight isn’t as nimble so you may find it won’t go where your DE did, this may also force you to go in directions you wouldn’t with your DE.

The biggest stumbling block I found going from a DE (merkur HD with feather blades) to a straight (full hollow DOVO 5/8 from SRD) was the feedback. Until I got a handle on angle/pressure and built up some muscle memory it felt like I was trying to clear a forest made of petrified trees.


Even now I still find the feedback off-putting such that I use my hollower razors less often. The shaves are just as good as my heavier grinds, but they require more concentration to achieve.

I’ve not yet learnt to use two hands as I moved to a kamasori fairly soon after starting; the lack of dexterity is no hindrance to a good shave and I know others that use only one hand, so each to his own.

Regards,

Neal.

Originally Posted by SilverBuddha

Thanks all for the welcomes!!

Im willing to be patient and just learn in stages, you all seem to be saying the same thing GO SLOW. And I'm willing to do that.

I have decided to start using my left hand (off hand) for my left side of face whilst using my DE razor, so hopefully it won't be a scary jump when using the straight when it arrives.

I have watched the Lynn Abrams beginners straight shave video a few times, can you guys point me toward anything videos or text, that you think is worthwhile watching as well?

Also are there any habits a DE shaver should not take to a SR technique? For example i usually do a 3 pass shave, is that even necessary or possible?

Try using your left hand on the right side as well. Get a feel for using the offhand on both sides and your halfway there. One handed is fine if that's all you can manage, but I will always recommend trying to learn to use the offhand as much as possible. As an example, and as best as I can describe, I keep my hairstyle high and tight, very military looking without sideburns. So when I start my WTG pass at some point (the very start in this case) with the same side hand working the same side face, my vision is blocked. I can't see where to place the edge of the razor. Now if I swap to opposite hand to opposite side of my face, I can get an unobstructed view for about the first two inches from the top of my ear. At that point most normal people would then swap over to the same side hand, but I just shut my eyes and keep on driving for a bit...That's just me though. The point of me telling you this?! Being able to use your offhand, even just a little, will make things heaps easier. It might not be the sideburns for you, but it might be some little spot that just can't be got at, or to, very easily in any other way. Shutting our eyes during the shave...That's up to you. I just like a challenge, but I might have to start doing jumping jacks at the same time soon .


Welcome to the forum mate.


Mick

G'day and welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome. Using the off hand just takes time. I found my left hand fairly useless so just used my right for a good year till my shaves were where I wanted thn slowly started to incorporate my left. I still can't use it anywhere near as well as the right but do find it seems to have a lighter touch so what I can do is at least equal to my right. Good luck with your shaves

Welcome to SRP!