Man, know thy (face).

From a beginner, to beginners...

So going on 3 months now of learning to use a straight, and having watched pretty much every online video I could possibly find, I'm beginning to realize that the #1 key to using a straight is knowing your own face. Not strops or CrOX or type of razor or even lathering... what works for Lynn or for anyone else on this board will be different from you. Based upon your hair type and hair direction, you have to tailor specifically to your own face. A guy shaving 30 years with a straight can tell you something, but it could be totally wrong if your face is different. Even things like how my arms bend or how I can best stretch my face are critical factors in getting a good shave.

So... bottom line is that the videos are great for starting, but the only real way to learn is through experimentation and figuring out the best way to shave YOUR face. Once you figure out your face and hair patterns, the rest is just icing on the cake.

Yes, knowing your face is vital in my opinion too. Going exactly against the grain is very important for me to get a close one; and it's not just going from bottom to top. To go atg on my neck I would have to go exactly from right to left. I haven't found a good way to do that with a straight yet. I kinda do a slicing stroke and can get satisfactory but not perfect results. Thats all part of the learning curve!

Best shaves,
OldSalt

Imagine the old time barbers who had to shave everyone who came into the shop and in those days a BBS and comfort was the norm, it was expected. Anything else and the barber might find himself deep-sixed by the customer.

The trick is to learn to map out your beard. Once you learn that lesson well you can shave anybody no matter how different the individual beard might be. A few minutes of serious faceturbating can pay big dividends even if you're not a professional barber.

I have the same issue with my neck. I have found that if you go ATG on your neck first, you will get a closer shave than waiting for the second pass.

I remember when I first realized that the hair on my neck grows differently than every video I watched learning how to shave. lol It was smooth sailing from then on.

Will give that a try.my neck hair grows horizontally ...horrid to shave.

Same issue for me... took me about a month to realize just how jacked up the hair direction on my neck is! :shrug:

For those of you with side to side issues on the neck, check out my posts on #12 and #14 here, http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1028898. It seems to have helped others at times. It might be of use to you too.

@OCDshave... ha ha ha! That is/was my exact solution as well!! And here I thought I was all clever to come up with it on my own.

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

@OCDshave... ha ha ha! That is/was my exact solution as well!! And here I thought I was all clever to come up with it on my own.

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I doubt there is anything we can truly discover as unique when it comes to SR shaving. I'm sure its all been done before.

@OCDshaver... as a beginner, at least seeing that you came up with the same solution as I did makes me feel like I'm learning.

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

@OCDshaver... as a beginner, at least seeing that you came up with the same solution as I did makes me feel like I'm learning.

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If the stubble is getting shorter, you're learning. LOL

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Originally Posted by OCDshaver

If the stubble is getting shorter, you're learning. LOL

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The stubble getting shorter has never been my problem. Eliminating 'ALL' stubble, in 'ALL' areas has always been the issue with me. I'm starting to get the hang of it, however. It currently takes me three passes above the jaw-line and about six passes below the jaw (still a progress in work) to become 90% stubble free. After that, I still can't get all of the remaining 10% stubble, no matter what I do or which direction I wield my blade and stretch my face... not until I wait about an hour after the initial shave, then attack those few patches of stubborn stubble, below the jaw using a cheap disposable razor. The resistant stubble then comes right off. By 'that' time my neck is rather red and quite irritated, but also smooth as a baby's butt! I'm definitely getting better at this, however. It's not shorter stubble that I seek. It's fewer passes and a fire retardant after shave! :p

Never thought about that grip. I'm going to try it on my mustache area and the corners of my mouth. Thanks for that one!

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Originally Posted by OCDshaver

For those of you with side to side issues on the neck, check out my posts on #12 and #14 here, http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1028898. It seems to have helped others at times. It might be of use to you too.

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Originally Posted by TMJudd

The stubble getting shorter has never been my problem. Eliminating 'ALL' stubble, in 'ALL' areas has always been the issue with me. I'm starting to get the hang of it, however. It currently takes me three passes above the jaw-line and about six passes below the jaw (still a progress in work) to become 90% stubble free. After that, I still can't get all of the remaining 10% stubble, no matter what I do or which direction I wield my blade and stretch my face... not until I wait about an hour after the initial shave, then attack those few patches of stubborn stubble, below the jaw using a cheap disposable razor. The resistant stubble then comes right off. By 'that' time my neck is rather red and quite irritated, but also smooth as a baby's butt! I'm definitely getting better at this, however. It's not shorter stubble that I seek. It's fewer passes and a fire retardant after shave! :p

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That's a lot of passes TMJ. You shouldn't need that many. It could be a matter of technique or your razors edge or both. If your razor is known to sharp enough to do the job, then just be patient and continue to work at it. I always recommend to take a small area of trouble and figure out what you need to do to get it smooth. Mimic what your disposable is doing. Study what is working with the disposable and think about how you might do the same with the SR. Work on small sections at a time. Later you can think about how you'll string them together to do a complete shave.

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Never thought about that grip. I'm going to try it on my mustache area and the corners of my mouth. Thanks for that one!

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Good. I'm glad it may be of use to you. Let us know if it works.

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Originally Posted by OCDshaver

That's a lot of passes TMJ. You shouldn't need that many. It could be a matter of technique or your razors edge or both. If your razor is known to sharp enough to do the job, then just be patient and continue to work at it. I always recommend to take a small area of trouble and figure out what you need to do to get it smooth. Mimic what your disposable is doing. Study what is working with the disposable and think about how you might do the same with the SR. Work on small sections at a time. Later you can think about how you'll string them together to do a complete shave.

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It's definitely technique. I've been using SR's for only 3 weeks, now. I'm still quite green at this, but also determined to achieve perfection. It'll come, in time, but for now... it's a work in progress! ;)

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

I'm beginning to realize that the #1 key to using a straight is knowing your own face.

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Good post, Ethan. It takes some much long to settle this fact into their heads.

Regards,

Simon