Thread: Suggestions on how to Advance

PaBlum, I'm 82 and shave in all directions, but I'll only address the neck. I had a lot of trouble getting a close shave on my neck area until I saw in a couple of videos of olde timey barbers start the shave on their customer by going ATG on the neck areas. I tried this with a shallow angle and followed it with a WTG pass. Miracles of miracles, smooth shaven neck area until I realized that there were little islands of minor stubble still there. Read up, in the Library, on the different shaving strokes that can be used. I adapted a guillotine stroke to address those area with success.

Read on those strokes and take your time in adapting to your use and I'm sure you will be pleased with the results.

The last few days has seen two errors and a big advance.

Error 1: One morning I didn't shower and should have spent time prepping my beard. Since I didn't, I thought my razor had dulled so I sharpened it.
Error 2: I watched someone's video and it seemed that he held his razor with a steep angle. I tried that and cut myself with my newly sharpened razor (see error 1)

The breakthrough:

I was never comfortable with the term "muscle memory". I tend to take things literally and I know that muscles don't really have memory.

I watched some shaving videos and read some texts (perhaps some I saw & read before) and picked up stuff I missed. Those taken with what you guys have been trying to drill into my head was coming together and making sense to me.

To put it in my words: The art of shaving (not related to the business by the same name) involves multiple skills that have to develop into habits. These habits need to work with each other in their proper amounts to result in a successful shave. So, I as a shaver, must practice each skill and coordinate the skills properly and be able to repeat all that easily. That is why it takes about 100 shave to get it right.

How did I do?

Where I am. One skill I hadn't learned was the grip. That is such an unfortunate term because grip says to the mind "hold tight." And that was what I was doing. A Lynn text said to hold loosely. Tight enough to have control but loose enough that if the razor starts to pull, the razor gives instead of the skin. I tried that and it made a world of difference. I even tried some near vertical shaving. The kind that cut me before and it didn't cut me now. Not the best angle for shaving, but I shows that I can avoid cuts more easily by doing this.

And, I actually have been going against the grain under the neck as a second pass! Something I was afraid of before.

I still use a DE as a final pass to pick up what I missed, but my SR shaving is so much better than before. It won't be long before I can put the DE away except for the times I need to get out of the house early. (Like when I'm working at the voting polls. Got to be there 5 AM). Or short on time because I've slept late.

Thanks, all. I'll keep practicing.

BTW,
I did leave something out. I was asked whether I mapped my face. I did. It turns out that all of my face hair points south.
On the chin line, it is both south and outward.
Below the ear area, it mostly south but a little towards the back.
About 50 shaves now and I believe I have the theory down pat. Just a matter of practice to improve and to be able to make shaving a natural part of my movements.
Ciao