Thread: One dozen in the books.

My Fellow shavers;
12 shaves in with the straight. Some observations:

Overconfidence results in nicks, cuts, and dulled razors from inattention, poor stropping, and less than stellar results. The lessons are manifold. Details are important. Strop correctly. Build good lather and apply it well. Pay strict attention to where your blade is. Faucet dings will be the result of inattention. Shave slowly and carefully, watch angles, and take short strokes. Stretch your face and do so deliberately. Find out how your hair grows on your face, and shave accordingly. Don't hesitate to stop and take a breath and plan out your next moves. Use your DE if you need to. Keep a beginners mind. Read everything you can and watch as many videos as possible. Talk with experienced guys. Obtain the best equipment you can afford. Keep an open mind. Learn.

This place is a bloody great repository of info and experience.

many thanks...

kc.

(apologies to Master Suzuki)

You're sounding like an old pro............keep it up.

Keep a beginners mind!!!!

That may be the the most profound quote that has been used on this forum,, it's the guy who thinks he is there after a few shaves and forgets he's still a beginner

Thanks for this post , you are doing we'll. Tc

I think I'm guilty of missing all but about 3 of those key points this morning (with predictable results)

That is the thinking that will equal success in straight razor shaving!

Originally Posted by Caihlen

My Fellow shavers;
12 shaves in with the straight. Some observations:

Overconfidence results in nicks, cuts, and dulled razors from inattention, poor stropping, and less than stellar results. The lessons are manifold. Details are important. Strop correctly. Build good lather and apply it well. Pay strict attention to where your blade is. Faucet dings will be the result of inattention. Shave slowly and carefully, watch angles, and take short strokes. Stretch your face and do so deliberately. Find out how your hair grows on your face, and shave accordingly. Don't hesitate to stop and take a breath and plan out your next moves. Use your DE if you need to. Keep a beginners mind. Read everything you can and watch as many videos as possible. Talk with experienced guys. Obtain the best equipment you can afford. Keep an open mind. Learn.

This place is a bloody great repository of info and experience.

many thanks...

kc.

(apologies to Master Suzuki)

We both joined around the same time.. Im at about the same shave count you are and i have had a lot of the same revelations listed here.

"Keep a beginners mind" is my new shaving mantra. I pulled a move the other day where i turned my head quick to get a view in the mirror and the razor ever so gently reminded the side of my neck how good L. Abrams is at honing. No blood, but it felt scary.

I forgot to respect the blade and it almost got me.

Im glad your SR shaving is going well sir and thank you for the wise words!!

Well said, my kind sir[emoji6]

Nice post and good advice. You're about a half dozen shaves ahead of me and I agree with everything you said. I've not cut myself yet, or nicked myself up to this point, but I'm still making the last pass (ATG) with the Merkur 34C -- so far. My face is pretty easy, but I have to be really careful on my neck because my neck is getting so old, wrinkled and downright floppy. It's like trying to shave a turkey's wattle. I'll get there though. Again, great advice.

Very well said. You seem to have the basic idea pretty well figured out. Now it's just a matter of time and practice.

Very good advice. I'm about to get to the 10 shave mark. Always have been cautious so far and hope I stay that way cause it only takes a second. Look forward to getting to the 100 shave mark later in the year. SR. has made me a look forward to shaving and will only use a SR. for the rest of my life, I hope anyways