The ONE thing I forgot to prepare for straight razor shaving... the Wife.

I read everything, I watched all of Lynns tremendous video's, I got guidance from an SRP mentor. I practiced stropping with a belt and a butter knife to get my turns and muscle memory. I was utterly and fully prepared for everything but the actual FEEL, or so I thought.

I managed to get in 4 very good first shaves. The first 3, I gave up on a small triangle under my chin that I just didn't feel comfortable with the amount of resistance it was giving me. Nailed it all on shave 4. 4 shaves, not a nick, scratch, cut...

Today was to be my 5th. As I was lathering, I sensed movement, and there was the Mrs., standing RIGHT next to me. "Dear, PLEASE do not sneak up on me when I am shaving with a straight".

She "needed" to take a shower. Not really, it could have waited. Waiting apparently, is a mans job only. As I prepared to start my shave, she kept passing behind me, in the narrow gap between myself and jacuzzi tub, going to and from the shower. "Baby, PLEASE do not bump me, I have 4" of Lynn Abrams fresh honed steel against my throat" "I WON'T". Well now I felt better. I set the razor down, and waited for her to actually get in the shower.

Mang, I spend HOURS leaving the Mrs. alone when she is doing her girly things. Nails, shaving, foot soak, jacuzzi bath. Why harsh the mellow, right?! You'd think it would be appreciated, remembered, honored...

So I wasn't fully concentrating on my shave. Honestly, I was kinda cheesed. Is 20 minutes of privacy every 3 days REALLY that much to expect? So I'm thinking on that, and of course, not fully concentrating on my shave. AND then, I bit my neck. Not bad, but enough to draw blood. Well, NOW I'm kinda fuming on it. Watching her soap herself on.. dammit.. my time. So of course, as I come in for the close trim to the 'stache, trying not to lopside it but thinking about getting my FIRST bite cause I was distracted.. yep. 2nd bite. A lil "flapper" this time. MOAR blood. Both times, "Everything OK?" FINE baby... So I start like, REALLY alternating the hot and cold running water. Thinking, ya know, training...

But really, it is entirely my fault. I should have talked to her before I even did my first shave, and I am going to. it is 20 minutes twice, sometimes thrice, a week. I WANT it to be "my time". I don't paint nails, soak feet, jacuzzi... It doesn't seem like a lot to ask. But I HAVE to be careful. I don't want her to get "jealous" of my new hobby. OH God no, start checking the mail? ;) You guys know what I mean, this ain't my first "hobby".

Also, I HAVE to be really gentle. Try to put it in terms that she can relate to. Safety, comfort, ZEN... Besides, I don't want it coming back up in some stupid argument well down the road.

Which reminds me, ya know why the NFL doesn't have any female referee's? Yeah, they'll call ya on stuff ya did 3 years ago.. ;)

So fellow noobs. Talk to your wife and kids (if they share your bath). It's serious stuff. Not just from the safety and comfort perspective, but it's 2016. About time WE get to claim a little "Me" bathroom time,:rock: yah?

First of all LOCK the bathroom door when you shave. Second of all, paybacks are in order. When she is asleep give her a custom MANicure......nails cut short and painted Caterpillar yellow or John Deere green.:rofl2:

Just lock the door.

Yes, you don't need distractions at the best of times when shaving with a straight razor never mind when you are beginning. Had to have a "chat" with the boss about the same issue in the beginning too. Locking the bathroom door is good advice and reinforces the "chat". The boss now waits for me to put the razor down if she needs in while I am shaving.

Bob

Usual problem, I have quite big bathroom but often get distracted by her talk or willingness to talk... Even have good experience, during Sunday shave I made small nick on my ear with French nose of my TI

That's why I shave when the house is asleep.

The dog and the family safely asnooze in their beds as I have my morning shave.

When I started my wife was so absolutely sure that i was going to die fro a nasty shaving accident that there really were no distractions. Now there is a much higher level of confidence in my ability to shave and there is a periodic wanting to come into the bathroom while I am shaving. It is almost always met with the look and a quick departure. I agree on locking the door.

OMG does this sound familiar. I used to shave on Sunday. And on Sunday my wife can park herself in front of a TV for 24 hours watching every stupid tv series I've never heard of and leaving the couch only to keep her blood sugar high enough to remain coherent. But the minute I begin lathering up she will suddenly require a shower of her own and a million little things in the bathroom. We discussed this. I pointed out how many hours of uninterrupted television took place prior to my beginning to shave and asked why at this very moment it suddenly became an emergency that she brush her teeth and take a shower? I made my point but struggled to stop the annoyance. Since I work from home, I simply changed my schedule to Monday and Friday. Now if she is around, she doesn't bother me any longer. But what i found was the real issue had nothing to do with me shaving. The real issue was that I was doing something that I was totally engrossed in that didn't have anything to do with her. I have the same problem if I crack a book open and try to actually read anything in her presence. Suddenly after an hour of silence she will need to discuss the fact that the car's tire pressure is a little low. Again, we've discussed it. I've recommended she see a therapist and request medication. But in the end, this is just called being married.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s1RrCMerc0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RezDog

When I started my wife was so absolutely sure that i was going to die fro a nasty shaving accident that there really were no distractions.

---

My wife was the opposite remembering her grandfather nonchalantly shaving in the kitchen with a SR while everything was going on there. I had to tell that if I had 40 years of using a SR I might be a little less inclined to be jumpy and nervous to. You could almost see the light bulb coming on. Being a sensible person by nature she quickly changed her ways. It is not a problem now especially since I am more relaxed when shaving with a SR.

Bob

In " cut of the day there is a post of a guy gets bumped by wife. All ends well after paramedics arrive and he gets home with only 7 sticthes on his throat. Find that post , make read it . Then lock the door. Those pics might stick in her brain !

I am also in a home where the door is open if you're not doing "business." In my case a serious talk about the danger she presents was all that was needed. After that if she can't understand that you need to be left alone LOCK THE DOOR. An accident can still be a very serious thing. I agree go look at the cut of the day thread.

Thank you all for your wonderful insights. "Lock The Door", I really hate to make it come to that, but I think in the end, it is sound advice. Even if we talk, and she is reasonable, there will be times she forgets. And then the whole "I asked you not bother me while I'm Shaving" "Well, I asked you to turn your socks right side out before putting em in the laundry" thing. ?!? hahaha..

If that cheeses her off, when I tell her she's just going to have to wait, then I'll have to stop shaving, unlock the door, and wait for her to be done and gone. Then I'll intentionally wait until I know she's doing her business, and come barging in check my lather supply.. haha... Funny how husbands and wives train each other in the things that is really VERY important to them. You have to pick the hilltops you are willing to die for VERY carefully, and not too often. :)

Thank you, again!

It is not unusual for my wife to be in the same space while I shave, quite often there will be 1 or more grandchildren watching and asking questions. The radio is usually full noise, the dog is barking, there is always something going on. That is Zen.

I usually shave right before I go to bed, no rush then.

I shave with door open and its not unusual for someone to come in while I am shaving. If they get too close I stop but mostly they give me room. If I'm "lucky" my 5 yr old son will join me needing my attention to help lather and clean up between passes. Have to settle for a ok shave those days and takes way longer. I find as long as I have my personal space its alright but make it obvious I'm waiting if its encroached upon

That's why there is a lock on the door , fir privacy from intruders. I solved it by making my shave den in the extra bathroom. Tc

I'll bet most of us have the exact same problem. There's only two good choices out of the 3 possibilities.

1. Lock the door
2. Leave the door wide open
3. Get a nasty cut when the wife comes breezing in and startles you

I go for #1 usually, with the occasional #2 and I'm trying really hard to remember to do #1, so that I don't end up doing #3.

While I close the door, and Mrs. Zero has learned NOT to enter, when she knows I'm shaving, I do not to lock the door for one simple reason. If something should happen, a slip, a fall, I drop of the razor and lop off a toe or get a nasty laceration.... I'd prefer it if the paramedics didn't have to break down the door to get to me. There is also the bit about Mrs. Zero finding me, BEFORE she cashes in on my life insurance, thus making the 911 call.

It IS true that this might prevent me from being able to phone in dead to my employer on Monday morning, but, I rather like the idea of getting in a few more shaves in before I give up the ghost.

My strop hangs on the bathroom door, not a good situation if the door swings open while I'm stropping my razor, so this is what trained Mrs. Zero to not enter. She could hear the zip, zip, zip of me stropping. After that, she always did a polite quiet knock on the door before barging in.

Most bathroom doorknobs have an easy to defeat lock... usually a small hole in the centre of the knob on the outside. A nail or other thin item can be pushed into the hole and it trips the lock. Sadly, most people don't seem to know about such things.....

Regards

Kaptain "Better safe than sorry.... " Zero

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

While I close the door, and Mrs. Zero has learned NOT to enter, when she knows I'm shaving, I do not to lock the door for one simple reason. If something should happen, a slip, a fall, I drop of the razor and lop off a toe or get a nasty laceration.... I'd prefer it if the paramedics didn't have to break down the door to get to me. There is also the bit about Mrs. Zero finding me, BEFORE she cashes in on my life insurance, thus making the 911 call.

It IS true that this might prevent me from being able to phone in dead to my employer on Monday morning, but, I rather like the idea of getting in a few more shaves in before I give up the ghost.

My strop hangs on the bathroom door, not a good situation if the door swings open while I'm stropping my razor, so this is what trained Mrs. Zero to not enter. She could hear the zip, zip, zip of me stropping. After that, she always did a polite quiet knock on the door before barging in.

Most bathroom doorknobs have an easy to defeat lock... usually a small hole in the centre of the knob on the outside. A nail or other thin item can be pushed into the hole and it trips the lock. Sadly, most people don't seem to know about such things.....

Regards

Kaptain "Better safe than sorry.... " Zero

---

Hahaha.... As I was looking for a place to mount a flush draw ring to the bathroom wall for the strop, the Mrs. was "Why don't you just hang it on the bathroom door?" I just looked at her like she had lost her mind, and that was TOO much to say... :)

I enjoy the ritual of coming out of the shower, lathering, then donning robe and slippers for protection before doing my last 30 laps on the strop ( I do the fabric and first 30 AFTER shaving, just to cut my prep time). GOOD advice, I found here. I've worked with sharp tools before in my life, and can resist the urge to "Break the fall" with my foot, but as you say, better safe than sorry...

Lol on "phoning in dead"

You can have all the serious conversations with family members that you want but you're still be risking an accident. No one would want to purposely while walking or squeezing by you but if you don't lock the door there is always a chance something can go wrong. You don't even want that possibility in the back of your mind while 100% of your concentration should be on that face in the mirror.

Moueix, get your own back in subtle ways... wait til she's painting her nails, give her a tiny nudge. Just put up with the abuse. You can say, 'at least you haven't lost an ear' or similar. Wait til she's in the shower, flush the toilet. Again, put up with the abuse. Wait til she's doing her make up or drying her hair, shut off the power for a couple of seconds...

Maybe she'll catch on?

Like many have said, there always seems to be a bathroom emergency during shave time. I also have a sneaky kid that just sort of appears right next to me (sort of like that guy in "Mr.Deeds"). Locking the door helps sometimes, but a loud knock is almost as bad as getting bumped. Finally had a long talk with all (and threatened grounding) and things have improved.

I leave the door open hoping she comes in while I am in my birthday suit.....;)

32t's wife: "Where's 32t? Oh no the bathroom door is open again, I'm not going in there again.."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 32t

I leave the door open hoping she comes in while I am in my birthday suit.....;)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wayne394

Moueix, get your own back in subtle ways... wait til she's painting her nails, give her a tiny nudge. Just put up with the abuse. You can say, 'at least you haven't lost an ear' or similar. Wait til she's in the shower, flush the toilet. Again, put up with the abuse. Wait til she's doing her make up or drying her hair, shut off the power for a couple of seconds...

Maybe she'll catch on?

---

EVIL, man. I like it. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 32t

I leave the door open hoping she comes in while I am in my birthday suit.....;)

---

Lol.. I'm not comfortable enough yet to shave au natural. Gotta have the shorts on, and mah slippers. Don't want to lose a toe, or my junk. I WILL get a nice vest some day though. And maybe a pocket watch for it, so I don't get totally lost in time.. ;)

I lean over the sink and worry more of dinging the blade if I drop it...:rofl2:

Pfft you fellows got it all wrong,A my wife and I have a bathroom in our bedroom,it's a toilet and a sink.Shave den/ makeup room.Now sometimes I do shave in the downstairs full bathroom and always did before one of our children got out on her own and we remodled that room into our own awesome bedroom .B NOW THIS IS THE PART THAT MATTERS ! If your wife comes into the bathroom while your shaving strips down and starts to shower and is maybe a bit of a annoyance I would say she is looking for a bit of time with you.I can guarantee if my wife came into the bathroom and got naked I'm putting the razors away and joining her in the shower ! Trust me on this one ! My wife and I are best friends and we love each other like crazy !Shaving can be fun if you let it !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RezDog

When I started my wife was so absolutely sure that i was going to die fro a nasty shaving accident that there really were no distractions. Now there is a much higher level of confidence in my ability to shave and there is a periodic wanting to come into the bathroom while I am shaving. It is almost always met with the look and a quick departure. I agree on locking the door.

---

Oh yeah...that's the one I got, my wife is a nurse, and she literally freaked out that I was going to slit my throat or die from a disease I would pick up from an vintage razor - had to show her the bottle of barbicide.

Now she's back to just thinking I'm crazy again, and I'm ok with that...

I leave the door open. I shave in the bathroom in our bedroom, so I can hear the bedroom door open and know I am going to be disturbed. With the door closed, the knock or sudden speech on the other side of the door is much more startling, especially with a 6 year old.