Thread: Pride comes before a fall

When i really feel like going BBS I do very close to what Outback does. But like he said, its not for a newbie. Even if you dont draw blood it will give some major irritation. Most the time i dont sweat it. Its not worth all the extra effort.

Hi Guys,

I had my 9th shave today.

I have read a lot of posts on here and have taken advice I was given by fellow members to heart.

This is what I have learnt.

Face prep and good lather are not optional.

Shaving with a cartridge may be like eating at McDonalds where you eat it and beat it but straight shaving is fine dining, eat slowly, savour, take you time.

I had my shower today (all my Sandalwood stuff). Got dressed as I always do before putting a straight razor to my face just in case I need to go anywhere in a hurry. I stropped my razor on my board carefully 60 laps & made loads of thick creamy sandalwood lather.

I shaved slowly, s l o w l y. It took me about 25 mins to do 2 passes and I even kind of tried the X pattern that Outback and Gasman use (not very well but no blood).

I angled my razor more so that the spine was closer to my face than usual and ignored the feeling that I wasn't even shaving because if I were running the spine down my face I could always just shave again.

Anyway, I had the smoothest shave yet, didn't even feel like a shave. No blood and can't wait for tomorrow so I can do it again.

Thank you everyone for the advice, it is starting to make some sense.

Steve

Watch those Jockey's videos I posted for you on the other thread. He demonstrates the Coup d'Maitre stroke on the neck. Light pressure is key or you'll get a nice slice.

Originally Posted by HungeJ0e

Watch those Jockey's videos I posted for you on the other thread. He demonstrates the Coup d'Maitre stroke on the neck. Light pressure is key or you'll get a nice slice.

I just watched them again, I had forgotten that he said to hold the razor open flat to do the neck.

I'm going to try that tomorrow.

Steve

Originally Posted by STF

I even kind of tried the X pattern that Outback and Gasman use....

BTW, Steve. I got to give credit where credit is due. I had asked the same thing about getting the hollows of my neck closer and Outback sent me those same pics. It helped me to get much closer than what I was doing. Now I dont worry much about it.

One thing to consider too. It's always good to try to find the best way, seek the best shave, try to improve your game or your shave, try to find the best beer or wine or cigar or tea or whatever it may be. The problem is there is also a downside to that. Aficionadocism can very easily turn into chasing the dragon. Then it makes it hard to enjoy the ordinary things. Don't even get me started on the audiophile pursuit. These people become so obsessed with the most minute little detail that I wonder if they even enjoy it anymore. Are you really listening to the music or are you just picking apart the sound quality? I don't mean to bash anyone's pursuit, that's not what I'm saying. I guess I'm suggesting that another way to look at it is to just let it come to you. I never really pursued fancy strokes or techniques or any of that. I first initially started shaving with a straight razor as a teenager and no one taught me, there was no internet... Hell there weren't even PC's or even cell phones. I'm not saying this is right or wrong I'm just saying I didn't really have a method or formula I just did it and after years of doing it you learn techniques almost inadvertently...or maybe accidentally is the word. You're on the right path Steve and you're excited about it which is cool but it will come to you with time. I'm not saying you're wrong for trying to learn the techniques but What seems like a struggle now will just sort of come naturally after you've been doing it for a while.
We are big hockey fans in my house. my daughter was telling me her physics professor was talking about hockey one day in class and said, "there are a whole lot of physics equations going on down there on the ice." You know, I don't really believe any of those hockey players have their slide rule out while they're playing. To them it's not an equation they just do it. Could you make a physics equation out of it? Sure you could. This is unrelated I know but I've always laughed about the cliche scenes in TV shows where some guy is good at geometry and lo and behold he's a pool shark without ever having played the game... uuuhhh. I don't really think so.How does this relate to what I'm talking about? Understanding it doesn't make you good at it. What makes you good at it is doing it. Once it becomes a habit and is committed to memory a lot of these things will just come to you.

.........

I know what ya mean, Paul. I started when I was 17 years old, about to turn 51 in November. Its like breathing air, its instinctively. No thought, just do it.

I do things with a razor that would make a newb, shudder in fear. And do them without thought of it. Hell...I'd shave in the shower, if it wasn't for getting my razors all wet, and being naked. Good thing my belly hangs out farther than my...you know.

Originally Posted by outback

I do things with a razor that would make a newb, shudder in fear.

LoL. This newb doesn’t need any help to shudder in fear, I just move my blade toward my face.

Steve

Thanks Paul, good advice.

Interesting that you know what a slide rule is I reckon we probably went to school at about the same time.

If I were caught with one of those dog gawn calculator things in my exams, well That would have been he end of it.

I went to a boarding school so they were stricter and I couldn't go home to tell Mum.

Still, between boarding school and the army, I can use a slide rule, polish my shoes and sew on a button

Now if I can just learn to shave like a man!