Getting Warmer

I've been hanging around here for a couple months now trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can. I've pored over the old posts, watched all the videos. bought the DVD, and bought a shave ready used razor.

Unfortunately, because of poor technique I imagine, I dulled the edge and started with rough shaves. I could sorta shave, but I was really cutting up my face bad, and I wasn't getting a close shave at all. I bought a Norton and a TM strop, and a couple old razors to play with.

Finally tonite things came together. I've been working on honing the razors a little at a time and I think that I'm getting close to "sharp". Tonite's shave felt like a DE with a Feather blade. No pressure was needed, I could hear the whiskers being cut, and for the most part it was BBS. No bleeding, irritation, just smooth skin.

I rushed out of the bathroom to share this with the wife, but she thinks the whole SE thing is silly, so I guess I'll have to gloat with you guys instead. I want to thank you for the wealth of information here. Is nice to always be able to find someone having the same problems I have.

As I said, I think I'm getting close to sharp. I'm sure that I'll progress more yet and the shaves will just keep getting better. Thanks again. The future is looking brighter.

By the way. Who would have thought that in the second week of October in Michigan that my face would be stinging from sweat? Fall need to get here!

Randy

Just wait till she realises how close the shaves will get. She might just change her tune.

X

Congrats on the shave.......

Its almost World Series time...and its 87 in the Bronx tonight......WTF

I've always thought that temperature played a part in the tree's seasonal color change. Looks like that isn't true. It's been as warm this fall as it was all summer. Strange to be raking leaves wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

Randy

Congratulations, Bayman.
So what did you do differently? Stropping technique? Honing technique? Shaving technique? All of the above?

Please share what you've learned so the rest of us can avoid those pitfalls!:D

Thanks,

Mark

All of the above I guess. The stropping is getting better the more I practice. The honing is getting better too. I was afraid of overhoning so I would only do about 10 laps on the stone. Once I realized how dull the razors were, I tried 40 on the 1000 grit side and that did the trick. Now I'm shaving and then doing a couple more laps until I see how sharp I can get. I think that much of the honing battle is just training your arm to repeat the same motion smoothly. It's tricky to keep the blade flat and the pressure even, but with some practice it's not difficult.

I think the shaving technique is improving as well. It takes time to make all the mistakes so you can learn what not to do. Using light pressure really helps, but you need a good edge before that is possible. I'm still having trouble with watching the edge. My eyes are poor, and my depth perception must be bad because once or twice a shave I tap my face with the edge thinking that it isn't close. I'm still working on skin stretching and the facial contortions necessary to get a good shave on my neck. I'm sure it's just a matter of more practice though.

I think that there isn't a secret or magic trick to straight shaving. It's just a matter of practice, practice, practice. It is very satisfying to end up with a smooth face knowing that most people would be afraid to even try a straight.

Randy