Thread: shaving stroke

I don't see the scything motion as dangerous. I see it as a way of getting a closer, more comfortable shave than one gets with a straight stroke. I use it as a matter of course.

scything motion works good, tried it this morning. actually i thought it easier to do this than a straight stroke, easy to pin the bottom knuckle of my thumb to the chin/jaw line for better balance and control while making a curved sweep, staring up higher up the jaw and moving down past the chin with each stroke. thanks everyone much less scary than the stroke with the slicing motion

I'm a complete newbie, but I did get a very close shave on my cheeks the last couple of days using both the scything motion, and I also tried a slight sliding motion with my vertical stroke--and shaved atg for the first time.

Neither seemed dangerous, and I got no obvious cuts, but I did end up with some 3 or 4 spots that were very sore the next day.

When I posted to this forum that I thought my razor was dull, I was told it was my technique. It is very puzzling.

So, technique-wise, what do we have control over?

1. Angle of blade to face. 10 degrees, 20 degrees 40 degrees, etc.
2. Angle of blade to beard hair growth angle. (moving up down right left diagnonal etc.).
3. Speed of attack (one long very slow stroke, lots of short quick strokes?)
4. Shape of motion (both toe and heel of razor move at same speed, or scything, etc).,
5. To slide (heel and toe move at same speed on two parallel lines, but blade is NOT at right angle to lines)
6. or Not to Slide...(Heel and toe move at same speed on two parallel lines and at right angles to lines).

I think I got best results by sliding as described in 5. Not really moving the blade sideways, but if the heel and toe move on two parallel lines, the edge is not perpendicular to the direction of movement. This is essentially a controlled slicing motion, and it really seems to cut pretty good--but I also got some razor burn from this.

My other theory is that after 2 months of cutting the crap out of your face, it toughens up and you will be able to shave with a Porter Cable belt sander.

Best regards...

I like the scythe or "J" stroke. Start at burns and rotate down to neck on both sides. This takes away considerable amounts of neck hair and leaves an easy neck "mohawk" to shave. I have yet to cut myself with it, and I'm kinda shaky too

My other theory is that after 2 months of cutting the crap out of your face, it toughens up and you will be able to shave with a Porter Cable belt sander.

Well this was the case when I started to use a cut throat, especially on either side of my neck. I think your skin does get used to it, but also the more you shave the better your technique becomes.

Stretching you skin properly too seems to help get a smoother shave, as does well made lather.

A variation on that 'slice' and a bit more safe is to just angle the tip slightly down. So, instead of the blade going down the face, perpendicular to the hair, the blade slightly angled down so the edge slices the hair.

Sort of like cutting bread. If you push the blade down perpendicular to the bread, you'll cut the bread, but mash it a little too. However, if you angle the tip of the knife down a little, and then push down the knife, you'll slice the bread.

For shaving don't move the edge back and forth horizontally in a slicing fashion...yes, this will draw blood

C utz