Thread: O.K. now my goal is no nicks.

I'm really loving shaving this way. I'm finding my str8 shaves last so much longer than my DE! The WTG and XTG passes on my cheeks yield BBS results and I'm getting better with my neck areas. I noticed a huge improvement when I stropped correctly! My blade went from not being able to do the HHT to Scary Sharp! This resulted in a markedly smoother and super comfortable shave. My chin has the typical coarse and dense hair growth and I've learned a proper stretch works wonders here. After I've made 3 passes with soap or cream I do a water only pass and clean it up. Try that with a DE and watch the blade jump. I've been practicing leading with the point and the scything motion techniques and WOW do they make a huge difference in comfort and closeness! I'm also really enjoying the smells of the various aftershaves and colognes. I'm leaning towards the sandalwood and pinuad classic scents as well as Mama Bears SpellBound Woods. I love the spice! Keep practicing guys, it does get so much better. Now, if I could just stop getting excited and nicking myself!

Wow! Congratulations Mischievous - a real inspiration to the rest of us just starting out trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. What did you do differently regarding your stropping technique that improved the blade sharpness so much?

Regards,

Mark

you're almost there then! I haven't had a nick in a while now...it's been since maybe the second week after i started, I'm at around week 5 and I don't nick anymore and am learning different angles of leading with the toe or heel and different motions. My shaves are so much better now and I still get excited because of its all around awesomeness.

Now my only problem is when I tell myself I'll only do one or two passes and be on time i end up doing more just because the lather is there saying 'use me'...and then I run to catch the bus.

erik

Originally Posted by Milton Man

Wow! Congratulations Mischievous - a real inspiration to the rest of us just starting out trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. What did you do differently regarding your stropping technique that improved the blade sharpness so much?

Regards,

Mark

Thanks Milton Man and Duntz! I have a 3 inch wide strop and when I first used it I wasn't doing an X pattern because it's so wide I felt It wasn't needed. When I used the X pattern and concentrated on holding the strop somewhat tight with a very light grip on the str8, after 80 passes it was Scary Sharp! Maybe it was all three together. I don't care at this point as it worked so well. I can't emphasize enough that leading with the point and the scything motion makes the shave so much more comfortable as well. I can actually use some alcohol based aftershave without feeling like a wildfire just broke out on my face! Finally, stretch! Don't put the blade to your face unless it's stretched! Unless, of course, you happen to be a younger guy with tight skin! Then, you might be able to get away with a little less contorting! I can tell when I'm doing it right because I barely feel the blade and just like everyone says the hairs "Pop!" Effortless! For me that's the final addictive quality, I think, of a str8 shave. Well, there's that BBS that's so much better than anything else, and the aftershaves and the colognes and the blah blah blah...

My goal is to win the lottery. Good luck to boith of us...

I've been shaving with straights for 7 months now and seldom get nicked . In fact I had gone for a couple of months without getting nicked . Then about a week ago I was shaving with a razor I had never nicked myself with before . I nicked myself 3 times , and didn't even know I was nicked until I saw the blood . I guess I must have been a little careless .

You got that right! Nicks come with some complacency. I get a nick when I forget to respect the razor sharpe edge of a fine cutting tool against my skin!