Thread: Seeing what you're doing

OK -- I'm very new, so new I haven't built up the courage to actually put blade to face. But I have a razor, and I tried to get a sense the other night of what the postioning, angles would feel like. I must say that I found it terribly difficult to actually see what I was doing when attempting to mimic the initial passes by the sideburns. The hand holding the razor seemed to be, inconveninently, right in front of my eyes (or at least the eye closer to the sideburn area) pretty much blocking the view.

Is this something folks get used to, work around, or are my angles all wrong?

I'm new and have the same problem. My solution has been to crane my head (if you're shaving the right sideburn) left and my eyes right and grab the whiskers with the very end of the blade.

I'm pretty new -- shaved about 6 times so far. I've found that frequently trying a different angle to the mirror helps--for example, I face the mirror directly when doing the front part of my cheek, but turn so the side I'm shaving is closer to the mirror (a 45 degree angle) when I'm doing the back half. Sometimes changing hands helps too.

I do have a full beard, so I don't have quite so many places to shave. Still haven't quite figured out the right angles for my neck.

I am far from an old-timer here, but have found that I do a lot of my shaving by feel. I am talking here about when the blade disappears behind my jaw, and when it is behind my hand while starting at the lower end of my sideburns. The most important thing I do is go slow, and pay attention. Did I mention that you need to pay attention? No, really, inattention = blood and possible scars... Don't ask for my qualifications, please.
Good Luck and Best Regards, Ken.

Most likely you are not switching hands.

I am right handed, and find it easy to see when shaving my right cheek. If I try to shave my left cheek with my right hand, it is impossible to see.

So, I switch to my left hand when shaving my left cheek.

Make sure you can see. You will cut yourself if you can't.

- I put on my reading glasses to get my chin, mustachios, and neck.
- I even added a second clip-on light in the bathroom so I can see my adam's apple better.

Don't shave blind.

Hope this helps.

Switching hands also makes it easier to stretch the skin.

Originally Posted by jojo1

OK -- I'm very new, so new I haven't built up the courage to actually put blade to face. But I have a razor, and I tried to get a sense the other night of what the postioning, angles would feel like. I must say that I found it terribly difficult to actually see what I was doing when attempting to mimic the initial passes by the sideburns. The hand holding the razor seemed to be, inconveninently, right in front of my eyes (or at least the eye closer to the sideburn area) pretty much blocking the view.

Is this something folks get used to, work around, or are my angles all wrong?

Use a popsicle stick or craft stick to practice your blade positioning and hand holds. This will also help you to figure out how to turn your head and stretch the skin as well. I know it seems silly but it can help when your just starting out.

Hope that helps,
Randy

Another thing that works, for me, is to keep remembering to keep the razor at a good angle, like one or two spine-widths up from the skin. Whenever I start having trouble, it's usually because of an angle that's too shallow or too steep.

I think the use of a popsicle stick is a great idea.
I'm new and have two really good shaves under my belt. The others were a bloody mess
One of the best advice I received is
WORK ON TECHNIQUE

I no longer focus on getting a BBS in three passes. I focus on getting the best technique in three passes. I will continue to work on my technique..It only gets better.

I also have the lack of seeing where my blade is at all times.
I have been thinking that I NEED a long thin handle with a 1.5 or 2 inch blade. This will allow me to see the most of my face while shaving..
BUT
I like the usual str8s...so I have accepted that I won't see the blade shave at all times.
I have accepted this and will work on my stretching and contortions to better my shave...I guess I won't be seeing the blade all the time..Just how it is.

I alos have to work on being more ambidextrous..Get the left hand into play more.
I FEEL really good after and during a good shave.

CAUTION!!!!!
Don't get caught up in thinking about you shave and tap your cheek as you make a mental point
Hahahahahaha
Yes I did this...


Keep at it and the shaves will get better and better.
VERY cool razors!
Tom

Using both hands greatly helps. It's really awkward at first, but your non-dominant will pick it up pretty quick. Past that, you can get pretty far with creative skin stretching.

The main thing to remember with everything straight shaving related is to be confident! Just because you can't see it doesn't mean you can't shave it. As long as your angle is ok, nothing too bad can happen. Don't be afraid of the razor