Thread: Wow... thats sharp.

So, here I was trying to shave last night, and it is obvious that I am still learning how to use a straight blade safely. I am not accustomed to needing so much manual dexterity and coordination when looking in the mirror, and well... A hollow ground carbon-steel blade is irresponsibly sharp! I brought the blade up to my face too fast, and at too sharp of an angle. After it touched my face I realized my mistake by the tell tale sting of a sharp cut. Sure enough, about five seconds later "the red stuff" (the same stuff that makes the grass grow!) started seeping out of a 5/8's long hair line cut on my cheek. Better luck next time. I am however starting to learn the right angle and amount of pressure to use with the blade to get a good shave. I have now learned how to shave my cheeks. The rest of the face I hope will be coming along sooner than later.

-Thomas

Don't worry too much about the early nicks and cuts. I think all of us who use straights have had our share of them. It will get easier and you will think it is perfectly normal to hold a razor sharp blade to your own throat.

+1 when it comes to learning. It will come.

Try just shaving the areas between your sideburns and jaw lines, and WTG only until you are comfortable with the razor. Work on your pressures and angles until you are confident with them. Then you can start adding XG and ATG strokes. Yes those will be a bit different. You can then add other areas of your face. Finish your shave with your normal razor. It's not a race. It's about the sheer joy of shaving with a straight. No need to rush it. I added XG, ATG, and other areas of my face when I had days off work when I could take my time to learn those strokes.

I should add that a copy of Lynn's CD will be very helpful. It's over 3 hours of great infomention on caring for your razor, and even shaving with it...

Hey TomBulls,

My first shave wasnt that bad but at the third shave I tried a bit more than my shaving skills could handle. I looked like a cat jumped on my face...and another one when I shaved in a hurry..

The good thing is that these cuts usualy are pretty clean and superficial and should probably heal in a couple of days.. just try to avoid shaving that area in the same direction for a couple of days and you should be ok...

Maarten

When I first started I would make the mistake of adjusting my facial contortion mid-stroke. Let's just say I learned quickly not to do that.

The nice thing about being cut by a str8, so to speak, is that it heals very fast. I may be wrong but I recall someone saying a while ago that nicely honed str8's easily rivals the sharpness of a scalpel.

Plus, what's a good story without a scar to show for it.

Keep it up Tom, they say it can take a while to become adept at shaving with a str8, but I don't think it takes too long to become at least decent at it.

Also, so I take it you get your grass from the Little Shop of Horrors?

"Feed meeeee!"

Originally Posted by TomBulls

A hollow ground carbon-steel blade is irresponsibly sharp!

THat sir is funny and something I think we all have done.

I still have two scars under my lip from cuts that were visited upon me.

Don't worry , I have a scar from the first str8 at the right sideburn: