Thread: Day Three - Shaving by feel when you can't see?

Day Three - shaved both sides of my face right down to the angle of my chin, WTG. Two very small nicks. Feeling a lot less nervous about the whole affair now.

Stropping successfully with a Tony Miller beginner strop.

Hello, Bootstrap:

Thank you for sharing your progress. You seem focused on your task and methodical in your approach. That's the best way to start. Slow and easy as you tiptoe into your comfort zone. Watch the blade pressure and angle. Congratulations. You are on your way.

Regards,

Obie

Metal, dude. Here's to an awesome shave #4.

Here's the "shaving by feel" question from the title - I can't always see where I have the blade, I have very little peripheral vision and there are parts of my face where the mirror doesn't work for me. I'm dealing with that by relaxing and feeling where the blade is.

Do most people have this issue? I notice in the videos that people always seem to be looking intently at the mirror.

Originally Posted by Bootstrap

Here's the "shaving by feel" question from the title - I can't always see where I have the blade, I have very little peripheral vision and there are parts of my face where the mirror doesn't work for me. I'm dealing with that by relaxing and feeling where the blade is.

Do most people have this issue? I notice in the videos that people always seem to be looking intently at the mirror.

Boots,

If my shaving is anything like the norm (I ain't normal so my shaving being normal is probably a real stretch ;^) blocking one's seeing the razor in the mirror from time to time will always be the case. If you could shave with your elbow, there would be no problem as elbows always seem to be right out front. So far as seeing shavers stare into the mirror, well, that's where all the action is - might as well stare there as anywhere - for that hoped for appearance of that obscure razor.

good luck, good shaving, and keep that mirror fog free - just in case...

Bruce is right as far as I am concerned too. There are some bits where the view is obscured. What I try to do is keep an eye on the scales - usually you can see the scales even if the blade is hidden. That can help you keep track a bit.

On the other hand, I am sure that, with application and using both hands, you could develop a technique where you have a completely unobstructed view of the razor at all times. It is clearly too late for Bruce and I, but there still could be hope for you!

James.

Get one of those mirrors that mounts on the wall and you can pull towards your face. Helps a lot with regards to seeing what you are doing, expecially on problem areas of the face.

BTW, glad you are doing small sections at a time. IMHO this is the way to do it.

When you really analyze it much of the shave routine is done by feel and if you had to most could shave without even looking. We have had a member here who is either legally or totally blind and shaves with a straight.

Just watch out when you get to about shave #10. That's when people become overconfident and shave beyond their abilities and the razor gets them.

I shave with both hands and still there is a move where I can not see the razor. The move is from my ear to my chin under my jaw line with the blade pointing roughly to my neck, hope that makes sense. I have not found a better way to get the hairs that are angled from my chin towards my ear under my jaw line.

I also shave the back of my neck unseen after I start the movement with a mirror. I close my eyes so that I can feel the blade and thus gauge it's cutting action.


Later,
Richard

Some of the best shaves I have had are without my glasses or contacts. So I can see where the shaving cream is remaining but razor angles are a bit blurrry. But if I just relax and let it happen I get a great shave.