Thread: Two things I wish someone had told me

Here are two things that I wish someone had told me before my first shave:

1. The most important task is to learn how it feels when you are shaving correctly.

You can't know this before you start shaving, as you shave you begin to realize that some things work better than others. That's why beginner's instructions suggest that you try a little at a time, get comfortable with the grips, and get a feel for the razor.

It's easiest to learn how it should feel in the safer, simpler areas of your face. That's why beginner's instructions start there, and move on to other areas on later days.

And you only have to learn one way to hold the razor at first, if you stick to with-the-grain strokes on the easier parts of your face. That's good, because it's more important to learn what it feels like than to learn many ways to hold a razor.

2. He who hesitates is lost

Beginners are likely to try to position the razor on their face before moving it, just to get a feel for the razor and how it is held. That's a really good idea as long as the razor is not on your face.

But it's a really bad idea to hold a razor against your face without shaving. The razor is safest when it's moving in the right direction - use very little pressure, think of shaving the hair rather than the skin, and keep the first strokes short, 1 inch or so.

Now mind you, I'm still on day 7, I may be wrong about some of this, but learning these things helped me.

Yep, both of those points are true.

In order to get to shaving nirvana you need to have four elements:

- A shave ready razor
- Good stropping
- Good prep and lather
- Good technique

If any one of these elements is missing the shave will be less than comfortable, or you'll still be just as beardy afterwards..!

You wont get all of these elements at the start, no one does, but this is why we recommend that newbies get a razor from a recognized honemeister as that removes one of the four elements.

Practicing stropping with a butter knife helps get that sorted, and you can practice making lather between shaves and ensure you can get that thick fluffy consistency that we all strive for.

If you can remove as many of the first three as possible, you only have to concentrate on getting the technique right. As you say, start out with the easy areas like cheeks and only go WTG. Add other areas and passes once you are confident in what you are doing.

Hesitating on the face is one of the common causes of nicks. I know I got a few that way when I was learning! We all do it, and its just part of that learning process, but it doesnt hurt to be aware of the danger and try to avoid it!

And you dont need any pressure. The sharpness of the razor does all the work, you just have to steer it...!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Its useful for newbies to hear from other newbies, as this really encourages people!

Thanks again and good luck for many more shaves!

Hello, Bootstrap:

I like your analytical mind. You're viewing the art and craft of straight razor shaving the right way. I suggest newcomers read your informative comments. Well done, sir.

Regards,

Obie

Two good points. Did you get a copy of Lynn's CD? That is a great investment. It is over 3 hours in length, and covers most topics on straight razors useful to beginners. Yes, even shaving. It was a great starting point for me and I cannot recommend it highly enough to those contemplating, or just starting, straight razor shaving...

Originally Posted by dward

Two good points. Did you get a copy of Lynn's CD? That is a great investment. It is over 3 hours in length, and covers most topics on straight razors useful to beginners. Yes, even shaving. It was a great starting point for me and I cannot recommend it highly enough to those contemplating, or just starting, straight razor shaving...

I have it ... honestly, finding 3 hours to watch a DVD is pretty hard right now, so I haven't watched it yet.

Great insight. Your point 1 has to do with observing the feedback; the feel and sound and of course the results. You can read and watch, but only by doing will you learn...assuming that you are observant about what your shave is telling you. Let the force be with you.

Your 2 points are dead on. As Stubear mentioned the 4 elements are the key. Continue working on getting these items down and your shave will continue to improve.

Enjoy the journey seem you are on the right path.


Lu

i can say this is bang on, the few times i have cut myself is being unsure and moving directions of the razor on my face without having conviction and moving in a proper shave direction. nice post.

Well put Bootstrap.
2 points that may be obvious to the experienced user but often learnt the hard way by the newb.

Bootstrap, excellent advice. My advice to you is to take the time and watch the DVD, it is full of a lot of information. More probably than a newbie can take in or make sense of until you are actually doing it, at least it was for me. I would suggest watching at the least the sections on stropping the razor and shaving. They have some good pointers in there as well. Then as you have time, or need more information about the other sections on the DVD, watch those.

Also, one of the items that I have found usefull is to review the DVD after several shaves usually right before I shave, then with that in mind pay attention to what I am doing to always try to have the best possible technique for shaving and stropping as is possible.