Thread: Self Deprecating Newbies

Straight shaving is not a rocket science, but I feel like people coming from DE and cartridge have tough times understanding angle and pressure control. SR shaves are not automatic BBS, they require a bit of attention to work right, but imo not the big deal some people make out of it.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Is that really the case? I am seeing more beginners than in previous years who are apparently under the impression that all you need to do is buy a Filarmonica and you will get a BBS shave immediately. Additionally, and despite our best efforts to provide information to the contrary, there seem to be more people who come here with exaggerated expectations. I have tried to compile a number of Common misconceptions and mistakes in the FAQ, such as "there is a best razor", or "my newly acquired, and pre-honed, razor is not shave ready because it does not pass some test".

Straight razor shaving is an acquired skill. It takes a lot of time and patience. Some members seem to have mastered it within weeks, but that appears to be the exception. It took me several months to consistently get shaves that were markedly better than those from a DE. That is something that we all should keep in mind when we encounter beginners.

On a personal note, I would always discourage beginners to invest too heavily in their first equipment. I think it raises expectations, and can lead to self depreciation faster: 'I paid for the best kit in the world, but after 10 shaves, I am still not perfect - something must be wrong with me.' Or something along those lines. I made the best progress when Coully provided me with a cheap 6/8 round point razor that is now on its way to Scotland in the hope that it will serve another beginner equally well.

Regards,
Robin

Yeah it's the case. I'm trying to get people to focus on the good aspects of their begginings, not the bad. Maybe a little tough love mixed in

I really have to agree with you on investing too heavily when you start. I actually think its a bad idea. You have no idea what is going to work for you or if you are even going to like it. I invested in a Dovo Special 6/8 to start. I haven't shaved with it in almost two months. Should have got the Dovo Best Quality.

I disagree.

I think the newbies should just realize they have no talent for shaving. Stop butchering your faces!

Go on guys...GIVE UP!

sell your stuff! That NOS filly that you bought for 250 bucks is used now, so sell it to me.
And that SRD strop... and that super soft brush. I'll give you 150 for the lot!

(what can i say, I'm an opportunistic bastard)

There is saying in golf that, "It's not the equipment, its the operator." Beginning golfers usually start out thinking that if they purchase the most expensive set of clubs, balls, etc. that they will be able to hit it longer and straighter as well as sink more putts than Tiger Woods. After awhile, they find--much to their dismay--that being a good golfer requires patience as well as devoting a lot of time to learning the basics.

IMHO the same is true of str8 razor shaving. Nobody should expect to achieve a perfect BBS shave after only a few days looking in the mirror with a face full of lather and a sharp instrument poised in their hand. Like achieving the perfect golf swing, there are just too many variables in play to achieve perfection in str8 razor shaving in a short amount of time. Barbers spend years, even decades, perfecting their skill at str8 razor shaving--and even they occasionally nick or cut a customer.

I approach my str8 razor shaving a lot like I approach golf. Although I regret not getting involved with either skill set until late in life, I have come accept the fact that I will have good days and bad days. I don't beat myself up when I slice a drive or miss a putt, and I don't beat myself up when I nick myself or don't get a perfect shave. That I'm not alone in nicking or cutting myself is evident from the supply of styptic available in my local drugstore. They sure do make a lot of it.

When I entered the world of str8 razor shaving last December, I accepted the fact that I would probably never reach the upper echelons of skill. It still takes me twice as long to shave with my str8 than it did with my Mach 3 or my DE. Chances are that I will never be able to shave in 15 minutes or less with a str8. But I really don't care. The world is in far too big a rush to go to hell in a handbasket for my tastes anyway. I may occasionally nick or cut my face, but my soul is rested. The satisfaction that I get from a str8 razor shave each morning--BBS or just ok--suits me just fine. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for the great post Alembic,

When i started with straights some years ago i had my late grandfathers Swedes. It took about months before i had shaves that i was happy. I was already familiar with sharpening things, and i knew that old man had shaved ok with them so i couldn't even blame that the razors were bad. I knew there is a learning curve. Some learn it faster and for some, like me, it took some time more. I'm still learning.

I think we can no point enough for those who've just started that it is not the brand of the razor, hone or strop that makes the good shave alone. it is how you use them them. Mostly about our skills. I'm not saying that there would be no difference between razor brands, but that doesn't matter if you just want to make a good shave. Our grandfather didn't have any 50K hyperstones and still they did their shaves ok.

It is a sign of the times that people nowadays want everything here and now, even with straight razors.

For all the straight shavers who started long before SRP came to be (and didn't have a mentor like a grandfather to show them the ropes): I don't know if I should pity them or admire them. How many quit in disgust or suffered through horrible shaves because they didn't know what they were doing. There was no one telling them they were either on the right track or doing something terribly wrong.

The support network that SRP provides newbs is a priceless resource, the next best thing to having an old time barber stand over your shoulder and critique your performance. Just another reminder to the new guys to listen to the experience of the members trying to help them. We know because we've been there

Ladies and gentlemen:

Thanks to our good friend Alembic for bringing up the subject of newbies being a tad too hard on themselves. I do concur with every point he makes. Other members have expounded upon the subject thoughtfully as well.

Newbie ladies and gentlemen, please bear with me for the following story:

Ignacy Paderewski (1860-1941), one of the greatest pianists of all time, once said: "If I don't practice for one day, I know it. If I don't practice for two days, the critics know it. If I don't practice for three days, the audience knows it."

So you see, my dear newbies, it takes practice, even for the greatest ones. Anything worthwhile, if you want to be good at it, takes time and practice. Granted, when compared to what it takes to be a great pianist, straight razor shaving is a solitary note floating in the air. Still, it does take practice over a period of time. It also takes patience and repetition.

Please stay focused. Every shaver goes through the same learning process. I did, and I still have a long way to go. Some shavers become adept faster than others for various reasons, but in the end, we all nail down a major accomplishment and become skilled straight razor shavers.

Regards,
Obie

Straight razor shaving really isn't that difficult once you get the angle correct, and the feeling that the razor is just an extension of your hand. There is nothing like the feel of just the right sharpness of the blade being passed over your face (especially one that you have honed yourself). I started off with 12 nicks on my face the first day, but by God, when I walked out of the bathroom, bloody alum block in hand, I was grinning from ear to ear at the feeling of accomplishment.

I had shaved with a straight edge without killing myself.

Today, I can shave myself twice in under 15 mins (although I usually like to take a bit longer for pleasure...I love trying out new hand positions while smelling one of my favorite lathers). All this without a single cut or nick. There is a lot that can be said about straight shaving that is downright magical. But one needs to have the patience to see the show happen. When you do finnaly get the wet BBS feel on your face without any razor burn or a single nick, you'll experience the one of the most exclusive nirvanas on earth.

Trust me.

Keep at it.

As a n00b coming into this i don`t know if i just had realistic expectations, or if i`m just good.

I`m currently wrighting an essay on the diffrence between shaving with a straight and modern shaving with a cartridge.

The one advantage of a cartridge razor is the fact that they are so easy to use, you can rub them back and forth over your face without a single nick, and with as much or as little pressure as you want.
this is the main reason i believe that cartridge razors have become so popular.
To be able to scrape your face for 2 minuites with a mock 3 while your still asleep before work in the morning rather than the extensive prep and care needed with a straight shave is an appeal i can understand.

I wonder then if people turn to straight shaving because it is "cool" I wonder if one of the reasons people are struggling to come to terms with straight shaving is the reasons they turn to it.
My reasons for trying straight shaving are many, the simple logic of 1 blade rather than 3 should mean a third less shaving rash but also maybe i like the idea of learning a skill that EVERY man had 100 years ago but now a very few have.
I hope i offend nobody when i say this, but are the people who are giving up after a week getting into this for any reeason other than the "image" they percieve a straight razor to have wether it be cool, or dangerous.
And when they then struggle with it do they give it up?

Or do they think that BBS is what every one should aim for every day?
Because i don`t, i aim for a good close shave, BBS for me takes a lot of work. and it just isn`t worth it.
I admit that i have a lot to learn still and i bet that even in 40 years i`ll still be learning. but it is my face and i get a good shave that is close and comfortable, and i`m happy with it.
Why Aim for BBS?
maybe tomorrow i`ll discover some super technique that will allow me to get BBS all over my face in 2 passes. It currently takes me 4 passes to get BBS with some fine touch ups after. I`ll happily do that on my wedding day or job interviews, but not everyday.
I`m aware i`m a newbie, and my technique needs some work, i don`t expect the next razor i buy to give me better shaves. but i plan to see what works for my face. i will try several different pattern blades in diffrent sizes and see what i like. but thats the fun thing thats what makes this a hobby rather than a chore for me. I get to learn and try new things.
Maybe the newbies arent thinking of it like that, maybe they are just looking at a new tool to do there chore for them and hoping it would be easier or better.

But it has been my experience over the past 2 months or so that straight shaving is a skill that needs to be learned, and that throwing money at it gets you prettier things, but not necessarily better.
When starting to shave with a straight you need to understand that this is one of the most personal things you can do, its your hands holding your razor next to your face. if you don`t feel comfortable or don`t get the result you want with one teqnique try some thing else. there is no one way to shave. there are infinite variables in your skin and hair make up that could mean that one prep technique is better than another, the same with razor angle.
When a newbie asks about why his shave feels rough and we know his razor is sharp, tell him to play around with it, find what works for him. Don`t regurgitate the "your razor should be at 30 degrees" and such like.
Experimentation is what worked for me and i`m quite happy with my results at the moment or maybe i have my bar set much lower than all you guys,

sorry for the rant......

I think it all relates to patience.

I started out with the tip of just shaving a small portion of my face and getting good in one week at that and then adding a small portion every week until the whole face was finally done.

It gave me a ton of confidence when I was getting a great shave on my right cheek every week and could compare to my left cheek and see what a crappy job my Gilette was giving me.

Also the time spent learning the left hand approach to shaving made me feel great about shaving also.

It's just a time factor. I think that most new people jump into wet shaving feet first and go for a full face shave before they are ready. They haven't played enough with their razor or gotten to know their face yet. That is the whole reason for the taking it piece at a time.

Oh well, to each their own.

Marc