Thread: Self Deprecating Newbies

What's with all you Newbies that are beating the hell out of yourselves after a few shaves? You knew this would be hard. And, you knew there was going to be the possibility of some blood.

You guys are doing really well and should be pleased with your progress. Write down all of the things that are going good instead of the stuff that isn't.

And, Lord Have Mercy, have some fun.

Now go back in there and strop your razor 100 strokes. There, now doesn't that feel better?

I have seen a ton of people selling off their whole kits (strops, straights, pastes, etc.) on the forums lately.

amazing....getting intot his i knew it was going to take some time to get it right..but it was def worth it.....stupid DE cut me faster than a straight

I agree 100%.
i think patience is 1 of the big factors.
Everyone thinks they will start using st8 and next day or 2 they will get march3 results etc. it will take time guys.gl

I agree! Even though I've given myself two hefty scars on my left cheek, I'm not going to give up!

Things that are going well for me:

1.) Comfort after the shave is about a million times better than with a modern cartridge razor. There's no painful prickliness the next day. Also, since one blade does what 5 did before, my skin is far less irritated.

2.) I enjoy the ritual that comes with the shaving. It's relaxing and reflective. Usually I turn up the TV in the living room and play one of my favorite shows (Futurama or South Park these days) as background noise, or for an occasional giggle. It's nice to focus my attention on one thing (shaving) and not have to worry about the thousands of stressors in life.

3.) Smoothness after the shave is waaaaay better than with a Fusion. I only need to shave about every 3 days, and if I let it grow out, no need to fret, because a straight will mow it down without trouble (while it seems like cartridge razors refuse to shave any beard that's been growing even a second more than 24 hours).

So, for any fellow newbies reading out there, don't despair! Nothing worthwhile is made or learned in a day. I still have a lot of learning and practice to do, but I know that if I persevere through this difficult first stage of learning, I will be set for life. In terms of shaving, at least.

It took me six months to start to understand the multiple factors such as stropping, angles, and strokes to get nice results in my shave. I always tell new guys this so they understand that a week will not make you get BBS shaves or barber's knowledge.

Originally Posted by Alembic

What's with all you Newbies that are beating the hell out of yourselves after a few shaves? You knew this would be hard. And, you knew there was going to be the possibility of some blood.

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

I think a lot of people think this would be EASY and they'll get BBS shaves while the razor slices through like the facial hair is hot butter. I then see blame put on the honer or honemeister that sent out the blade to the purchaser.

Like I said, in months, they should see the light, but patience must prevail.

I think a lot of it has to do with relative newcomers making absolute statements about the shaving capabilities of certain products, razors in particular. "That puppy shaves like a dream", "hands down the totally best shaver ever", "delivers the best shaves bar none", and similarly misleading statements are prone to making beginners believe that the trick is to get a certain piece of equipment. And this is, in my opinion, wrong. The razor is one factor, but there are several others, technique and experience being the main one.

Regards,
Robin

I'm a SR newbie, and I have to agree with all of you fine gentlemen. I was drawn to SR shaving not because of a promise of the best shave on earth, but because of the history of the art of shaving. I have been interested in SR shaving since my early 20s (in my mid 40s now), and I'm positively stoked to find this wonderful community that we can all visit to learn from and share our knowledge through. Like anything worth undertaking, I expected there to be a steep learning curve, and I would have been disappointed if I'd have "figured it all out" with my first SR shave. When I started out, I expected to cut and nick myself, though those events have been kept to a minimum. With each shave I am learning more about my face, more about how to use these fine shaving instruments, and thoroughly enjoying the process of learning this art we call straight razor shaving. I look forward to each day's shave, thanks in no small part to all the senior members' assistance. And as a result, I am having the best, closest, and most comfortable shaves of my life - not to mention feeding my gear-junkie obsession by collecting beautiful old razors!

Thank you all for your generous contribution of knowledge and time to help us new folks. I am very grateful for everyone's time and patience with all of us new guys.

Warm regards,

Larry