Day Three - a small epiphany

I posted information on my first two days in this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...t-shave-b.html

Today was the third day and came with a small epiphany. I decided to do my stropping last night, mostly because I wanted to play with my new toys. Once done, I took the razor and attempted to shaved some of the hair on one of my knuckles. You guys that only have to shave every three days have NO idea what I'm talking about, but this hair is similar to whiskers. At first, the razor would push the hair back and then cut it off as it scraped across the bent hair. Not really the result I expect. Then I made sweeping "cut" with the razor and the hair came off clean at the skin with no resistance. Ah ha!!

I immediately took the razor to my face and made a similar sweeping cut at the sideburn (yes, completely dry) and the razor glided across my skin and left it slick.

I went to bed looking forward to my shave.

This morning I stuck with the rule I previously laid out, which was no goatee area or neck under it. The difference was incredible. The sweeping motion eased any pressure I had felt on the razor before and the shave was so much easier and much less irritating to my skin. The end result was a decently close shave with no irritation. I even exhibited a little self control and didn't push it. Finished up with the old cartridge and headed to work with almost no razor burn. Sure, there a few missed spots and one tiny nick, but color me stoked!

Am I onto something here, or headed for disaster? When I say "sweeping" I'm talking a bout an almost imperceptable circular motion. Like a circle with a 16" radius. That's sort of what I see the barber doing in the video of the Japanese woman being shaven. The razor seems to sweep across the face rather than drag in straight lines.

--David

Hi raneyday,
Thanks for keeping us posted on your third day of progress with your str8.
I think the stroke you are referring to is the scything stroke. This is an advanced shaving stroke that should only be attempted when you have the basics firmly down.
We all learn at different speeds but I have done around x100 straight razor shaves and have only attempted this stroke 2 or 3 times!!.
I am not saying you should not practice this stroke but it is in the advanced shaving techniques in the wiki under shaving .Why not have a look at this article in the wiki before applying it to your face. It might save a nick or two in your learning curve .
It,s good that you are interested in improving your technique so keep at it -read the wiki -and keep us informed of your progress.
Kind regards
Noggs :soapbox:

Thanks for the info, Noggs. I hadn't seen that part of the Wiki as I have no need to be looking at advanced techniques:w.

I think what I found myself doing this morning was a combination of the scythe and guillotine strokes. I appreciate the warning, and will heed it...somewhat.

I came across this stroke by happenstance and felt more comfortable using it than not. Add to that the much easier removal of hair, closer shave, and reduced (non-existant!) irritation, and I don't think I can go back.

Damn the scars!!!!!!

--David

I also read about the sything and guillatine techniques in the Wiki, and ended up trying them day 1 when I had difficulties. They worked well, and I didn't end up with any cuts. In fact, I had to press a lot less to get the razor started on tough-wisker areas like my lower lip and chin. (ps: I don't mean pressing downward against the skin. I mean pressing forward with the edge into the side of the wiskers).

I've been shaving now for about 2 months and have cut myself once with a guillatine stoke where my chin crease connects to my cheek, but I've cut myself 4 times with non-advanced techniques... (I've never cut myself with the sything stroke).

It appears that your are doing well and its always cool to figure out a technique that works for you and share it with others on SRP.

The quest for BBS shaves comes in many forms. Eventually everyone finds what works best for them.

Pabster

Yep its called the "scything motion" and it works quite well, congrats on your epiphany!

Thanks for confirming my finding. I applied this technique today and then got a little frisky and went XTG on the cheeks. Mind you, this is my fourth ever straight-razor shave.

No BBS (my definition), but here's the freaky part: it's been 15 hours since I shaved and my cheeks are still pretty smooth. My wife just felt it WTG and said "Oh, wow!". It's almost as close as my normal catridge shave. In fact, I could go to work right now and everyone would think that I had just shaved.

I'm TOTALLY hooked:y!!

--David

I find the scything motion to be very useful as well. I know many members of the forum swear by it. I find that it cuts my whiskers much more cleanly, and it is easier on the edge so it stays sharper for longer.

However, you have to be more careful with this motion, as it is more likely to cut or nick you than a straight downward motion. Good luck!

this fellow is skilled at a scythe motion. its subtle but you can see it if you are looking for it.

YouTube - A Shave with a straight Razor

Hi rainyday,

I think its great that you are finding what works for you. Make no mistake, in spite of everything you will read, and all of the advice you will get here, you still need to find what works best for you. This includes grips on the razor. Do not be afraid to change things up to get the job done.

There are areas below my jaw line that would be impossible to do a XTG or ATG without the scything motion you refer to here due to the direction of my beard growth. I try to use everything here as guidelines and then adapt them to my beard grain direction, the dexterity in my hands, and the angles that work the best.

Good luck to you. It sounds like in a couple of months you will be giving advice to newbies!;)