Thread: Getting to know my face

It's amazing that I've had this same face all these years and not noticed all of its peculiarities. This morning was my second str8 shave and overall things went great. I did a first & second WTG pass on my cheeks and noticed that there was still some fine stubble in the middle of my cheeks. That's when noticed that there are subtle "hollow" spots in the middle of my cheeks, presumably due my American Indian ancestry gracing me with high cheekbones and a thin face. I realized that getting these areas with WTG might be difficult, so I tried XTG between the corners of my mouth and the cheekbones. This seemed to do the trick.

As my cheeks are thin, there is not a gentle curve between them and my sideburns, requiring me to shave these as separate surfaces. This means that when shaving my upper sideburns, I'm only using the 1" or so of the point of the blade. This does not seem to be a problem on my dominant side. However, it is going to require continual experimentation on my non-dominant left side to avoid nicks (got a tiny one this morning - didn't feel it but wife saw the tiny drop of blood). I have to keep the tang end of the blade far off of my cheek to enable me to keep the point end of the blade on my sideburns. Suggestions?

I'm also struggling a little with eye glasses issues. While shaving my neck, the glasses are not in the way and definitely make it easier to tell what I'm doing. However, while doing my sideburns the glasses are definitely an issue. Trying to angle my head so I can see out of the glasses to see the area I'm shaving is difficult. Just the time I think I have the angle right so I can see, when I pull my skin taunt, I manage to move the arms of the glasses and everything goes out of focus. Arrgh! My inclination is to ditch the glasses while doing my face and put them on while doing my neck. One slight problem there - my vision is pretty poor without them. I read somewhere on SRP about practicing with a butter knife without a mirror, just to develop muscle memory. Should I do this and embrace not seeing every whisker being cut by the blade? Short of LASIK does anyone have any suggestions? Fellow glasses-wearer feel free to weigh in...

The lower sideburns are more confluent with my cheek, enabling me to use almost the entire edge of the blade - no problems there.

Most of my hair growth on my neck is between the point of my chin and my Adam's apple. After the second WTG pass, I braved a ATG pass using a feather-light touch. WOW - talk about BBS results! A safety has never done so good on that area.

I love the "butter knife on toast" sound the str8 on whiskers creates!

I had a few lather issues this morning, again centering around trying to improvise to keep my nickel bowl warm. I need to take it into the kitchen and try finding the perfect cup/bowl for it to fit into.

I know I'm only 2 days in, but I'm hooked! Why didn't I discover str8 razor shaving earlier???? All those wasted years

Originally Posted by LinacMan

It's amazing that I've had this same face all these years and not noticed all of its peculiarities. This morning was my second str8 shave and overall things went great. I did a first & second WTG pass on my cheeks and noticed that there was still some fine stubble in the middle of my cheeks. That's when noticed that there are subtle "hollow" spots in the middle of my cheeks, presumably due my American Indian ancestry gracing me with high cheekbones and a thin face. I realized that getting these areas with WTG might be difficult, so I tried XTG between the corners of my mouth and the cheekbones. This seemed to do the trick.

* A good way to tackle the "hollow" spots is to puff up your cheek a bit.*

As my cheeks are thin, there is not a gentle curve between them and my sideburns, requiring me to shave these as separate surfaces. This means that when shaving my upper sideburns, I'm only using the 1" or so of the point of the blade. This does not seem to be a problem on my dominant side. However, it is going to require continual experimentation on my non-dominant left side to avoid nicks (got a tiny one this morning - didn't feel it but wife saw the tiny drop of blood). I have to keep the tang end of the blade far off of my cheek to enable me to keep the point end of the blade on my sideburns. Suggestions?

* In trying to visualize what you're doing, I get the impression you're angling your razor too much. Let's consider the right sideburn: When placing the razor properly on the face, say at about a 20-degree angle for the length of the blade, you should be able to use the entire length of the blade, part of which will cover the width of the sideburn and the rest some of the area toward your cheekbone. The tang should not touch your cheekbone. Unless I misunderstand what I am reading. Also, turn your face an appropriate length to create more space. *

I'm also struggling a little with eye glasses issues. While shaving my neck, the glasses are not in the way and definitely make it easier to tell what I'm doing. However, while doing my sideburns the glasses are definitely an issue. Trying to angle my head so I can see out of the glasses to see the area I'm shaving is difficult. Just the time I think I have the angle right so I can see, when I pull my skin taunt, I manage to move the arms of the glasses and everything goes out of focus. Arrgh! My inclination is to ditch the glasses while doing my face and put them on while doing my neck. One slight problem there - my vision is pretty poor without them. I read somewhere on SRP about practicing with a butter knife without a mirror, just to develop muscle memory. Should I do this and embrace not seeing every whisker being cut by the blade? Short of LASIK does anyone have any suggestions? Fellow glasses-wearer feel free to weigh in...

* Try angling the arms of your glasses above your ears. In this case, you'll still have your glasses giving you magnification, but the arms are out of the way of the sideburns. When you stretch above the sideburns, the arms of the glasses will go even higher.*

The lower sideburns are more confluent with my cheek, enabling me to use almost the entire edge of the blade - no problems there.

Most of my hair growth on my neck is between the point of my chin and my Adam's apple. After the second WTG pass, I braved a ATG pass using a feather-light touch. WOW - talk about BBS results! A safety has never done so good on that area.

* Here, stretching in various directions — experiment — will help even more. Still, you must be extremely careful not to slice yourself. *

I love the "butter knife on toast" sound the str8 on whiskers creates!

* That's part of the music in the whole ritual. *

I had a few lather issues this morning, again centering around trying to improvise to keep my nickel bowl warm. I need to take it into the kitchen and try finding the perfect cup/bowl for it to fit into.

* Experimentation and improvisation will take care of this. Find what works best for you. *

I know I'm only 2 days in, but I'm hooked! Why didn't I discover str8 razor shaving earlier???? All those wasted years.

*Welcome to the club. *

Regards,
Obie

Thanks Obie,

As a novice, I couldn't swear to you that the angle of my blade to my face is the textbook 20-30 degrees, but for the sake of this discussion let's assume I'm spot-on in that department. So I have the blade at the perfect angle to a totally large flat portion of my skin, say the middle of my cheek. When the razor's edge touches my cheek, the ENTIRE edge is touching my face - no problem there. Here's the "rub" - let's assume I'm talking about my upper sideburns at the region of my zygomatic arch (i.e. cheekbone) - remember, mine is very prominent. It is impossible for the entire length of the razor's edge to be touching my face. If I tried to accomplish this, I'd slice off a slab of flesh over the cheekbone (exaggerating to make the point). To have the point (i.e. - non-tang end of the blade) razor edge in contact with the upper sideburns region, the tang end of the blade will not be in contact with the cheek. I'll email you a picture with me using a ruler as the razor - maybe that will help.

I'll try the glasses suggestion, also I may try to do my face without my glasses next shave. On the middle of my face, I don't think the lack of visual acuity will be an issue - I'm not so blind that I can't see the proximity of the razor's edge to my skin. I think the issue will be getting right against the bottom edge of my sideburns and defining the vertical edge of the facial hair joining my mustache with my goatee - for those the glasses may have to go back on.

Quick question - does the Bath & Bodyworks Bigelow shaving cream have a strong eucalyptus scent? I want to buy something that I can get locally. Actually, I was hoping to find some essential oils to use with almond soap (or other non-scented soap) and non-scented cream to customize my scent o' the day.

Thanks my friend
Greg

Hello, LinacMan:
Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.

Originally Posted by LinacMan

Thanks Obie,

As a novice, I couldn't swear to you that the angle of my blade to my face is the textbook 20-30 degrees, but for the sake of this discussion let's assume I'm spot-on in that department. So I have the blade at the perfect angle to a totally large flat portion of my skin, say the middle of my cheek. When the razor's edge touches my cheek, the ENTIRE edge is touching my face - no problem there. Here's the "rub" - let's assume I'm talking about my upper sideburns at the region of my zygomatic arch (i.e. cheekbone) - remember, mine is very prominent. It is impossible for the entire length of the razor's edge to be touching my face. If I tried to accomplish this, I'd slice off a slab of flesh over the cheekbone (exaggerating to make the point). To have the point (i.e. - non-tang end of the blade) razor edge in contact with the upper sideburns region, the tang end of the blade will not be in contact with the cheek. I'll email you a picture with me using a ruler as the razor - maybe that will help.

*** I have trouble visualizing this. The best solution is to adjust the razor to suit the contours of your face. Also, don't forget: those angle measurements are arbitrary. You have to do it by feel. From what I can determine, I keep the angle on my cheeks at about 20 degrees. ***

I'll try the glasses suggestion, also I may try to do my face without my glasses next shave. On the middle of my face, I don't think the lack of visual acuity will be an issue - I'm not so blind that I can't see the proximity of the razor's edge to my skin. I think the issue will be getting right against the bottom edge of my sideburns and defining the vertical edge of the facial hair joining my mustache with my goatee - for those the glasses may have to go back on.

*** Because of the numerous blind spots on the face, especially for those who wear glasses, part of shaving with the straight razor is also by feel, and by having a sense of where you are and where you are going. This will come in time. Piece o' cake. ***

Quick question - does the Bath & Bodyworks Bigelow shaving cream have a strong eucalyptus scent? I want to buy something that I can get locally. Actually, I was hoping to find some essential oils to use with almond soap (or other non-scented soap) and non-scented cream to customize my scent o' the day.

*** Yes, the eucalyptus smell is strong, to me, anyway. By the way, this product, if not exactly Proraso, it is produced by Proraso in different clothing. If you want a pre-shave, I suggest John Allan's Slick Water. I have used a number of different pre-shaves through the years. This is the best so far. Granted, I have not tried the Castle Forbes pre-shave, or some of the others. I have tried Taylor of Old Bond Street's gel pre-shave, and don't care much for it. ***

Thanks my friend

*** You are very welcome. ***
Greg

I went to Bath & Body Works at lunchtime. They said they had the C.O Bigelow Proraso-equivalent shaving cream. When I got there, they didn't - actually they had the shaving foam in a can. I was looking for something unscented. The sales assistant told me that the company would no longer make an unscented shaving cream.

I also went to the local health food store and bought some bergamot oil & almond oil. I'm going to dilute the bergamot into the almond oil and use a few drops of the dilution with my almond shaving soap. I have some Neutrogena unscented shaving cream at home that i used in Africa (as only face prep w/ a safety razor), but I'm wondering if some of my lather issues this morning are related to the Neutrogena. I think this evening I'll just experiment with my Uberlather w and w/o Neutrogena, so I can be sure that the Neutrogena isn't the problem. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to consider some other unscented shaving cream.

Hello, LinacMan:

Originally Posted by LinacMan

I went to Bath & Body Works at lunchtime. They said they had the C.O Bigelow Proraso-equivalent shaving cream.

*** C.O. Bigelow, if not exactly Proraso, is made by Proraso. ***

When I got there, they didn't - actually they had the shaving foam in a can. I was looking for something unscented. The sales assistant told me that the company would no longer make an unscented shaving cream.

*** My knowledge of Proraso is only rudimentary, as I don't fancy the product all that much, but I have never seen an unscented Proraso (Bigelow). Maybe it exists, or did at one time, and I don't know about it. Bigelow's lather shave cream comes in a tube, which is not the same as foam in the can, obviously. ***

I also went to the local health food store and bought some bergamot oil & almond oil. I'm going to dilute the bergamot into the almond oil and use a few drops of the dilution with my almond shaving soap. I have some Neutrogena unscented shaving cream at home that i used in Africa (as only face prep w/ a safety razor), but I'm wondering if some of my lather issues this morning are related to the Neutrogena.

*** From what little I know of this Neutrogena, it is not a lather shave cream. Am I correct? ***

I think this evening I'll just experiment with my Uberlather w and w/o Neutrogena, so I can be sure that the Neutrogena isn't the problem. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to consider some other unscented shaving cream.

*** One of the best unscented shave creams I have used is Truefitt & Hill's Ultimate Comfort. I think it's a fabulous "lather" shave cream, in a tube or a tube. ***

Regards,

Obie

Obie,

My errands at lunchtime turned into somewhat of a fiasco. As I mentioned, B&BW didn't have the Proraso-like product in anything but a foam. I guess I got confused about the scented/unscented aspect. My goal was to find a local unscented shave cream to use in making Uberlather. Strike one.

When I got home this evening and decided to mix the bergamot oil with the almond oil, I re-red the bergamont oil label. It clearly says "Do not use on skin". The saving grace is that it can be used to refreshen potporri and really does smell great. Strike two.

I'm not going for strike three - I'm going to order some Truefitt & Hill's Ultimate Comfort on your advice of it being a fabulous "lather" shave.

***From what little I know of this Neutrogena, it is not a lather shave cream. Am I correct? ***

My last post was rather hasty as I was typing fast so I could leave for my errands, so I'll explain the Neutrogena better. In most of the areas we stayed in Africa, the tap water was not safe to use even when brushing your teeth, let alone for drinking. We used bottled water for everything. It's amazing how much water one uses just to brush one's teeth and rinse afterwards. I knew shaving would use more water, plus using cold bottled water to make lather didn't sound like a great idea. So I went to WalMart and found the only tube of unscented shaving cream I could find (Neutrogena). Scents attract mosquitoes; even when on antimalarial drugs, the risk is not zero, so the less mosquito bites the better.

When I saw on SRP that Uberlather calls for shave cream, I thought "good, that gives me a way to make use of the remaining Neutrogena". However, I just looked at the tube and the reason for my lather problems this morning are now clear. On the back of the tube it says "No foam formula" and one of the ingredients is dimethicone, an anti-foaming agent. Duh, no wonder my lather hardly foamed at all this morning. Other than the Neutrogena I didn't do anything different Sunday and the lather was perfection.

I do have another question. I love for my lather to be warm, if not hot. How do you keep yours warm?

Greg

Hello, Greg:

I am glad you solved the lather problem. Experimentation always helps. With some things, though, experimentation is unnecessary. The case in point is the Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort (unscented) shaving cream. As I mentioned, I find it to be one of the best. Cream, lather, glide and cushion — it has them all. Also, it takes a small dollop to make mounds of lather.

As for keeping lather warm, I don't like my lather too warm, because the excessive heat breaks down the lather. For a time I had a Georgetown scuttle, but it didn't seem to keep my lather warm. Adios. I sold it.

I have tried a variety of ways to keep the lather warm. The one I am currently using seems to work quite well. It is an electric candle warmer, a little warming plate which also can be used as a coffee cup warmer or a shaving mug warmer. I bought it at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

My regular rotation includes three shave creams and 12 soaps in individual mugs. I make my lather in a replica of an old time pewter shaving mug. Sometimes I make lather in a little porcelain serving bowl, with ridges, I recently picked up from Target. On the days I use the pewter mug to make lather, I keep it warm on the warming plate. On the days I make lather in the serving bowl, I use the pewter mug as a caddy with water in it and the little serving bowl on top of it to keep warm on the warming plate. It works like a charm.

You can also go the scuttle route, if you like, or devise methods to keep your shaving mug warm. I like my lather just warm enough and not hot. Use what works best for you.

Regards,

Obie

Hi Greg,
Obie is right on the money about eyeglasses. Your right brain will work out all those blind spots by feel. Just take your time. It's working for me; it'll work for you.

I bought a mid-size shaving scuttle from Dirty Bird Pottery (she makes three sizes) and it keeps my über lather nice and warm for all three passes. Hot tap water is the limit, though. I tried using nearly boiling water and high temp would not let me build any lather at all. It broke it right down.

Straight Razor Designs sells a shaving scuttle that is small and I am told by some that it's intended to keep the lather on your brush warm after you build the lather in a separate bowl.

Read some threads where different members discuss their scuttles before you make a decision for yourself. I love my DB scuttle and I cannot see myself ever giving it up.

And WELCOME to SRP!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Obie,

Glasses:
Last night in between chapters of a good book (love that phrase about waiting on a eunuch to get …) I had an epiphany. I went to my shaving den and picked up my razor. You see, I remembered Lynn (or someone else) in a video showing that when you open your razor, you could adjust the angle of the scales to the blade so that the scales point to the ceiling or so the scales point towards the floor. Although scales-pointing-to-the-ceiling IMHO has much more panache, I cringed at the thought of abandoning it. I “mock” shaved with the scales pointing to the floor. This seemed like it might work. So this morning I shaved au naturale (meaning w/o glasses, not w/o my towel wrapped around my waist). I shaved my sideburns and cheeks w/ scales pointed to the floor. I could lean close enough to see without the scales hitting the mirror (Hallelujah Chorus singing in the background).
Yes, Morty, while shaving the upper sideburns, the blade (not scales) obscured my view, but as you said my “brain will work out all those blind spots by feel”. I reversed the scale angle for my cheeks close to my Door Knocker (had to look that one up – never quite knew the correct term for how I wear my facial hair). I did put my glasses back on to do my neck immediately under my door knocker. I think the biggest part of coming to terms with this issue was becoming acquainted with the feel of the edge on my flesh. I guess I thought that I had to see it touch my face and not rely on feel at all.
Lather:
I searched the kitchen for something that would fit my nickel shaving bowel better and not allow it to slip and flood with water. I found an old coffee mug that works perfectly! Since a young teen, I dreamed of going to Africa. Mom gave me this mug saying that even though they couldn’t send me on an African safari, at least I could dream about it while I drink my coffee. About 35 years later the dream came true (this past March). While this may not be the manliest mug, it works perfectly, matches the shave den décor, and has sentimental value. In my previous post my brain didn’t send the right message to my fingers – I like warm, NOT hot lather.

See picture under my profile.

Here’s what I did this morning.
1. Microwaved some water to a temperature a little hotter than our hottest tap setting.
2. Poured most into giraffe mug, put brush in mug while I showered.
3. Out of shower put a small amount of the remaining hot water into C&E Sienna soap dish
4. Put a few drops of glycerin from apothecary bottle into nickel bowel
5. Put hand towel in sink near drain, put giraffe mug in sink, not under faucet, filled sink with hot tap water to where it would be a couple of inches below the rim of giraffe mug when mug put in sink.
6. Transferred Sienna soapy water into nickel bowel.
7. Loaded brush with Sienna soap
8. Made lather.
9. Kept giraffe mug w/ nickel bowl in it and brush in bowl in the warm sink water during the shave.

It was fantastic! Everything stayed the perfect temperature during the ENTIRE shave, which took approx. 45 minutes, including prep, strop, shave, and cleanup. Now, I just need to order that Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort (unscented) shaving cream and everything will be perfect.
Your pointers:
Puffing my cheeks out definitely helps out on the hollows of my cheeks. Thanks! This morning I managed to nick several spots on my left cheek adjacent to the door knocker. I’m not sure what’s up there, whether it was angle or what. The nicks were incredibly minor – minimal bleeding that stopped completely with the cold water splash at the end of my shave. I think part of the problem is that I made too many passes over this area trying to get every last whisker.
Overall, the shave today went great – I love every minute of this! I did a much better job on upper sideburns. There were minimal areas that the safety had to touch up. I ran it over my entire face and only had a few spots where I even felt it cut anything. I did oversleep this morning and considered waiting to shave this evening – no way was I going to acquiesce and just use the safety. As a result I was a little late to work, but arrived in a refreshed state of mind, ready to tackle the world.