Thread: First str8 shave

Originally Posted by deepweeds

By working with a sharp razor and with good prep, I can focus on shaving technique knowing that any troubles I'm having arise from simply having to learn to shave all over again.

This is a wise approach, I think.

X

Originally Posted by deepweeds

I also find prepping the beard to be key.

1) shower, wash face with Noxema.
2) hot wet towel pressed over beard and neck, one minute (fold a washcloth nearly in half, run folded edge from sideburn to sideburn with fingertips, and hold cloth against face and neck with palms and heels of hands).
3) lather up with brush, then rub lather into beard gently with fingers.
4) strop razor while lather sits on face.
5) hot wet towel over lather, one minute.
6) wipe off lather, and again, hot towel, one minute.
7) lather up second time, and shave the first pass.
8) rinse, lather up third time, and shave second pass.

By working with a sharp razor and with good prep, I can focus on shaving technique knowing that any troubles I'm having arise from simply having to learn to shave all over again.

offcourse this is just one of many approaches. I personally strop after lathering and then just shave. Works fine for me. That way I use all my time efficiently. Shower +shave takes me around 30 minutes and I think that's not too bad. (although I LOVE to shave I'd rather not spend more time on it than needed.)

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

offcourse this is just one of many approaches...

That's right. I don't mean to say, "This is the way to prep." I only mean to say, "This is where I'm at with prep these days." And if I find ways to soften the beard with fewer steps, I will: a goal for me right now is to find ways to shave minutes off my shave time. Probably continued practice is the main thing: strop a little faster, shave with more confidence and with better knowledge of my face, etc.

I noticed that my strokes got longer and faster, with constant changes of blade angle to match the contours of the face, as I developed my shaving technique. What took me about 40min, takes me about 20 now (a 3-pass shave). However, I don't think I'll be able to shave much off that (maybe 2min).

the guys are giving you great advise! they are on the money! A narrow angle is better until you get comfortable with the razor ...to help get a close shave you MUST STRETCH YOUR SKIN WITH YOUR OTHER HAND...use a washcloth to get a better grip on skin...tightly stretched skin reduces the chance of the razor cutting your skin...

He speaks truth. Take it from a fellow rookie... I kind of ignored the whole skin stretching thing. Once I finally started really doing it the quality of my shaves has really started going up.

-- Gary F.

...thanks everyone for all the input. Things are going very well now. I re-evaluated my technique and am still not sure what I was doing wrong the first time. I stropped the blade for a bit and I am happy to report I am doing MUCH better. Still not perfect and there are a few problem areas but I don't think I will ever go back to a MAchIII or the like. Actually I don't think I have ever gotten such a close shave on other parts of my face - my upper lip is a different story however. I kinda wish I could shave twice a day right now. I am still too slow at this process to do this in the mornings before work.

I posted earlier on this (when SRP site was down) about a razor that caught my eye. I am not sure if its a real quality piece but as I mentioned I have a thing for New Bedford and Whaling - I saw it and had to have it. Its an American blade made by a company called H.M.C Cutlery.

Originally I saw one on Ebay here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

but I missed the deadline and found another here: I just sent my Paypal out. I figure even if its no good $20 bucks is not a huge investment. Heres the link to the one I just bought:

http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/bri...ml/1513?zoom=1


I can already see that this can be a bit addicting. Thanks agagin everyone for the feedback. My razor burn is finally healed

Addicting? Poppycock
I started out just wanting to get my grandfathers restored. Now I have 3 in the mail (including mygrandfathers) on their way and bid on a fourth on ebay and watching a 4/8.
Why would you think it would be addicting!!!!!!
Think I will go check Ebay and see if anything new came up.

Originally Posted by Popeye

Addicting? Poppycock
Why would you think it would be addicting!!!!!!
Think I will go check Ebay and see if anything new came up.

This is a scream and I now have to stop writing and check ebay myself

I have to stop.
I have to stop.
I have to stop.
I have to.............
Bookmarks ebay click