Thread: Trying to get back to my Straight

Hey guys,

I've been a member here for a while, but I haven't used my Straight in over a year. Honestly, I was getting frustrated with my lack of ability to shave and not slice myself up . I went back to my safety razor but found that I was about as dangerous with that as I was my straight (not quite as bad, but still pretty rough). I even tried a Proglide. Now, it did provide a great shave and it worked pretty well, but the upkeep on one of those is ridiculously expensive. So, I'm turning back to my straight. But my concern is I'm going to have the same issues that I did previously with it. And from having a couple of experts here look at the razor (one I bought it from), it was honed well and ready to do it's job. So, I know its completely a 'user error'.

I'm going to brush up on the basics and try this thing again, but if you guys can offer any suggestions or words of encouragement, I'm all ears.

You'll get it, Crash. It'll improve, and you'll start loving it.

It might help to know where you are. There are many members that open their homes and generously give of their time and experience to help people that are new or are having difficulties. We may be able to find you a mentor that you can have some one on one time with. Also check out the get together and meet thread here Get Togethers and Meetings for anything that may be happening.

Grow a mustache/goatee. That eliminates the harder areas to shave and lets you focus on your technique on the easier parts of the face. Have you mapped out your face?

Well, if you had serious issues with a DE type it means you are doing something very wrong. The problem is once you do things wrong it becomes harder and harder to break the cycle. You may be one of those cases where you will need some individual instruction. If you could get with someone that would be your best bet. We could tell you about all the problem areas, the angle and stroke and pressure and all that but if you are already aware of that something just isn't translating from the brain to the hand.

start out slow again, and I found when I started when I start to get a uneasy if you stop and go back to the previous way of shaving your confidence will get there and you will be able to do the whole face eventually. Also focus on light touch and stretching the skin I find those are almost as important as having a well honed razor. Good luck and keep at it, you are doing it for the same reason I first tried it it gets expensive dishing out 20 bucks for maybe two weeks worth of shaves.

South of Atlanta, GA. I've met Sicboater a couple of years ago, but honestly had not considered reaching out for individual instruction to someone in the area. That's a good idea.

Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

Have you mapped out your face?

No, I haven't, at least not consciously. I'll study on how to do that correctly and make and effort to do that.

how do you hold your razor are you using pressure how are you preparing your face ?

Here's an interactive guide for mapping your mug

http://www.pbjsite.com/shave/whiskarmap/

Michael