Thread: Learning to Shave, Slowly

I joined this Forum roughly one year ago. I had just bought my first vintage straight razor, and needed help with it. And I started learning sharpening, honing, stropping, shaving technique . . .

This morning, I was able to do two passes with a straight razor, one pass with a DE:

. . . BBS in most places, DFS in the rest

. . . no razor burn, no nicks.

I figure I've learned how to shave.

It hasn't been a quick learning curve, but it's been fun. And I'm still climbing.

My message to others:

. . . Yes, "learning to shave" can be slow. But it _does_ happen.

Charles

PS -- the gear:

. . . George Butler "Shakespeare" straight razor (eBay, I honed it)
. . . Gillette Tech with Feather blade (antique store, $5)
. . . pre-shave: Dove "Damage Therapy" hair conditioner (Costco)
. . . Proraso shave soap
. . . Plisson badger brush (I've used it for 20 years)
. . . Japanese soup bowl, floating in a sinkful of hot water.

Thanks for that cp!!

I'm 4 months in, and I can do 2 passes WTG all around, and I try and do a 3rd to get the XTG's and (very small sections) some ATG's. Then I have to finish up with 1 pass with the cart still. Most times I can do 1 pass WTG and then try the XTG's and ATG's before the cart finishes. Every once in a while I get close enough in my 2 - 3 passes that I don't have to do any cleanup now.

I realize I still have TONS to learn. mostly the ATG's and the left side of my face are still very problematic.

It's good to realize that after a year (a year mind you) you are still on the learning curve. That makes me feel very much better about where I am, as it gives me some good context of comparison. Thanks!!!

Best always,

Mike

Like anything there is always more to learn... Now I didn't take my time til my first shave, but I definitely researched and practiced as much as possible. That bad part is i went to shaving my head with a straight after my 3rd face shave... and was shaving my whole face by the 4th... There is no shame at all taking your time... mainly because since I have started shaving with a straight I have always looked at it as a meditative activity, and because of that my actual shaves take a long time... Heheheheh I can never shave before we leave to go anywhere or I get haggled the whole time... Kudos on reaching your comfort stage... Not many do.. and in some cases like my brother, they will jump right into the deep... Sadly my brother didn't take my advice and so he doesn't use a straight anymore. All it took was one morning of him deciding to do a rush shave with a straight on his third shave... got a naasty nick then decided to call me crying about it. My first response was... "Dude I said DO NOT shave with a straight when you are in a hurry #1 until you are good at it... and #2 You hadn't even gotten your strop yet what are you doing on your third shave."

Getting BBS will be up to you. Especially BBS in one pass, but it will come..