Thread: No short cuts

Had my 3rd shave with a straight razor ( safety of course)and one thing I found was that there are no short cuts to using a straight razor.
As a beginner again after 22 years you simply can't take short cuts.
Prep/lather/1st pass/2nd or xtg/post shave are so important to making this a lifelong memorable experience.
Even down to the way in which you stretch your skin can have detrimental effect on the closeness of shave, burn/rash and of course nicks.
I also found that because I'm starting to take care and respecting the art that is straight razor shaving is that It takes patience, skill and lot of cuts/nicks to even get remotely any good.
As I'm a keen golfer I have now taken my routine to the shaving sink.
Not being anal or obsessive compulsive disorder but taking your time and enjoying the experience of the shave.
Any comments are really welcome.
Ta Steady

Well done, sounds like you are on the right track!

Its a learning curve and it takes a while to learn what works and what doesn't. Tanking it slow and steady will, as you have found, show you the way.

I have found that even 18 months into straight shaving there is still plenty to learn.

You never stop learning. As you age the skin on your face will have small changes that you will have to address. Just enjoy the ride and welcome.

Originally Posted by Steady

Had my 3rd shave with a straight razor ( safety of course)and one thing I found was that there are no short cuts to using a straight razor.
As a beginner again after 22 years you simply can't take short cuts.
Prep/lather/1st pass/2nd or xtg/post shave are so important to making this a lifelong memorable experience.
Even down to the way in which you stretch your skin can have detrimental effect on the closeness of shave, burn/rash and of course nicks.
I also found that because I'm starting to take care and respecting the art that is straight razor shaving is that It takes patience, skill and lot of cuts/nicks to even get remotely any good.
As I'm a keen golfer I have now taken my routine to the shaving sink.
Not being anal or obsessive compulsive disorder but taking your time and enjoying the experience of the shave.
Any comments are really welcome.
Ta Steady

Nice post. I always like to say: "You are taking a mundane chore and turning it into a pleasureable ritual." Continue the enjoyment!

Originally Posted by samda

As you age the skin on your face will have small changes that you will have to address.

This is not something I wanted to hear!

Okay, read.

For sure this is a learned skill - and the learning curve is quite steep. I can't imagine a single short cut here. I am still learning better ways to mix lather, shave and hone.

Good post.

Well said. Do not attempt SR shaving unless you are ready for the long learner curve. However, the risk can be worth the reward. Indeed, there are no short CUTS here. It is as much an art form as it is science.

Originally Posted by Gammaray

Well said. Do not attempt SR shaving unless you are ready for the long learner curve. However, the risk can be worth the reward. Indeed, there are no short CUTS here. It is as much an art form as it is science.

What long learning curve, there are many people on this site that mastered it within just a few shaves. I may not be one of them, but they do exist. The biggest thing I dislike about comments such as that is that it may discourage people. I wish to see them succeed. To say there is a learning curve is true of anything, this cant be disputed. Excuse me for my rant.

Hello nun2sharp, which we all know is a misnomer for you,

Personally I think there are learning curves all over the place in straight razor shaving, from the actual act itself to making lather to stropping, honing, whatever someone wishes to take on and get proficient at. I think the curve can seem steeper if someone were to try to take everything on at once, but the basics of stropping, lathering, and shaving have to come together before a great shave can be expected.

I am sure there may be a person or two who's learned to shave without much effort, but I think for the majority, an honest self-assessment is worthwhile. Some people start out with wet-shaving first with safety razors. I went in feet first and learned real wet-shaving at the same time as I was trying to straight-shave and strop. I think the former way might have been easier, but I chose a different way.

I think there is a curve, for some it may be steeper than others, but it should not be denied. Heck, if someone is having a hard time learning, it's nice to know this is normal. It's normal to have a hard time. It gets easier. It really does, and me realizing this from the very beginning kept me on the straight road.

I don't mean to be controversial or argumentative, but I felt a response was necessary from someone still experiencing that learning curve.

-Mark