I will not shave

every single time I tell myself I've had a decent shave, I'm not gonna try to stretch it by trying to go again in the next 2 days, I end up going in the next two days. Yesterday I had a relatively good shave -> I am experimenting with cold water shaving, distilled water for lather, and trying to use absolutely NO pressure <- but I wasn't totally satisfied with the results, and this morning it felt like the beard had magically regenerated itself! So I figured why not try it again. It seems like I am chomping at the bit to get back in there and get a perfect shave each time, and that may be my problem...I can't seem to put the razor down and accept a decent shave, I have to go for a full three pass shave and get it as best as I can, and I've been suffering nicks and razor burn because of it.
So, this time, I am taking a MINIMUM of three days off and allowing myself to heal properly, and I may even stretch it to a week and use a single blade disposable just to clean up so I don't look like a bum. The hardest part will be self control to not go in there and overdo it
Wish me Luck!

Straight razor? Don't rush the process, finishing up with a DE or other razor is perfectly acceptable when learning the straight. Most faces won't be able to handle 3 passes if you haven't got a good technique, good stretching and the razor isn't sharp enough. Do not rush the process but as long as your face isn't butchered then you shouldn't need more than a 48 hour period to get over any tenderness before shaving again. Witch Hazel works wonders for me if my face is tender, I splash it on after every shave while my face is still wet.

Good luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bplaia

every single time I tell myself I've had a decent shave, I'm not gonna try to stretch it by trying to go again in the next 2 days, I end up going in the next two days. Yesterday I had a relatively good shave -> I am experimenting with cold water shaving, distilled water for lather, and trying to use absolutely NO pressure <- but I wasn't totally satisfied with the results, and this morning it felt like the beard had magically regenerated itself! So I figured why not try it again. It seems like I am chomping at the bit to get back in there and get a perfect shave each time, and that may be my problem...I can't seem to put the razor down and accept a decent shave, I have to go for a full three pass shave and get it as best as I can, and I've been suffering nicks and razor burn because of it.
So, this time, I am taking a MINIMUM of three days off and allowing myself to heal properly, and I may even stretch it to a week and use a single blade disposable just to clean up so I don't look like a bum. The hardest part will be self control to not go in there and overdo it
Wish me Luck!

---

First and Foremost, Welcome to the most Friendly Helpful and Informative Site on the Web!!

With that said, you must learn patience! this 'Art' has a Huge Learning Curve! I'd suggest if you haven't' already done so to read the Wikis!

You must remember that those who used these wonderful tools 100 years ago, grew up learning how! Their fathers showed them the way! Also their beards weren't fully developed when they started to shave! They learned as the beard came in just as my son is doing (age18)!

My advice is to stop 'Jumping Around' and stick with a single routine until you master it!!! Then and only then move on to the next 'Experiment'!

Don't try to get the 'Ultimate Shave'!! Try to get a close COMFORTABLE SHAVE!! If one pass leaves too much behind, so be it! Don't drive yourself Crazy! Those remnants will be there the next time!

Smooth Shaving My Brother In Blades

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cudarunner

You must remember that those who used these wonderful tools 100 years ago, grew up learning how! Their fathers showed them the way! Also their beards weren't fully developed when they started to shave! They learned as the beard came in just as my son is doing (age18)!

---

I'm 20, started when I was 19 in late August with a shavette and then switched to a straight. My technique is still pretty bad obviously, and I'm just now getting the hang of lathering because the hardness of water up here is really effecting it, so I'm trying distilled water. I really have to work on the "walk away" part and not over shave myself. I don't want to have to start from scratch and break bad habits, but I might have to slow down, and try to master one pass at a time.

Hi bplaia, don't give up I've only been using a straight since September, before that I was using a safety razor and a cartridge blade. I didn't appreciate how difficult it is using a St8. I find that I'm suffering with slight cuts/nicks and after about four days consecutive shaving I have to give my face a rest, either because of razor burn and cuts. I would love to have a 3 pass shave with the st8 but my skill is still lacking. Some days I get a cracking shave, very close and smooth, other days not as good. All I would stay is that I enjoy a challenge and ITS NOT GOING TO BEAT ME. Anyway if you enjoy using a st8 you carry on because you will get better and achieve the shave you will be very happy with.:rock:

10 Reasons Not To Try For A Perfect Shave:


1. If you got a perfect shave, you wouldn't know it
2. Do you seek perfection in other areas?
3. When's the last time you played 18 holes of golf in 18 shots?
4. You brush your teeth every day, but do you do it perfectly?
5. Is your signature perfect? Every time?
6. You do a good job at work, but is it perfect?
7. When you comb your hair do you pursue perfection?
8. Does your wife think you do anything perfectly? No, I don't mean THAT.
9. How good is your vision? But is it perfect? Do you care?
10. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Merry is good. Perfection is unnecessary.

If that's not in the wiki, Ace, it should be.

Okay, well I kindof stuck to my word. Being Christmas Eve and all and having to go to family functions, I needed to clean myself up and not look like a hobo at dinner, so I DID NOT shave with a straight today. I instead did a quick three pass shave with WARNING--BLASPHEMY! a three-bladed Gilette disposable. Honestly, I am more comfortable now after that shave (I used my Truefitt and Hill brush and Col. Conk's Bay Rum soap with distilled water for lather) than I have been for most, if not all of my straight shaves. I'm giving my face a little time to heal up and treated it to a gentle shave today before I get back in there and attempt to butcher my face again with the unforgiving steel that is a straight razor.
Happy Holidays everyone!

I spent about four months transitioning from cartridges to full-time straight shaves, doing only the easy bits (sideburns and cheeks) with the straight and finishing up with the old familiar technology. As I got better with the straight, I shaved more of my face with it.

Don't know if I've ever had a "perfect" shave, and don't really care. I've had some darn good ones, and they're all off of my own hone jobs, which adds an extra layer of satisfaction.

I think it's far easier to shave a three-day beard than a one-day stubble. One benefit of not-very-good shaves is that you'll actually NEED to shave the next day. Be careful what you wish for; if you get a perfect shave every time you might have to skip a precious day between shaves.

Be patient and gentle. If you aim only to remove the lather, the barbs should follow if your blade is properly sharp. If you aim to remove the barbs you'll flirt with razor burn.

Best wishes and happy shaving!

[QUOTE

I think it's far easier to shave a three-day beard than a one-day stubble. One benefit of not-very-good shaves is that you'll actually NEED to shave the next day. Be careful what you wish for; if you get a perfect shave every time you might have to skip a precious day between shaves.[/QUOTE]

Lynn Abrams posted exactly this! He said that at three days, the growth of beard 'softened'!

I would agree as I have shaved a three day growth, but only once! With that exception, I've straight shaved every day for almost 2 and a half years and love each one!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bplaia

I instead did a quick three pass shave with WARNING--BLASPHEMY! a three-bladed Gilette disposable. Honestly, I am more comfortable now after that shave (I used my Truefitt and Hill brush and Col. Conk's Bay Rum soap with distilled water for lather) than I have been for most, if not all of my straight shaves.

---

Hello bplaia,

I don't think it's blasphemy to use a cartridge. I think there was a time when I would have thought so in my excitement to accept the straight razor shave, but not so much anymore. There may be others who agree and many who don't. I can't speak for everyone, just me.

However, whatever anyone's arguments are against a cartridge, they are expensive to maintain and I purchased for myself an Edwin Jagger 89L and I love it to death. I'm still learning how to get myself a consistent and quality straight shave. There are times when I give myself a little razor burn (I find out about this more since I've started using alum) using my straights. When I shave with that EJ safety razor, though, I get a near-perfect shave and no burn. It's very friendly (as are other safety razors out there with which I have no experience).

So yes, learning with a straight will take some time, but you can always fall back to using a less expensive safety razor instead of using disposables or cartridges, which over time are more expensive.

Just an option you may want to consider.

-Mark

Slow down and be patient! No need to rush things!