Thread: A Journey of 100 Shaves

Shows you that "Knowing" and "Doing" are two different things! So much of this is muscle memory and can only be accomplished by practice.

It sounds like you'll be straight shaving for quite some time.....

Originally Posted by armiller17

8th Shave - 1/10/11

This was my first shave in which I did not cut myself once in the process! I don't know if or how long I will be able to keep the streak going, but I was pretty happy with myself for it.

This shave I REALLY paid attention to the angle of the blade when shaving my chin and jawline. Previously it "seemed like" I was using the proper angle, but after many rough passes and pulling I finally took the time to really examine what I was doing. What I found out shouldn't be a surprise to anyone- I was cutting at much to steep of an angle (nearing 45), and unconsciously making up for the inefficient cutting by applying too much pressure. I worked on correcting both, and wouldn't you know it? I got the closest shave yet along my jaw and chin. Of course these were all techniques I knew I should be doing, but I think I had to develop some level of proficiency in the basics before I could understand what felt right vs. wrong.

I have not mentioned it for several posts, but I have been getting better still at my lather. I have not had a problem with it drying on my face for a long time now. One thing I have noticed, however, is that sometimes the lather seems to improve just by sitting. Is this something that can happen, or is this a figment of my imagination? What I mean is I whip up the lather, brush it to my face, strop, and then when I come back to reapply the lather it seems to be slightly more firm and full. I didn't whip it anymore, it just sat in the bowl while a stropped. Not that I'm complaining , just wondering.

9th Shave - 1/12/11

I haven't talked about it much here, but I was pretty happy with my stropping before this shave. I have a hanging strop that I usually hook over the hand-towel hook in the bathroom. I wouldn't say that previous to this shave I was stropping poorly, but I think I just happened to find the optimal angle for me to hold the strop out at in order to keep it taught and flat. I played with the positioning a bit more and tried to commit the position I found to memory.

I did cut myself this time around- at the top of my cheekbone. It was an easily avoidable mistake- I came down over my cheekbone with the same angle I would use on the flat of my cheek. Pretty much as soon as I made contact with the skin I realized my error but it was too late to avoid a little nick. Nothing too terrible... and on the other hand I was pleased that I was able to instantly understand what I had done wrong and how to fix it. I must be learning a few things!

Got myself a nice smooth shave before seeing the in-laws for dinner tonight!

Great journal! I am enjoying reading your first steps down The Straight Road.

I see a lot of what I went through at the start, as well.

10th Shave - 1/15/11

Does anyone else here just love the feeling of applying that second lather on a freshly WTG'ed face? I have to say, its one of the small pleasures that I look forward to every shave.

The last several shaves I did every 3 days or so instead of every other. I had a particularly bad spot of razor burn/ingrown hair that I was trying to lay off of and let clear up. I think it has finally gone away now, so hopefully I can get back into my every other day rotation again! One thing I did notice during this holiday from shaving as often as I'd like was that I'd find myself frequently thinking about a particular pass, fiddling with my razor, or even once at work I found myself pulling the skin on my neck trying to envision a better way to approach certain spots.

I'll admit it- 10 shaves in with a straight and I'm addicted!

This shave went well. I decided to shave just before heading to bed. What a better way to decompress from the day than to slow down and enjoy some time with a straight?

Originally Posted by armiller17

10th Shave - 1/15/11

Does anyone else here just love the feeling of applying that second lather on a freshly WTG'ed face? I have to say, its one of the small pleasures that I look forward to every shave.

I know what you mean ! I take it a step farther , and use a freshly stropped razor for my 2nd pass . It's not really necessary , but it makes a difference to me .

I think it's great that you're taking the time to share your experience's with us . Your journal will give insight , and encouragement to those who have yet to try the straight razor .

Thanks Dave5225!

As a long time lurker on these boards before I started posting I found it quite helpful to read other people's posts to see their trial and error processes in finding that right strop, XTG angle, aftershave, etc. I wanted to start this thread as both a reference to myself as I wind my way down the straight road, as well as make public all my newbie questions, mistakes, revelations, and (hopefully) solutions. The quest for that BBS is definitely easier knowing that it isn't just you who has had those perplexing or frustrating moments!

Originally Posted by bloodhoundman

Nice Thread

You may already know this, but for those who don't, one can always rate the thread. The link is on the right side right above the first post on a page.

I've been looking for an update . What happened ?

Originally Posted by dave5225

I've been looking for an update . What happened ?

Grad school happened . Its been busy, but I have been thinking about how I need to update this thread!

11th Shave - 1/23/12

A week since my last shave! Don't know what happened- a mix of laziness and being busy, perhaps.

Due my my stubble being more like an early beard, there was much more pulling during this shave than usual. Still, I never fail to be impressed as to how easily the SR can just glide through the hair and how much it can take off in one pass. This shave made me think of how often I would have to be washing out my Mach 3, if I was still using it. I think at best I could get 3, maybe 4 swipes before the cartridge was gummed up with lather and hair.

My mustache, as some of you may know, has been the main technique I have been working on for many weeks. Today was the closest I have gotten to completely shaving it with the SR. The only area I'm having real trouble with now is just under my nose- something like the upper half of a Charlie Chaplan. What is the best way to approach this spot? I'm not really sure how to hold the razor at the correct angle when approaching that hard to reach area.



12th Shave - 1/26/12

Finally back on schedule of shaving every other day(ish). Nicked my strop while getting ready for the shave. Nothing serious, but I was a little disappointed in myself for the sloppy technique. I suppose in reality I haven't been stropping very long at all and it probably takes a long time before muscle memory really takes over and your technique is constant.

No complaints about the shave here- didn't take too long and had minimal irritation after. I have been playing with my lather again. I'm not unhappy with it, but I figured there is always room for improvement. Today I added a bit more water than I normally do. I think I almost got it right- the result was a bit too runny and I had to add more soap to the mix. I do think, however, that if I use a tiny bit more water than I usually do, the lather will last longer on my face before it starts drying out.

I've actually begun to think about acquiring a second SR. Right now I just have one, and as I was trying to explain to my wife a few days ago, I don't want to have to go back to the Mach 3 whenever I send this one away to be honed. While the razor is still months away from needing a honing (barring and tragic edge killing accident), I have found myself clicking around the classifieds more and more. Not looking too seriously at the moment, but I can't say I wouldn't buy if the right razor caught my eye...

13th Shave - 1/30/12

Nice evening shave. After a day of work followed by running around the the banks re-organizing several accounts, it was nice to have some time after dinner to decompress, relax and enjoy a shave.

For the first time I was able to do something of a XTG pass on my chin. Previously I have tried to attempt it, but the feeling of resistance kept me from continuing on (and probably tearing up the skin). After some manipulation today it looks like I wasn't pulling the skin taught enough and coming in at too much of an angle. It can be pretty hard for me to judge what angle I'm cutting at with an XTG pass, but I think I'm doing better.

One thing that I would really like to work on into the future is being able to shave with my left hand. Currently I am doing my whole face with my right, and I have a very awkward time shaving my left cheek and my lower right neck. I've been fairly resistant to letting my left hand start to learn since I know it will be sloppier than shaving with my right, but I suppose it has to happen at some point. I think when I shave next I'll give the left hand a go.