Dont leave it too long between shaves.

Hi All, Over in in merry old england we dont really get harsh winters, but because i work outdoors each year on the last day of september i stop shaving, this year i think it was a bad decision,

I was only 3 months into learning to shave with a straight, i was on the whole doing well, my attempts at face scraping were now less bloody than the somme and my face had ceased to look like it had done a couple of rounds with mr kruger.

I could shave have a smooth result with only the odd nick here and there, and my face was happy with this.:)

Then came winter or what passes for it over here, 4 damp dark dingy grey months of none weather later, i was told to go and shave or move in with the dog.:(

So I shaved, thinking i'll be fine, let me tell you i was not, i prepped, lathered, stropped and shaved my way to a face that is in tatters and is really not talking to me at all.:dropjaw:

My skin had gone soft ive got razor burn that would give the surface of the sun a run for its money in how hot it is.

So a plea to all other newbies, dont leave it long between shaves, it has two major drawbacks, it upsets your wife and upsets your face, the first i can live with the second i cant.
chin chin, just of to the ice draw for a chill session.

Hmmm, Ya I imagine shaving that much off in one go is a major problem! Maybe use scissors to mow it down a tad first? Frankly I'm not sure what they did in the olden days with that situation.

But, for me and many at least longer hairs *can* be better. Not as long as you describe, but for me I shave every two days, not every single. I can shave daily, but the pre-prep is much more work. As I've been told it has to do with more hair absorbs more water and thus shaves far easier when the larger hair surface becomes swelled with liquid. Then again I prefer after a hot shower to begin with. Glad your keeping with it though. Perhaps we should make some sort of 'Bro Code' for straight saving. Just to keep us all in and in line. Heh heh heh.

Keep it up, and spreading the word.

-Mark

Sounds like it could be a sharpness issue as well. I can cut old growth with no problem...

Hmm, I'd imagine it would just have to do with adequate preparation and a nice sharp razor. I've seen a few videos of folks taking off a full beard in one go.

It's a good possibility that the edge of the blade started to deteriorate during the downtime if it was not stored with oil on it.

In a moment of foolishness once, I shaved off my goatee. It was none too short at the time. It was quick and easy to come off. I call it foolishness, because I look pretty stupid without it. Come to think of it I look pretty stupid at the best of times, but you know what I mean. :)
Anyway, it's back again now, and here to stay.

Mick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MickR

In a moment of foolishness once, I shaved off my goatee. It was none too short at the time. It was quick and easy to come off. I call it foolishness, because I look pretty stupid without it. Come to think of it I look pretty stupid at the best of times, but you know what I mean. :)
Anyway, it's back again now, and here to stay.

Mick

---

I did the same in preparation for my recent gibblet-ectomy (my gallbladder and I got divorced. I won) and several months worth of goatee/van dyke just peeled off my face with little or no effort at all. I did have a little burn under the nose (had trouble getting the angle right so it was my fault not the blade's) but not enough to make the eyes water. Since then it's grown back since according to the wife I, apparently, look better with part of my face obscured.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MickRussell

I did the same in preparation for my recent gibblet-ectomy (my gallbladder and I got divorced. I won) and several months worth of goatee/van dyke just peeled off my face with little or no effort at all. I did have a little burn under the nose (had trouble getting the angle right so it was my fault not the blade's) but not enough to make the eyes water. Since then it's grown back since according to the wife I, apparently, look better with part of my face obscured.

---

:tu This'll have to do for the new 'Like' button...:)

Considering, back in the old days barbers used straight razors to trim the hair during haircuts and the razors seemed to cut right through that hair just fine I would say your problem was more with the razor or maybe you got rusty with your technique.

Bears prep is the key when shaving off a lot of growth. You have to really massage the lather into the beard and make sure it doesn't dry out. I'll probably get flamed for this but this is one of the rare occasions where canned goo can out perform traditional soaps and creams. As metioned the blade should be nice and sharp and you need to pay careful attention to your technique, i.e. no pressure and go for beard reduction not beard removal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Theseus

Bears prep is the key when shaving off a lot of growth. You have to really massage the lather into the beard and make sure it doesn't dry out. I'll probably get flamed for this but this is one of the rare occasions where canned goo can out perform traditional soaps and creams. As metioned the blade should be nice and sharp and you need to pay careful attention to your technique, i.e. no pressure and go for beard reduction not beard removal.

---

Bears prep? :)

If the canned goo is outperforming your traditional soap and cream lather in the not-drying-out category, you're doing it wrong

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Bears prep? :)If the canned goo is outperforming your traditional soap and cream lather in the not-drying-out category, you're doing it wrong

---

The canned goo only out performs when shaving off a long thick beard. It takes more time to shave off a full beard and the canned goo just makes it easier to keep it hydrated.

I can assure you guys the blade was sharp, it was just returned from neil miller, My problems stem from a very long and wire wool type beard, and a face that hasn't seen a razor in that time the skin has gone soft, and kinda the main thrust is that i had only just got my technique working when i then stopped shaving, i have 6 sharp razors, 3 sharpened by neil, 1 by steve at invisible edge, 1 from whipped dog and 1 from a member on here.

what i would say is i have a nr wedge from steve and thats a dream to shave with, i have a couple of quarter hollows, and half hollows, both ok but prefer the 1/4 and i have a full hollow, that is the one that messes me up, which would lead to my technique being a little out.


So lack of technique, full hollow, new face, and wire wool for a beard = sore face,


We are now on day 4 used a 1/2 hollow and face less sore, and less scraped, still got a few sore patches around the mouth and chin, as i tried to shave too close on day 1 and 2. But a good shave cream ( truefitt and hill) after shave balm ( truefitt and hill again) and a face moisturiser, and my face only burns for a short while.

A bad workman always blames his tools, i can only blame the tool holding the razor,

as i used the down time to get em sharpened, as bigspendur says my technique is rusty,

in short if you've only just learnt to swim dont stop for 3 months your liable to drown, ergo if you've only just learnt to shave with a straight don't have a 4 month holiday and expect to shave like a pro, ( not that i ever did)

Over here in good ol' Canada I was once told by a wise soul, "Never shave off a beard in winter". Folks, I will assure you all that in a climate where the temperature can drop below -30c truer words were never spoken....

Now that might not hold true in slightly warmer winter climates like in England, but the possibility of chapping still exists. In this case I'd say there are two problems. First, skin does become tender if semi-regular shaving doesn't occur as there is no skin exfoliation is happening. Second, technique does get rusty, both in shaving and stropping.

I will also add that shaving off a full beard with a straight is 100% possible, without irritation. In fact SR's excel at this, with no need to trim beforehand. I've done it a few times and would highly recommend it to anyone here, that is if anyone here has the patience to grow a beard....:)

Well troops, shave 5 from beard, today i exfoliated using edwin jaggers exfoliant, Followed with a lather again using truefitt and hills shave cream (almond this time), left that on whilst i stropped a razor a half hollow about 15-20 laps, i then rinsed of the lather and mixed up a fresh batch in my cup, applied this ( i mixed it a little thicker ) about 1/2 way through my face started to dry so re-applied some lather and did a pass with the grain, i then re-applied and did across the grain,no sore patches, no bleeding, warm rinse, cold rinse, tfh after shave balm followed with a splash of tfh 1805 aftershave, wow that stuff smells nice like a orangey mulled wine.

Now the shave is not perfect, i missed a couple of areas down my jawline either side i am quite pleased and so is my face.

think its a sharpness problem or your technik. A st8 must and can shop down a beard of 3 months whit no problem.

Oh i can assure you its not sharpness of the razor, see my earlier post,

The thrust of this post is when you have only just learnt to shave with s straight, dont have a 3 month sabbatical and grow a beard, i am well aware that a straight will shave a beard, but the technique behind the razor is crucial, i posted this to help other newbies save themselves pain by pointing out my errors.