Well said, sir, well said!

I enjoy my morning SR shaving ritual, the smell of the cream, the feel of my face after I'm finished, the feel of the cold water on my face for the post-shave rinse, the wipe down with Thayers, and the smell and feel of the aftershave!! MAN I LOVE THIS HOBBY!!
Quote Originally Posted by Thirdman47 View Post
I just finished my first month of shaves with a straight razor, and I still am getting some nicks and a scrape or two.

Here's what I think the biggest thing is: stretch your skin as much as you can before you start to move the razor. I shaved with a DE for 40 years (started on them, never changed, except when using cartridge types on trips), and the way the DE is made it does the stretching for you.

Another tough thing to get used to is stretching skin that's just been shaved. There's still a film of soap on your skin, so what I've started to do is use the corner of a damp washcloth to wipe the soap off my earlobes, cheekbones, etc. so I can get a better grip. Then really stretch you skin and hold it tight while you move the razor ever so slowly to your cheek and get the "range" as to where the two will meet. Then use a series of very small moves with the razor, all the while holding your skin.

Move your jaw down & hold your mouth open when you're doing your chin/moustache area. On the throat/neck, point your chin up to the ceiling and stretch your neck, plus pull down on your neck's skin with the other hand.

Once I started to do this, I had far fewer nicks and much closer shaves.

I wake up in the morning actually looking forward to shaving because it's a great challenge to learn this new skill. I like to learn new things. Plus, think of the elite fraternity you're now a member of: We all do something that would cause most men to reel back in horror. My wife says she can't even watch me shave because it makes her too scared. Oh, well...