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Beginners Tips: March 2012
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Well gents this month's theme was pretty easy really I have noted one overall trend in the threads, posts, and e-mails...
Rush, Rush, Rush
The worst thing a Straight Razor shaver can do is rush into this, you really need to slow down, some of you guys are so anxious to get to the end you are missing the fun along the path.. By the way, there is no end :)
It starts with the first razor, I just read a thread where a new guy ordered a complete set up from a reputable vendor here, but before it even gets to him, he is buying a second razor off e-bay and asking if it was a good buy??? Come on seriously ???
Then comes the self defeating first shave, it starts with Testing the blade with honing tests, that a new guy has no business even trying, let alone before the first shave test :rofl2: ... I realize that the new advertising gimmick on e-bay and from certain "Honsters" is the catch phrase "Will pass the HHT",, really guys ??? are you honestly that dumb ??? I think if you are you should slowly take the sharp object away from your neck :)
Nowhere on this site does it ever say your first shave should be a "Shave" it says in multiple places to start with the easy parts of the face (Sideburn to Jawline) and then finish with your old system until you learn SLOWLY how the razor works... Day by day you expand that comfort zone and eventually you master the harder parts of the shave... Blood is not fun, and Chicks really don't dig scars, unless they were won in battle :)
You have to take this journey step by small step, heck just learning to make proper lather can take a bit of doing, let alone getting the stropping down..
Honing is the other thing I see being rushed into, I see guys asking what hone to buy before they have even received their first razor and learned how to use it.. Honing is an entirely different aspect of this hobby, honestly learn to maintain your edges first, then if you find you are ready to expand into honing you have a better grasp of what is going on...
I think part of this is society in general, we are after Faster, and Cheaper in everything anymore, this endeavor of Straight Razor shaving is a throw back to older, slower times, you have to unlearn many things with just the shaving aspect, you might need to unlearn a bit of social pressure to rush also..
Remember, although Chicks might not dig shaving scars, they do like a man that takes his time, and does things right :p
Best advice we as the Senior guys can give you is to slow down, relax, and enjoy the process, it really is the best part as you learn each subtle nuance of the hobby you have chosen...
As always I encourage the Senior members to add to this post, we all see things from different angles so different opinions are possible...
Although, I seriously doubt many of the more experienced guys are going to say speed up though :rofl2:
ps: I tried a small attempt at humor in this month's post, please take it that way... or tell me to shutup and stick to the facts next month Glen :ziplip: