Thread: Confidence

I think that's a good insight, unit. As soon as I started reading your post, I thought of another mad late-life undertaking of mine, playing the fiddle/violin (I sort of clumsily straddle styles). My personal axiom is that the violin can smell fear. It can't literally cut you like a straight razor if you mishandle it, but it can make your ears bleed. That balance between confidence and trepidation that the barber spoke of can be elusive, but it's a great thing to strive for.

~Rich

I also think you have a very good observation here Unit. I have been experiencing something similar as I work through my "newbieism". I think the key is confidence with sure movement of the blade, tempered by a healthy respect for its ability to cause damage.

I'm sure there's a fair number of us who ignored the conventional wisdom and went for a full face shave the first time out, with varying success. I'm one of them . Yes, confidence is paramount to mastering this art, but a healthy respect of the blade is even more important. After all, even the most experienced among us still sheds some blood every so often....

Ryan82

I agree confidence is a key ingredient. I've been at SR8 shaving for 3-4 weeks after decades (really!) of intermittent trials. Each time I would place the razor on my sideburn, scrape down 2-3 inches and decide I was about to cut my face off. This time I got a styptic pencil for that deep laceration I knew was going to happen and tried once again. So far, fair to good shaves (some even terrific) and NO cuts. I just assumed I could do it. Having SRP as a resource was a huge help! Interestingly, I have no trouble at all with my upper iip (no moustache) but find my largest challenge getting around the tip of my chin and along the jaw line. But, I'm mastering that. Feels great! Thanks for all the advice available here.

I guess I will take this a step farther. There is a certain bliss that accompanies ignorance.

When I first started lurking around here I thought that straight shaving would be a great mystery as I try to solve the puzzle of what will work for me (soaps, creams, brushes, lathering techniques, strops, blades, and all the pomp and circumstance). Allow me to suggest that perhaps some of these things are blown a bit out of proportion?

I must report a great deal of ignorance on these things, but I found a shop that was willing to put together a reasonably priced starter set for me (a modest badger brush, a vintage blade, a strip of leather, and small puck of soap)...it all cost less than a very basic new straight razor.

OK so I have no idea what other products would work better for me, but in my blissful ignorance I have to conclude that I have some GREAT stuff to work with because I am enjoying some great shaves!

My point is, have some confidence in your gear also...you can second guess your kit to Helen Back from reading all these forums, the truth is...shave already!

That and clean your face and lay back and relax with a very hot towel on your face for a few minutes before you shave...that costs nothing and seems to work really well for me

Good to hear Unit. I am also one who dove full in and shaved all but the goatee. I have made my way down to my normal Sparrow Bard for the summer. My last shave I had an Aha! moment with my neck and how to get it to stretch so that I don't have to dance around the curves it has. Here's to more shaves Unit, and the lessons we learn.

Originally Posted by Pyrateknight

Good to hear Unit. I am also one who dove full in and shaved all but the goatee. I have made my way down to my normal Sparrow Bard for the summer. My last shave I had an Aha! moment with my neck and how to get it to stretch so that I don't have to dance around the curves it has. Here's to more shaves Unit, and the lessons we learn.

I think we are in similar places. I finally discovered the key to getting all the areas of my neck (I am a slim fellow with a protruding Adam's Apple and deep impressions on both sides of my esophagus) Stretching is the key, but it can be tough when you are covered in super slick soap

love and trust your gear...chances are it is better than you are (at least that is true for me)

Hey Unit, I've got a neck like you describe, and find a smiling blade really helps with those hollows. A spike point hinders for me, because I end up watching it all the time while trying to clear little hollows with a different part of the blade, or because I can't use the toe for the fine hollows work.

For grip traction, I do two things: start at the collarline and work up, so I'm always stretching from a dry or shaved spot, and use a washcloth for better grip where my skin is still a little wet or slick.

My neck sounds a little easier than yours, but I always find myself with a dry towel nearby so I can keep my pulling hand clean & dry

I agree with both of you.

I ALWAYS (now) use two hand towels for a shave. One I soak in hot water and lay on my face for a few minutes prior to shaving, then I use it to wipe my blade on during my shave...I also use it to remove soap/cream from areas I would like to get a grip on. The other towel I keep dry for clean up of my blade and face after my shave. It then gets rotated to the hot towel for the next shave

I started out trying to do this with wash cloths, but they were too small and the larger hand towel can be "tucked" behind my ears to keep the hot moist towel in place. If you do not do this, TRY IT! It makes a difference, and it is relaxing