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Thread: Finally did what I needed to do..

  1. #1
    Senior Member aespo's Avatar
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    Default Finally did what I needed to do..

    Being new to straights and straight shaving..I read alot of posts watched a ton of videos...that I had a great start to this..up until my shave today..which I just finished BTW..I realized I have not been DOING what has been mentioned.
    Let me try to explain so that especially other new to this like me can understand.
    I thought I was shaving with all the tips in my head that have suggested...I have not.
    I thought I was building lather properly...I have not
    I thought my technique was good for a beginner...it was not

    Today I decided no pre shave oil...been feeling that it was making my skin tacky..but I chose in my mind to ignore it up until today..(habits die hard)
    I thought I was letting the blade do all the work...until today I was doing it and my face was paying for it.
    Until today I thought I needed to get most of the hair in the first pass ( i know a big no no) but once again habits die hard
    Until today I thought my face really can handle an ATG ( it really does not like it but once again to ignore it)

    So today I lathered up and make probably the best lather I ever made...and I know it because this was like whipped cream...and I always thought my lathers were good...you dont know good until you really get it done. I let the blade just flow for a change instead of me trying to make it go where I wanted it to (sorry no other way to describe this)..I did the first pass and saw that there was still alot of growth ( I had a three day stubble and I have dark thick stubble) but I said to myself so what..finally said so what..that is what a second pass is for. I did not try to whack it off in one fail swoop... and like I said I THOUGHT I had it down.

    I did the second pass again WTG not like my previous XTG...and more came off...Now the light really goes off.
    I third a thrid WTG and then said to myself that is it...no more..if there was still some roughness SO WHAT..

    No XTG or ATG...no nicks...no burning...nothing.
    It is the prettiest shave...to me yes because I finally got it..yes my face still looks a little dark but you know what...so be it

    All in good time folks all in good time

    I thought I had it..until you start to actually GET it.

    Just passing on what I thought was a GREAT shave today..

    my styptic pencil finally has the day off.

    Anthony
    Last edited by aespo; 10-08-2012 at 05:46 PM. Reason: added name

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to aespo For This Useful Post:

    mfalco (10-12-2012), rkw216 (10-08-2012), roughkype (10-09-2012), ScottGoodman (10-09-2012)

  3. #2
    Maniac, Mechanic, Mastermind falingore's Avatar
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    It's a really great feeling when everything finally comes together like that. Congratulations.
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    Do to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off; we apologize for any inconvenience.

  4. #3
    Not with my razor 🚫 SirStropalot's Avatar
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    Hi aespo,
    Congrats on your sucess!!

    As one of the guys, I'll say this about myself. Sometimes it's pretty hard for us guys to admit to ourselves that after the extended period of two shaves (me), we haven't mastered it and just keep repeating the same thing thinking the outcome will change! I did the very same things, and suspect maybe a couple more here might have too.

    Thanks for sharing and your words of encouragement!!

    Best Regards,
    Howard
    Last edited by SirStropalot; 10-08-2012 at 05:43 PM.
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  6. #4
    Senior Member tiddle's Avatar
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    Happens to everybody, that light bulb turns on and it's a OHHH YEAAAH moment. Just stay adament about doing it right and it will start going well for you and you may not even realize it until after the shave...happened to me. Good luck sir, and remember...the second you want to get in a hurry and get done, well this pretty much sums up the one fell swoop theory
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    Mastering implies there is nothing more for you to learn of something... I prefer proficient enough to not totally screw it up.

  7. #5
    Senior Member EggSuckingLeech's Avatar
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    Your post has motivated me - thank you.

    My best shave to date was probably my first one. I had no cuts and it was far from perfect. Of course it was also only limited to my cheeks

    Since then I have tried ATG as well as my entire face and I haven't escaped without cuts or lots of irritation. I think I am rushing this but I can't help it - it's my over-achiever personality type!

    After reading your post, I'm going to let my face heal up for a few days. I'm going to back up and stop attempts at ATG and I will try 3 passes all WTG reducing the beard with each pass. If I want a BBS shave I guess I can always just use my DE. I have lots of trouble areas but screw it - I guess I will live with longer stubble in those areas for awhile...

    Thanks for your post.
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    aespo (10-09-2012)

  9. #6
    aka shooter74743 ScottGoodman's Avatar
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    And here's the best part...it only gets better!
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    Southeastern Oklahoma/Northeastern Texas helper. Please don't hesitate to contact me.
    Thank you and God Bless, Scott

  10. #7
    'tis but a scratch! roughkype's Avatar
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    Excellent post; I hope a lot of starting shavers see it! Your "SO WHAT"s are the words of a maturing man. Sometimes the wisdom lies in accepting a little slop for the time being. Writers freeze up when they expect to get the sentence perfect the first time. Machinists mess up when they try to get their dimension on the first pass and run too deep. Shavers get burned when they try to strip everything off in one heavy pass.

    Never try to remove any more than the lather. If your blade and beard prep are good, that's all you need to aim for. The whiskers will come off as a by-product.

    As Scott says above, it only gets better. In four years you'll still be discovering tiny improvements.

    Best wishes and happy shaves.
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    "These aren't the droids you're looking for." "These aren't the droids we're looking for." "He can go about his business." "You can go about your business."

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  12. #8
    Truth is weirder than any fiction.. Grazor's Avatar
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    Some good advice right there, less than perfect shaves seem to lead to slightly better shaves each time.

  13. #9
    Senior Member Havachat45's Avatar
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    It's what I call a BFO - Blinding Flash of the Obvious - and it DOES get better, too
    Hang on and enjoy the ride...

  14. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth celestino's Avatar
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    Anthony, well done and great insight! Good luck.
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