Like a noob..again

Greetings everyone.

Many many months ago I posted my first thread on the forum. I was thrilled to receive too many kind repsonses to count and quickly came to understand that this truly is the best place to visit for all things Straight Razor. I kept at it with my TI until I finally felt comfortable with xtg and atg. I knew I had sort of a "thing" going when house guests were insistent that they get to watch me shave. I even had my first mishap with a dropped razor and a small chip, which I (probably stupidly) never really took care of. I just kept on shaving. And I loved it.

But then something happened. I just ran out of time one day. And then I ran out of time again and again. And then before I had realized what happened I had not pickup up my straight in months.

To be fair, I didn't just jump back on the fusion wagon, I picked up an Edwin Jagger DE and have been using that exclusively.

But the other day I had some time on my hands and I wanted to treat myself to a real shave. And I realized that I once again was absolutely terrible at shaving. Nothing felt right. I'm sure my stropping sucks. My shaving angles were way off, and in general it was one of the worst shaves I've had in ages. And I realized, shaving is very much a perishable skill. While I'm not cutting into my cheeks the way I did my first time, I could not get a smooth shave after way too many passes.

I'm I alone in this? Or does this happen to everyone? And can someone please tell me that the road to recovery from such terrible shaving is a short and straight path?

With all the respect once again for you guys out there who make this look easy,

Cenzo

Hey Cenzo, I am just back from a 3 week holiday where I was using a disposable type razor. Yea, I think my skills are off a bit now too. It is like riding a bike I guess. You never forget how but it takes awhile to get back up to speed.

Bob

Three week holiday? I'd say a couple of tricky shaves was well worth it.

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Originally Posted by cenzo

Three week holiday? I'd say a couple of tricky shaves was well worth it.

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I have been rocking a Dovo Bismark. I am working hard on the strop work and hopefully get it to where it has an edge. I do the arm hair test and it pops off so I'm thinking I'm doing okay with that process. I am having trouble figuring the shaving around my goatee. Too many angles for me at this point. I finish off with my DE. One day I'll have the angles down.

I think I would put it down to more practice required. I've been using my cut-throats for a decent amount of time now, and in the one and only time I went to pure DE for a respectable length of time before switching back to C-T, it was no problem what-so-ever. It was like I hadn't stopped at all. These days I just alternate as I feel like it (as each razor calls to me I suppose :)).


Mick

Turk, what issues are you having with shaving around your goatee? I know each face is different, as are goatee styles, but I find that using a cut-throat to work around the edges and in the small spaces of the goatee is better and far easier than any other razor or electric contraption on the market.


Mick

I have to agree with Mick, I think it is about muscle memory. I have stopped using str8's for up to two three weeks at a time and have found when I went back, nothing changed.

Like riding a bike I guess. Keep at it, things will get better quickly.

You may have actually stopped using the straight too soon. You were/are still learning the right way to use the razor with your face and really haven't built up that muscle memory to the point where maybe one "eh" shave then you're back in the game. So, just keep practicing, and make it a point to use that razor even if you have to shave at night before bed to do so, a week or two and you'll be right back.

I am with tiddle ^^

^Ditto the Ear :)


Mick

I suppose I never could call myself a true expert to begin with. Although I'll have to admit, shaving with the Edwin Jager is a pure delight.

Been there, done that. Except my time off from the straight was for years.

It really was a shock when I started again, how much it took to get comfortable shaving again with the straight.

With a little practice, I'm sure it won't take long for you to get back on track.You may find that after a time things are better than ever.

Michael

I wouldn't give up my DE for anything. I love my merkur barber pole, and want a 34c as well, but the straights just require more consistency vs. the DE b/c most people can associate those with a disposable so it's kind of like the whole bike quote. You used a cartridge for years, the DE is similar, the straight...totally different animal.

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Originally Posted by MickR

Turk, what issues are you having with shaving around your goatee? I know each face is different, as are goatee styles, but I find that using a cut-throat to work around the edges and in the small spaces of the goatee is better and far easier than any other razor or electric contraption on the market.


Mick

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First off, I apoligize cenzo for hijacking your thread. Mick, I am having trouble approaching the goatee in general. In other words, I don't have a good grasp on how to approach the goatee with the razor. I don't seem to have the muscle memory in place to feel all that comfortable with cutting into it too far and messing it up. I imagine in time that will come. Do you hold the razor at 90 degrees, in other words heel down toe up or do you do a verticle approach going from top to bottom with the razor horizontal?

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Originally Posted by Turk

First off, I apoligize cenzo for hijacking your thread. Mick, I am having trouble approaching the goatee in general. In other words, I don't have a good grasp on how to approach the goatee with the razor. I don't seem to have the muscle memory in place to feel all that comfortable with cutting into it too far and messing it up. I imagine in time that will come. Do you hold the razor at 90 degrees, in other words heel down toe up or do you do a verticle approach going from top to bottom with the razor horizontal?

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Depending on the style of goatee you have of course, but I will try my best to describe what I do for my own..I might even be able to find a picture of me with the goatee to help you with the visualising.
I have both goatee and moustache that merge into one another. For the outter edges I attack them at a 90 degree angle holding the razor close to flat. I do tend to go a little bit by feel as the shorter whiskers will be cut easier than the longer growth. I stop on the change of resistance. short whiskers come off with no resistance. The longer and thicker growth of whiskers of the goatee let you know give or take a hair or two, that you should stop.
I attack all sides and underneath using this technique after first shaving my initial two passes as close to the goatee as I feel comfortable.
After that I use either the heel or toe of the razor to pick out the stray hairs on the philtrum (the space directly under your nose) and in the spaces under the bottom lip where just a few stray hairs spring up.


The attached photo is over 10 years old, but the only thing that's changed really, is the distinctly greyer hair in the beard. Not so much on the head yet, but it's chosen to get decidedly thinner instead. I wear the goatee and mo a little longer these days too. The photo is the best I could find on short notice. :)

Attachment 110352


Mick

Shaved this morning with much better results. Still went to the DE for touchup but until I get a good feeling with the razor in my hand this may have to be the case. Little by little. Thanks for the tips.

I have a goatee thing that three separate parts; moustache, soul patch and goatee beard. I don't need to shave the moustache area really, just the tips and a tiny bit below the tips as it doesn't grow down much there I have a light beard really anyway). I find the heel really important to shave around the goatee beard area; I trip the soul patch area with scissors or a hair trimmer maybe once a week/once a fortnight. When I shave down from the left ear to the goatee I can't see the razor, so have to guess. I can feel it when it hits the goatee anyway; then I use the heel just like on the right side. I use the belly of the blade to do the bottom edge of the goatee.

I should convince my son to take a shave video of me one day...

And I just did a more accurate calcuation and realised that that photo is actually over 20 years old...Damn that makes me feel old!


Mick

Ditto x3. Its one thing to stop for a couple months after you've shaved with it for over a year but if you're inside 12 months I would say its quite understandable that it doesn't feel natural yet. Keep at it!