Thread: 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.

Originally Posted by cenzo

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

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