Thread: Skills and Personal Attributes

Originally Posted by JMS

Patience, perseverance and the ability to inflict pain on yourself and endure said pain until you get it right.

I was going to say this too - Patience. Calm. Coolness.

Take it easy. Don't rush things. Enjoy yourself.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I'd say curiosity, stupidity, imagination and money.

Thx Franky. The levity helps when frustrated.

As I told my boss once - persistence or stupidity (not knowing when to quit): both work fairly well.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I would say a person who has an interest in the past, such as nostalgia for lost arts/skills. . . That's not to say this type of person necessarily rejects modern notions; he strives to reconnect with a time when men were gentlemen.

That's definitely a large part of what drew me to this, though the immediate cause was finally getting fed up with scraping that strip of gooey crap off of twin-blade cartridges, and finding out that there were folks who shave with straight razors.

I really enjoy things that give me a tangible sense of connection with the past--acquiring the skill to do things the ways they were traditionally done. For a number of years, I brewed my own beer, using lower-tech methods rather than all the thermometers, hygrometers, etc. that would ensure that every batch I made would likely taste almost exactly like other batches made from that same recipe. I was brewing pretty much the way it was done 200, 300 years ago (except for the sanitation--THAT was modern!--and some of the equipment--glass carboys instead of wooden barrels). I liked playing around with the recipes and I liked not knowing exactly what I would get, but knowing that it would be good beer. And it always was.

Recently I was in Asheville, NC on business, and stopped in at Jack in the Wood one evening for a pint. I had their Green Man ESB, and in the first sip knew I had a beer with something that is sadly lacking in almost every beer, craft or not, commercially made in this country: I could really taste the barley. I knew I was drinking something that probably tasted exactly like what my ancestors would have had--and that made it an even more pleasurable experience for me.

And to bring this back to shaving: I was talking with my mother a couple of weeks ago, telling her that I had taken up straight shaving, and she told me that she has either her grandfather's (or great-grandfather's, she's not sure) razor and strop, and that they're mine the next time I go to see her. No idea what make they are or their condition, but I'm eager to find out. How cool would that be, to be shaving with the razor my GGF or GGGF had used?

Nice post, DP. I'm looking forward to the pics of your family razor.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I think the ability to work by touch - to perceive and understand feedback, and then to react/adapt/respond to it - is very important. Also a willingness to learn and keep an open mind. Those, along with what has been mentioned above.

I really like these points.

Here's my take:

Detail Oriented - Being able to spot that 2mm where the bevel is not set, or where it is not popping arm hair easily. Lots of people who don't like details would say "Well, most of the razor pops arm hairs, so thats good enough"...ummmm no...I don't think so.

Perfectionism - The hardest thing for me to learn was the "no wrist movement" at the flip, when stropping. It drove me insane practising slowly, with a butterknife, then a dull razor, then a sharp razor. However, it was something that I had to learn. Now it feels completely natural. Very similar to shaving ambidextrously.

I say this, because I spent two hours honing this morning. I was very detail oriented. And I am going to be rewarded this afternoon from a Boker King Cutter. (That's me, patting myself on the back).

Cheers all,
Maxi

I want to be careful to tell the newbs and potential newbs that read this thread that just because you don't have these skills and behaviors, that is no reason not to try this art.

In a lot of cases, straight razor shaving can help develop these skills and behaviors.

So these can certainly make the path easier, but should not be a go/no go for you.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Nice post, DP. I'm looking forward to the pics of your family razor.

Thanks, Franky! It may be a while before I can get there--I live in NC, and she's in Mississippi. But I plan to go see her before the end of the year.

I'd say courage/temerity. Lot's of senior gentleman (i'm 25) told me i'd love to shave with a straight razor but sticking such a sharp blade to my face is too scary.

And also, being a beginner, i must say each time i loose eyes contact with the blade (especially around the ear) the little voice inside me gets crazy and i feel a kind of pinch to my heart (yes..that's fear..).

No special skills required, average manual dexterity and body control are all you really need.

Patience is always helpful when learning something new, as is the willingness to fail in the initial attempt.

A certain degree of induvidualism is probably what brings most people to aquire any skill where easier and more widely used alternatives are available.

For some, the need to stand out in some way was probably a motivator, for others, not so much.