Newfound respect

Hello from central PA...

After several weeks of reading and ordering supplies, I just had my first whirl with a straight razor. I have a newfound respect for those of you who can do this so effortlessly! Trying to hold the razor at an appropriate angle without blocking my own vision was far more awkward than I had expected. I am very happy for the recommendation of only shaving a small portion on the side of one's dominant hand first. Had I tried to shave my whole face at once I'm sure I would have been a bloody mess.

I also learned directly why a spike tip is not recommended for a newbie. Even a muted spike point. Oops.

Anyway, thanks to all who contribute here. I am looking forward to developing the skill I need to make it the whole way across my face.

Oh - one other item... I wear glasses. How have others worked their way to 'knowing their face' without the need for glasses? I can't decide if slightly blurry vision or the presence of glasses is more of a hurdle.

welcome to the forums! I'm also a wetshaver who wears glasses. It's usually a better idea to shave with them, rather than without lol

The only issue I have is when i'm reaching over my head to pull my sideburns taut, it shifts my glasses a bit, but it gets easier with time and practice. Seriously, the slight annoyance of having glasses while trying to learn is alot better and IMO safer than trying without. I don't know about you, but my depth perception is off without my lenses, so that would mess with me alot. :beer1:

Welcome jf. I wear glasses but for shaving they come off. I have a swing out mirror on the wall with magnification on one side. I also use the wall mirror but I have to lean in close to see what I am doing.

Secret to success with the spike point is to shave with the heel and always have the tip angled away from your face. I have poked an ear lobe or two for lack of depth of field in the mirror. At first there is just so much you need to think about it is simple to have a problem. With practice (figure 50-100 shaves) the muscle memory starts to take over the thinking and you can move your concentration to the next issue.

You will be getting it all together soon enough and helping someone else along.

I went about 100 shaves before things settled down somewhat. It can be difficult still for me to decide just what element is causing my effects but the fun is in the discoveries and at some point the shaves just get easier and smoother and more comfortable.

I know what you mean...I block my own line of sight frequently. I basically have learned to use the mirror to guide WHERE to shave but not HOW to shave. That may sound odd, but basically, if I look into the mirror and try to correct my angle, I always seem to apply the opposite correction to what is intended because it is a reflection (I guess?).

Anyway, over time you develop a "feel" for what you are supposed to do, and the mirror just shows you where you have not yet shaved.

I may be the only one that feels this way, but that is how I do it. The more I concentrate on what the guy in the mirror is doing, the worse my results are.

Welcome aboard, and enjoy the ride. I think you will find it is fun and rewarding...and always getting smoother;)

Hello jfritsch;
Welcome to the SRP forum, glad to have you on board. That first shave is a little intense, isn't it. I know mine was. I remember thinking how hot it was in the bathroom that morning, much more than usual, because beads of perspiration were just rolling down my face. I had trouble with it getting in my eyes even. Then it occurred to me it was nervous perspiration. Just go slow, which it sounds like your doing, and take one thing at a time. Don't shoot for the perfect shave right off. One thing, on the blade angle, start with an almost flat angle to the face and if that doesn't shave then increase it just slightly until it is shaving. If you start with too high of an angle and then try to work down, you'll more likely to end up with some cuts.
I started not needing glasses, but since I've had to start using them to shave. As you progress you will develop feel for the razor on your face and you'll make many strokes by feel because you just can't get the angle to see. It'll become something that is second nature and just happens. To get at that sideburn area, I think that's where you're referring to, try using a guillotine type stroke and it will help your field of view. Cant the razor slightly heal down and make your stroke straight down as a guillotine would fall, but, rather than trying to explain it here's a video link to Charlie Lewis (spazola) using that stroke as he shaves, with glasses. YouTube - Straight Razor Shave With OCD Singing Razor
Easy with that spike point. You'll get the hang of it, but you have to always be thinking where it is and it's easy to get involved with trying to shave a certain area and forget where it's at. Good Luck, and we're always here for questions.

Regards
Howard

I have to wear my glasses, even the extendable shaving mirrors do not help my poor vision. Charlie's vidideo is good but i cheat a bit an wear longer sideburns (mid ear) which gives a little more room under the frames and is a bit easier to see. as for the spike you just need to give them a little time they will grow on but over time you are likely to own all the blade points and widths so just take your time and learn the merits of each.


jim

I use reading glasses for up-close. I must set the right nosepiece on the bridge of my nose to see to shave the left temple! No probs on the right! I know some who have a dedicated pair for shaving as well.
Whatever works!

I really love my bi-focal contact lenses.....:rock:

Gave it a shot while wearing my glasses today. MUCH easier! Still a lot to learn in regard to muscle memory and technique, but I felt a little more like a man shaving and a little less like a masochist with a razor blade.

Thank you to all for the great advice and resources!

Welcome to our Merry Bandaid of Brothers...

I wear glasses, but take them off to shave. I found that the different "views" as a tilted my head back to be disorienting.
Like others I found that a tilting mirror with some magnification to be a big help.
If you use one, experiment with moving closer/farther away. I noticed on mine that as the focal length changed I would get a smaller field of view, but magnification that helped a lot, especially working around the ear for me.
100 shaves is a good benchmark for many - you will also have "breakouts" by the time you get to 25 and then 50.

My biggest mistake when starting was too many razors....(gasp)
I only learned this when I was trying to master the Feather/CJB and used it exclusively for 20+ days in a row instead of once a week (or less....)
Early on I could have helped myself with a "less is more" approach.
There are so many variables to the process that the less complicated you make it the better (IMHO)

Congratulations, you are well on your way and in the right place to get help/support.
And this is the place find enablers to lead you down the path of RAD, HAD, SAD and all of our other shared afflictions...

I am guilty of taking on too much in the beginning. The multitude of variables can become frustrating and confusing but in my case rather than feeling lost or discouraged the variables only serve to intrigue and bedazzle me.

I have strange ideas about fun.

There is good reasoning for those of greater experience to coach us new users to slow down to master one thing at a time but if you don't mind spilling some of your own blood and challenges are for you juicy opportunities then buy lots of razors, get some hones, and several strops, and pile up the soaps, brushes, and other concoctions and jump right in.

I love this stuff.

Welcome and as one with glasses also, I keep mine on when I shave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MJC

My biggest mistake when starting was too many razors....(gasp)
I only learned this when I was trying to master the Feather/CJB and used it exclusively for 20+ days in a row instead of once a week (or less....)
Early on I could have helped myself with a "less is more" approach.
There are so many variables to the process that the less complicated you make it the better (IMHO)

---

I'm not sure I follow you correctly. Do you mean it's better to stick with one for a long time, to change out frequently, or to only add in a straight gradually such as once per week, then twice per week, etc?

I'd also be very interested in hearing what others found to be the biggest challenge. I am discovering that I really suck at stropping, and I worry I may be doing more dulling than sharpening. I know I'll 'get it' over time, but I'd prefer to not look like a lab experiment gone wrong in the meanwhile...

Stropping Stropping Stropping. It is the last thing you do before the steel hits skin. It has the most to do with a comfortable shave. It requires a bit more skill than it seems at first appearance. Practice a lot and figure at least 60 passes on leather before the razor hits your face. TheBigSpender did an experiment some time ago to discover much over 60 passes didn't produce good returns.

Mostly realize it will take likely 50 shaves before you begin to know just what angle works best for which places. It will take time to learn the best ways to stretch your skin. It will take time to get the lather working to your liking. You patience will be rewarded but these are truly skills which must be learned. Muscle memory takes practice to achieve.

I believe MJC was referring to limiting variables. At first there is much to learn and be aware. As time passes and by limiting the variables your muscle memory takes on the tedious tasks which at first occupy so much of your attention. Using the same razor, same lather, and same stropping you can concentrate on learning the angles and stretching. Soon the angles just happen and the stretching is routine and this is the point where you can begin to experiment with different blades or soaps or any of the other endless choices.

your progress this far is quite normal push on padiwan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jfritsch

I'm not sure I follow you correctly. Do you mean it's better to stick with one for a long time, to change out frequently, or to only add in a straight gradually such as once per week, then twice per week, etc?

I'd also be very interested in hearing what others found to be the biggest challenge. I am discovering that I really suck at stropping, and I worry I may be doing more dulling than sharpening. I know I'll 'get it' over time, but I'd prefer to not look like a lab experiment gone wrong in the meanwhile...

---

Oh we can open up a can of worms/threads out of your very good question - let me try to clarify.

As others have said, there are lots of variables and things to learn/master when you take of "the way of the Straight"
For me this Forum made all of the difference in the world (IMHO). The reference material, great short videos on skin stretching (which are also primers on angle of attack and hand positions if you watch them carefully). Also access to a great selection of "starter razors".

What I was getting to was the dirty not so secret problem of RAD, Razor Acquisition Disorder. Things went so well that instead of being discouraged I wanted to try everything...today.
Getting lots of razors was very nice, but I think it might get in the way of mastering the craft.

Most of us have at best passing exposure to shaving with a Straight Razor from a family mentor if we have that. For me it was 40+ years ago from an Uncle who was a traditional Sicilian Barber. And that was only "cleaning up your neck"...but the memory is vivid.

So the internet and this forum are now our tutors.
If you were learning "in the old days" you would be given one or two razors and a barbers hone and a strop. (I do know someone who came from a very traditional family that had this happen to him. He was allowed to get a Safety Razor when he cut the tip of his finger off doing a HHT)

Don't get me wrong, I love my collection but sometimes I wish that I had kept it to 2-4 until I had 100 shaves.
As I mentioned this came to me recently when I was trying to master the Feather Non Folding clone. One of the points from the forum was to stay with it for at least a week to get the hang of it. (very glad I did) And then I take it on the road for a long trip.
By the time 20+ days had passed I was amazed at how much better my shaving skills had gotten. And this is not just for the aforementioned Feather system, but all Straight Razor shaving.
So by now my very important stropping skills have atrophied...but I will get them back.

One of the things that I did to master stropping was to use a spring clamp to attach it to my counter and use it as a bench strop.
This took the "hold enough tension" thing out of the equation. I still hold the end of the strop and keep it taught, but it allows me to focus on the all those things they tell you to pay attention to. On Glen's suggestion I went to 20 Web and 60 on leather (I had been doing 20/40) and I did notice and improvement. Slow down would be another suggestion.

I'm not sure what to say about the Feather System (and its variants - KAI, CJB etc.)
On one hand they remove the stropping and edge maintenance from the equation - Shave ready is only seconds away and can be had for as little at $0.60. No strops or hones.
IMO they are not as "forgiving" as a conventional straight. This means that errors in skin tension or "landing/starting" that are not a problem with a SR can often mean a nick/cut/weeper/scrape with a Feather. They are also very efficient with a little practice - producing excellent results albeit with Zero nostalgia.. Read anything and the words "very sharp" will come up many times.

Summary - How you rotate your set is personal - the suggestion would be to keep the herd/collection or as I like to call it "Remuda" as small as you can. If the razor has a well prepared edge I'm convince you can learn to shave well on just about anything given enough practice. Too many razors means lots of variables - when it goes bad you may not be able to figure out what the problem is.

So one day the razor is something made 130 years ago and the next day its one that was made in March...I find that interesting.


The Thread I was thinking about starting (and it may be out there already - have not looked) is "pick 2 or 3 razors - what would they be?"

Hope that helps and did not bore you to tears...

Thanks again to all for the great advice. It is very much appreciated!

I have another question for you all... if my stropping is ineffective (ie: the razor is clearly not as sharp as it was just one week ago - there is tugging/dragging) should I switch to another recently-honed/prepared razor, or stick with one razor and fight my way through stropping, even if the blade is not as sharp as it should be? I imagine if I switch razors then in another week I'll be in the same boat. However, if I have a dulled razor am I shooting myself in the foot when it comes to learning proper shave technique?

Check you tube for stropping videos, as a matter of fact there should be some around here somewhere, SRP members hi_bud_gl and AFDavis11 have the best. As for the dulled razor, it may be you, it may be the razor, the strop or your technique. Without seeing for myself it is hard to say.

Thanks. I watched the stropping section of Lynn's video, along with some youtube examples and I had much better results this morning. Unfortunately, that led to overconfidence and I sliced my cheek like I was a religious nut sacrificing blood to the gods.

Stuff like this just makes me more determined than ever to master this damn thing.

What I've found is that face (cheek) slicing is most of the time and issue of skin tension.
And many times that tugging is not a dull edge, but a lack of tension.
If it's not a tension issue then a face slice is often from changing direction at a pause in the stroke.

Glad that you are getting a handle on the stropping - it is yet another muscle memory/habit that comes with a little practice.

And you have your mind right...as they say...but remember it is supposed to be relaxing and Zen like...don't start beating yourself up "Like a Rented Mule" as one of co-workers used to say...

Good luck and good shaving...

What I've found is that face (cheek) slicing is most of the time and issue of skin tension.
And many times that tugging is not a dull edge, but a lack of tension.
If it's not a tension issue then a face slice is often from changing direction at a pause in the stroke.

Glad that you are getting a handle on the stropping - it is yet another muscle memory/habit that comes with a little practice.

And you have your mind right...as they say...but remember it is supposed to be relaxing and Zen like...don't start beating yourself up "Like a Rented Mule" as one of co-workers used to say...

Good luck and good shaving...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jfritsch

Stuff like this just makes me more determined than ever to master this damn thing.

---

You are going to do alright!

@ MJC Watch how you talk about mules, rented or otherwise! :)

Another glassed shaver here as well, I tend to tilt them down to my nose when doing my sideburns, then back up where they belong, and go from there. You just gotta play with em' and figure out where your best line of sight is; took me a hot minute! Spikes are my favorites and I learned with one as well, just go slow around anything that sticks out (like earlobes), and you will get the hang of it. I also tilt the point away just a bit on my jaw line just in case. Once you have the spike down, rounds will be easy peasy my friend. :gl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

You are going to do alright!

@ MJC Watch how you talk about mules, rented or otherwise! :)

---

I like Mules...many years ago we rode Mules while Coon Hunting in Louisiana, always the preferred mount.
Note that I mention being mean to a Mule as bad behavior...

And I see you are from KC, if I recall correctly the US Army had a Mule farm/training operation in MO. until 1955?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MJC

I like Mules...many years ago we rode Mules while Coon Hunting in Louisiana, always the preferred mount.
Note that I mention being mean to a Mule as bad behavior...

And I see you are from KC, if I recall correctly the US Army had a Mule farm/training operation in MO. until 1955?

---

The training center is long gone as you have noted. But Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee were/are still selling mules to the army. Many of the animals you see the Taliban using in Afghanistan are animals we sold or gave them when the Soviets were there. I would much rather ride a mule than a horse, much smoother ride.