Thread: Should whiskers really be soft?

Originally Posted by Laurens

The latter is my current favourite, as the risk of bumping my razor into the sink is the lowest. Contrary to Ed, I don't make a stropping motion, but a wipe parallel to the edge. I find it does not degrade the edge when I do.

The reason I don't wipe parallel to the edge is that if the blade moves in a forwards motion I would cut my cloth, which in itself doesn't matter, but I may damage the edge.
If I described what I do more accurately it would be:
Damp cloth over edge of sink,
Lay spine of razor on cloth,
Wipe razor spine first over lip of sink ( obviously on the cloth)
Move cloth a bit further over sink to get clean area
Repeat.
I can use the same area of the cloth over and over for the whole shave but sometimes I like to see the stubble I have removed which always ends up at the front of my wipings.
At the end of the shave I do a single strop on a towel to get rid of as much lather residue as possible, dry on a cloth and strop.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

The reason I don't wipe parallel to the edge is that if the blade moves in a forwards motion I would cut my cloth, which in itself doesn't matter, but I may damage the edge.
If I described what I do more accurately it would be:
Damp cloth over edge of sink,
Lay spine of razor on cloth,
Wipe razor spine first over lip of sink ( obviously on the cloth)
Move cloth a bit further over sink to get clean area
Repeat.
I can use the same area of the cloth over and over for the whole shave but sometimes I like to see the stubble I have removed which always ends up at the front of my wipings.
At the end of the shave I do a single strop on a towel to get rid of as much lather residue as possible, dry on a cloth and strop.

Do I recognise that! That's what I love most about shaving after a few days. Which hardly ever happens, as I'm an addict.

I too put the cloth on the lip of the sink, but I don't worry about hurting the edge. Also, I don't worry about the little bit of lather that stays on the blade because the cloth does not reach into the hollow grind. When done shaving, I rinse the razor under the tap, wipe it with a towel and strop a few times on canvas.

Originally Posted by Laurens

Do I recognise that! That's what I love most about shaving after a few days. Which hardly ever happens, as I'm an addict.

I too put the cloth on the lip of the sink, but I don't worry about hurting the edge. Also, I don't worry about the little bit of lather that stays on the blade because the cloth does not reach into the hollow grind. When done shaving, I rinse the razor under the tap, wipe it with a towel and strop a few times on canvas.

As I use a frame back that for the first month or so in my care was a loaner I got very paranoid about water, so I would say that my razor sees more water when it is honed than it would in any shave. I never rinse it before, during or after shaving.
The best stubble to look at is against the grain sideburn stubble, no idea why.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

As I use a frame back that for the first month or so in my care was a loaner I got very paranoid about water, so I would say that my razor sees more water when it is honed than it would in any shave. I never rinse it before, during or after shaving.
The best stubble to look at is against the grain sideburn stubble, no idea why.

I don't like the look of framebacks, so I only got one, which my sister gave me (and still needs fixing, bad chip in the edge). As such, I only take care to prevent water from reaching the pivot.

My best stubble is moustache and chin, with the grain. When I go against the grain, so little stubble is left from the first pass, it barely colours the lather. We should have a Stubble of the Day thread.

Originally Posted by Laurens

I don't like the look of framebacks, so I only got one, which my sister gave me (and still needs fixing, bad chip in the edge). As such, I only take care to prevent water from reaching the pivot.

My best stubble is moustache and chin, with the grain. When I go against the grain, so little stubble is left from the first pass, it barely colours the lather. We should have a Stubble of the Day thread.

Frame backs do seem to be a bit love it or hate it. I have a couple of other razors, but it is my confirmed favourite. I like the slight curve in the blade. Though now my sideburns are slightly larger the curve makes the line at the base a bit more tricky.
I think it's the fact that the stubble covers a decent amount of the length of the blade that makes it good, though come to think of it my neck/ jaw gets some good second pass stubble too.
If I started posting photos of lumps of shave soap contains stubble to the web my wife would probably divorce me for being a complete freak, but I do like the idea.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

...
If I started posting photos of lumps of shave soap contains stubble to the web my wife would probably divorce me for being a complete freak, but I do like the idea.

Is she a member here too?

Originally Posted by Laurens

Is she a member here too?

Don't be silly, she uses a waxist but I couldn't exactly take piccies of my lather and post them without her finding out, we do after all live in the same house. Except when I am away for work. There we go, talked it through and solved the problem.
Karen wouldn't really divorce me, but she would definitely think I am more strange.

There use to be time I thought shaving is simple. You splash your face, spread canned goo with your hand on your face and take your gillette and scrape stubble off with force. After discovering wet shaving and straight razors nothing seems to be simple.

If somebody asks me now advices about straight razor shaving or wet shaving he needs to sit down and be ready listen for at least hour me lecturing about this. I have been hot water shaver for a year but now I think tomorrow is the day I try cold water shaving. But freezing my shaving soaps... well maybe that day will come too...

Originally Posted by Jaatinen1982

There use to be time I thought shaving is simple. You splash your face, spread canned goo with your hand on your face and take your gillette and scrape stubble off with force. After discovering wet shaving and straight razors nothing seems to be simple.

If somebody asks me now advices about straight razor shaving or wet shaving he needs to sit down and be ready listen for at least hour me lecturing about this. I have been hot water shaver for a year but now I think tomorrow is the day I try cold water shaving. But freezing my shaving soaps... well maybe that day will come too...

Sounds familiar, when I started I always threw a big shave parade, hot shower, towels, prep, pre all the fixen's, now, the most elaborate thing I do is indulge in the Alum Block (my favorite) and store my soap in the fridge (thanks to Ed for that tip!) which makes the lather much thicker and sticky in my opinion, and splash on cold water, shave, alum block and done...two passes and a DFS...

K I S S - keepin' it simple cause I'm stupid!!

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves, as you put it, that it's just shaving...150 years ago they didn't cheer and hold a press conference before and after shaving!!

Just dabbling into the cold shave myself and first outing for my sensitive skin feels better.