Thread: Not sure if anyone else does this..

People have been shaving facial for who knows how long with some sort of sharpened tool. All kinds of routines and myths have evolved along with it too. Maybe we are over thinking the simple action of shaving. The only thing I would suggest is to try different routines to see if they work for you as everyone has different hair. All I know is that if your blade is sharp enough it will easily cut your hair.

Bob

I shave with or without prep, I don't really have a routine, nor the patience.

The only thing I often do is face lather and let that sit for a while, this soften things up nicely and gives a pleasant shave.

After my shave I usually take a shower.

Originally Posted by RayClem

A razor blade is one of the most basic of tools, a simple wedge. When you shave the apex of the wedge starts to penetrate the hair and then the wedge shape pushes the keratin molecules apart until the tensile strength of the keratin chains can no longer sustain the force applied by the wedge. At that point, the hair is severed. Thus, the tensile strength of the hair is very important. Keratin molecules have very little strength in compression, but have good tensile strength.

Remember that tensile strength also depends upon the diameter of the "wire". Fine hair has a smaller diameter and thus a lower tensile strength than coarse hair. Thus, the coarser your hair, the more critical facial preparation becomes.

If what you say were true then anything you cut with a knife would reflect that theory. To me tensile strength is when you take anything really and stretch it to the breaking point. Cutting has nothing to do with it. There may be some trivial stretching on a molecular level but basically the edge is just cutting through the hair. I doubt the molecular stretching is enough to affect the cutting action/result.

I guess you have to ask a physicist or engineer of some sort.

Well it’s off topic anyway.. it’s whatever works for you right? I’m gonna try a cold shave and try out some other routines.. the thread is just to get some ideas on different methods and share them.. not really argue about the physics

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

What does tensile strength have to do with shaving? You're not pulling the hairs out.
It's the hardness of the hair that matters as the blade cuts through them.....

The comparison of whiskers and copper wire is an old one.
Tensile strength many be an incorrect parameter to discuss but
for thin wire and common whiskers it is a fair match.

One news outlet reported:
"Dry beard hair, says an alarming Gillette fact sheet on shaving, is “extremely
abrasive and about as tough as copper wire of the same thickness.”

I cannot find the Gillette fact sheet. I did find this...
https://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/...n-facial-hair/

And one important bit is we are all different. Not all of us can
scrape burnt dry oatmeal from a pot with our whiskers.

This seems to be better researched.
The Science Behind the Shave and How Wet Shaving is Better
..." the two scientists performed quite an exhaustive study that told us many truths about shaving. Unfortunately, they only looked at the tensile or stretching strength of hair. If you’ve ever heard that facial hair is stronger than copper wire, that myth comes from this study. Copper wire may break before hair when stretched, but in terms of shear or cutting strength, copper is far stronger than hair. Try slicing through a copper wire with your razor if you don’t believe me."....

I would add that water and whiskers change things.
Copper wire does not soak up water and get softer.

Yes, my routine is very similar to yours.
Hot shower, rubbing the mug.
Modified, face lathering.!

Like you, I build a partial lather in the mug, on top of a puck of soap, but too thick to consider as bowl lathering.
Then face lather, adding more water as needed to get it right. I like a wet lather, just not runny.

Bobs our tough guy. I think he would suffice with spit, if he ran out of cold water, for his shaves.

Shave on, gents.!