Thread: A Newbie's Experiment

I've started an experiment today (very unscientific, of course) that will continue for the next 10 shaves (2weeks or so).

My purpose for posting it is:

1. A place to journal
2. Receive feedback from our esteemed shaving elders (fancy way to say more experienced shavers)
3. If anyone reads it and gets just 1 thing to improve their shave, it'll have been worth the time to type it.

Here it is:

I've noticed that I have accumulated a lot of differing techniques and advice from a great many sources. I am not a collector and I'm not into restoration, I simply want a close, comfortable shave. I have been inspired by the barbering textbook/manuals in that these were men who shaved multiple people daily and essentially used nothing but a razor, hone and strop and a couple of very simple tests for keenness of edge.

I propose to take and combine some of the advice and techniques learned into a simple, enjoyable daily routine.

My hypothesis:

I will achieve an enjoyable, comfortable shave with minimal maintenance using the following approach.

1. Beard prep begins in the shower with washing my face then using the facecloth to do a brief hot towel treatment.
2. TGQ cream will provide the best lubrication and least drying effect than cake soap
3. Long strokes are better than short
4. Diagonal positioning of the blade is desirable. (this is the guillotine that honedright mentioned in a previous thread with this difference - heel leading will be easier for much of the face than will tip leading)
5. Starting my strokes used for more difficult areas (ie -chin) further away and continuing with light pressure and the diagonal position of the blade will help give a closer, less irritating shave. (For example, start my XTG pass on the chin by placing the blade half way between ear and chin, take a long stroke and do not stop once I feel resistance - this is where the pulling for me occurs as I stop at the first feeling of resistance and get the blade stuck. By continuing a long, diagonal, light stroke, I will slice through the hair and the result is less passes being needed thus less irritation.
6. Strop between first and second passes (it's in the barbering textbook and must be there for a reason)
7. Edge maintenance will be done using the thumbpad and thumbnail test as supplied by Joe Lerch (I'll add a link later to the summary he once provided).

I will say this, I tried this today with a result that is very satisfying. I want to give it a series of 10 shaves to see if I can duplicate the results consistently.

I am aware that to many, this is a "well, no (blank) Sherlock" type of thing. And I certainly don't propose this as the end all, be all of shaving. I'm simply chronicling what my experience is toward a shave that I can be happy with. Everyone's definition of that type of a shave and method of achieving it is their own.

I expect a full report young man -- double spaced and quality bond paper. Seriously, it sounds great --trying to figure out the long vs short stroke thing myself. If you watch the Turkish and Tunisian videos it seems those professionals like short strokes so I don't know. Later gator,

Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

I expect a full report young man -- double spaced and quality bond paper. Seriously, it sound great --trying to figure out the long vs short stroke thing myself. If you watch the Turkish and Tunisian videos it seems those professionals like short strokes so I don't know. Later gator,

Justin

MLS or APA guidelines??

Oh, thanks for saying "young man"

Steve, you're quite welcome ,young man. No matter what your age, if you're not dead your pretty young. In this wacky internet age, I sometimes forget about the rigors of those guidelines--- so pick one ---they probably have an icon you just click on your word processor that does it for ya. Guidelines? making my fingers sweat --Mrs. Humbacker (English teacher ) looking over my shoulder. Take it easy,

Justin

I'm gonna come right out of the gate and contradict #3. Short strokes are ideologically a better idea, but I've seen long strokes work and used them occasionally myself. But it's your shave.

Also disagree with part of #4. Tip leading is recommended, not heel.

And notice the lack of stretching technique mentioned. This is an essential element to the happy shave and can drastically affect your outcome.

Like I say though, this is your log and your shaves so you'll do it how you like. Just some food for thought.

X

X:

OK, you made a good point. I AM going to stretch the skin, I simply forgot to mention that. So I'm glad you said something. I guess I just take that as a granted.

As to heel vs. tip. I've tried both and find that on some areas of my face, I simply can't get it with the tip. Example. I'm fine with shaving the sides with the tip leading but for some reason doing so on the chin increases my risk of cutting myself. When I do my chin with the heel leading, I find it to be safer. Can I say what makes the difference? Nope.

As to long vs. short strokes. On the isolated times that I've used short strokes, it wasn't a good experience from an irritation point of view (my skin is fairly sensitive). However, perhaps it would be a good idea if I broke it into a group of 5 shaves with short and 5 with long to compare.

You just fulfilled #2 of my purpose for posting and I'm grateful for that. Let's see how it goes.

I think this is a great idea. I'd love to see a sticky or blog, "The Road To Straight Razor Shaving" written by a beginner. Start with a brief why you started this, what equipment you chose to start with and why and then chronicle your adventures, day by day. What worked what didn't work. Explain why you think it worked or didn't.

There could be a sister thread where you come to ask us questions and seek advice but your main thread would be locked so only you would post/reply like a diary and it's won't get clogged or off track with our commemnts. Just a nice, smooth progression of your path.

Obviously it would only be one persons experiences but it may serve as a guide to other newbies and they will see that any one method is not the oath to go. One needs to experiment and try different approaches to find what works for him.

If you were willing to do this maybe one of the moderator or administartors could give you your own locked thread to post to.

Tony

Yeah, steve, maybe you could end up with one of those downloadable ebooks $19.99
-- a soon to be classic

justin

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I think this is a great idea. I'd love to see a sticky or blog, "The Road To Straight Razor Shaving" written by a beginner. Start with a brief why you started this, what equipment you chose to start with and why and then chronicle your adventures, day by day. What worked what didn't work. Explain why you think it worked or didn't.

There could be a sister thread where you come to ask us questions and seek advice but your main thread would be locked so only you would post/reply like a diary and it's won't get clogged or off track with our commemnts. Just a nice, smooth progression of your path.

Obviously it would only be one persons experiences but it may serve as a guide to other newbies and they will see that any one method is not the oath to go. One needs to experiment and try different approaches to find what works for him.

If you were willing to do this maybe one of the moderator or administartors could give you your own locked thread to post to.

Tony

Tony,

1. What equipment I chose to start with and why?? It'd read like a WSG and TGQ apologetics manual

2. In all seriousness, I'm not the guy for this. I'm no one special

3. I've already been at this since November. I think it would be a better thread if it was started by someone just picking up a razor from day 1. It's just that I've been trying isolated ideas. I now want to put some of what I've been learning together in a complete routine, get other's opinions of my results, swap out one or two ideas and try again until I get a shave that I, personally, can consider close, comfortable, enjoyable and simple.

I think you have a great idea, though, for the right person.

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Yeah, steve, maybe you could end up with one of those downloadable ebooks $19.99
-- a soon to be classic

justin

Anders Larson took care of this in a way.