Thread: What bugs me

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

FrankD,THANK YOU!! I thought I was the only one to have such feelings. Not wanting to offend anyone but it seems to me that in every one of those shaving videos the shaver is a full faced person. No nooks. No crannies. No hollows. No protuberances, Just full, slightly rounded physiognomy. It would be a boon to the many if some of the very experienced straight razor shavers of the forum who possess a face of valleys, canyons and mountains, or some combination of such would do a series of videos casting light on shaving in those areas that irritate many of the brethren of the razor.

I agree, if my face were the same shape as my upper thigh, I could shave my face in 30 seconds.

Phrank, at least his face didn't have that convexity to it that so many of the other shaving videos have. While a fast shave he does demonstrate what a really good well honed razor can do.

Originally Posted by wtrwar

I'm new to straights and SRP but my thought that shaving in this manner is a learned skill. I imagine as with all learned skills the more you do it the better you get at it. I am a huge NASCAR fan and I can't imagine pit crews that bang out sub 14 second four tire pit stops were making those times when they 1st started.

Something tells me you're gonna be just fine...

This is exactly the right mindset to have.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

FrankD,THANK YOU!! I thought I was the only one to have such feelings. Not wanting to offend anyone but it seems to me that in every one of those shaving videos the shaver is a full faced person. No nooks. No crannies. No hollows. No protuberances, Just full, slightly rounded physiognomy. It would be a boon to the many if some of the very experienced straight razor shavers of the forum who possess a face of valleys, canyons and mountains, or some combination of such would do a series of videos casting light on shaving in those areas that irritate many of the brethren of the razor.

Haha...leave the fat guys alone! Actually, I'm a thin guy, and I do long strokes on about 2/3 of my face. It is only the center third that I do short strokes on.

For me, I can get through the cheeks fairly quickly, but for me, it's feels like a 90 degree angle from my cheeks to the jawline, and my trouble spot has always been along the jawline.

The neck and cheeks, no problem, but I have to use short strokes drops from above and up from below in order to get a DFS along the jawline....sometimes I feel like I'm shaving Max Headroom (now there's a reference from the past).

My wife said, "So how does it feel to shave your face with a weapon?" That pretty much describes her perspective of the ritual. I told her it is NOT a weapon when in the right hands and it takes time to master the use.

I have assembled an ensemble of different razors from different manufacturers that were acquired thru several means (antique dealers, flea markets, eBay and such). I have been following various forums here for the proper way to clean, hone, strop and prepare each razor.

I am building the arsenal of sharpening equipment based on feedback here.

However, the most important part about the entire process is learning the proper shaving technique for my face using a straight. My father started me on a safety razor years ago and I am now reminded of how careful one must be with the straight shaving technique. Slooooow down and pay attention!

Everything comes down to the touch and the approach: sharp ready shave razor with as straight a blade as possible, face prep, good lighting, use both hands, get the angle right and shave. Then learn from that experience, write down the mechanics afterward and evaluate this shave. I have shaved 8 times now using different blade weights and designs. I am finding what works and what doesn't work on my face. I have a very long way to go before I can give any advice to anyone else but patience is at the top of the list.

After shave #1 & #2 I was wondering if this was the right way to go. After #7 & #8, I look forward to each experience (except for the CHIN)!

Originally Posted by r2razor

My wife said, "So how does it feel to shave your face with a weapon?" That pretty much describes her perspective of the ritual. I told her it is NOT a weapon when in the right hands and it takes time to master the use.

I have assembled an ensemble of different razors from different manufacturers that were acquired thru several means (antique dealers, flea markets, eBay and such). I have been following various forums here for the proper way to clean, hone, strop and prepare each razor.

I am building the arsenal of sharpening equipment based on feedback here.

However, the most important part about the entire process is learning the proper shaving technique for my face using a straight. My father started me on a safety razor years ago and I am now reminded of how careful one must be with the straight shaving technique. Slooooow down and pay attention!

Everything comes down to the touch and the approach: sharp ready shave razor with as straight a blade as possible, face prep, good lighting, use both hands, get the angle right and shave. Then learn from that experience, write down the mechanics afterward and evaluate this shave. I have shaved 8 times now using different blade weights and designs. I am finding what works and what doesn't work on my face. I have a very long way to go before I can give any advice to anyone else but patience is at the top of the list.

After shave #1 & #2 I was wondering if this was the right way to go. After #7 & #8, I look forward to each experience (except for the CHIN)!

A pencil can be a weapon in the right hands...how does she feel about that? Or a rolled up magazine?

I would say, far from it being a weapon, it's a tool that's been used to shave with long before cartridge razors and such were even thought of. Sheesh, safety razors were an innovative thing and they are what, maybe 150 years old?

Perspective is important, the device you use to shave is no more a weapon than the knife you use to cut your pancakes, with Canadian Maple Syrup of course!