Thread: TWO QUESTIONS THaT GO TOGETHER

Originally Posted by xman

I thought the point of the suggestion was to see if we could get better shaves with more prep and fewer passes regardless of the historical fineries.

X

Who wants to do less passes and why? I love shaving with a str8 and want to do more passes.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Who wants to do less passes and why? I love shaving with a str8 and want to do more passes.

I think part of the joy in straight shaving is, believe it or not, shaving. If you're in a hurry then it's going to either be done in a less-than-perfect manner or with another tool. It's never a bad idea to keep the old 5-blade razor in the medicine cabinet in case you do run into such a problem.

Prep-work is important, but there's something to taking your time and doing things right and thoroughly. With enough prep I'm sure you could do it in 1 good clean pass, but that just seems to take the joy out of it for me. If you enjoy the prep work more than the shave, then go for it!

I got a call from my wife that the in laws were coming over, just as I was getting into the shower so my shave got put off for a few hours. Well, I just tried a multi lather prep shave and it was great, one of the best. My current conclusion ... shaving out of the shower is a real time saver and still gets you a great shave. Hot towel treatments and multi latherings are truly luxurious moments that really should be taken when you can get them.

X

I want to do that every day, The smells, the sounds, The feel to me that's what this is all about. If you want to be in a rush the majority of the time, why do all of this. I think that this is truly an ART form, and I hope a few people like this group can keep this form alive, and well for a very long time.
Phil

I love to take my time shaving on the weekends, but for me, there is also great satisfaction in being able to get a quality and expedient straight shave in the morning before work. Being able to work quickly with a familiar tool is a good feeling as well.

I'm not talking about rushing or saying there is a right way and a wrong way. I think we all enjoy shaving with a straight razor, that's why we're here. All I'm saying is a softer beard equals a better shave.

It just so happens on my beard that the more time I put into prep the better the shave.

Try it. Take a properly honed straight, lather up. and shave, as many passes as you want.

Take the same razor 2 days later, strop it up. Wash your face with soap, doesn't make a difference. Wipe the soap off with a hot towel, put a preshave on and then another hot towel, lather and another hot towel, lather and shave.

Let me know if you need the same number of passes as the first shave and was there a difference in comfort, smoothness, and closeness, if that's a word.