Thread: At what point did your shaves improve?

So yesterday, I had some extra time in the evening and used it for the shave. I have been carefully putting together the set of grips, angles, and strokes to get a good shave in the minimum number of passes.

Well did it ever work yesterday. I just got the smoothest most comfortable shave of my life and equal to a barbershop! And it felt great with nothing but a cold water rinse, it only improved with Alum, another rinse, and then some moisturizer.

It was unreal. Wetting my hands and face, I rubbed my finger tips everywhere and couldn't feel any stubble in any direction, anywhere! I mean zero. My skin as slick as an eel. And this morning I can just begin to feel some beard. I really don't need to shave today, at least not until maybe later this evening. Amazing.

Now the question, while doing the shave it remained comfortable at all times, but I noticed on the ATG pass and some cleanup spots my skin was getting a light pink color. Now I've done razor burn before and I definitely know what that looks like and feels like. So I thought to myself, "You know the test. Man up!"

So I wet my face and an Alum block and ran it over my face and neck, the best I got were a couple of 'tingles' and no sting. Now I've hit the burn head on with the Alum and felt the raging face fire, this wasn't it. This wasn't even close. The tingles barely registered.

The subtle pink color disappeared just a few minutes after the Alum block was dried on my skin. I washed it off and put on some moisturizer. No feeling but smooth skin, I let that soak in and dry. Then a small splash of an aftershave. Total comfort...

So what happen? Did I just push my skin to the very edge of starting a burn but halted just before? My face and neck skin look great this morning. The only thing different is the beard is coming in more slowly.

So is this what I should aim for, or try to avoid any pink at all? The shave was well phenomenal from the BBS and comfortable perspective. I mean I have got many smooth comfortable shaves before now, but this was different - a new level.

Slick as an eel, a total lack of beard, not even fuzz or skin pores, the pores closed up tight; my face and neck felt like I was lightly running my wet finger tips over smooth wet glass.


Best,

Ed

So it seems I hit shave perfection once this week, and the next shave is just excellent. Today is very smooth, comfortable enough but a little sting on the Alum block aftershave. So I guess in one way my shaves improved at around fifty shaves, but they also improved at other intervals.

First time I figured out my beard map was a big step forward. Keeping the blade properly stropped and plenty sharp joined the performance and was a big step forward. Figuring out how to shave my sideways neck hair was huge. Getting the angle and pressure right sure helped.

I was simply trying for a comfortable shave, I can do that easily now. Then I wanted a smooth comfortable shave, I am doing that frequently and almost routinely. Now I want to integrate everything into one smooth, safe, comfortable shave routine.

So the big improvement was about 50 shaves or so, but I'm still making improvements. Today I shaved each region of my beard from memory using the right sequence of passes, grips, and strokes. I had to think about it a bit, but soon it will be habit. I'm still deciding in certain situations if I get a better result with the dominate hand or the non-dominate hand.

So I guess my shaves are still improving... Very interesting sport! What is completely surprising is how steep the learning curve is for straight edge shaving. At one point it was a question of can I do this? Then it was can I do this well? Now it is can I consistently do this well?

I'm starting to think about -- I don't know what I don't know at this point. One thing that keeps me going? When it all comes together it is just laughably better than the expensive cartridge razors.

So the short answer, the shaves improved around 50 shaves. The longer answer, there were a lot of little fits and starts improvements throughout the 50 shaves until enough improvements just all pulled together, and I thought wow this is a great shave.

Best,

Ed

I think my shaves started getting better when I started experimenting with other ways of preparing the surface.you must have constant lubrication so your blade doesn't skip thus lessening the chance of cutting your client.

Chocolutus,

What are some of your favorite products to provide good lubrication?

Best,

Ed

Originally Posted by cubancigar2000

I started in December and when I reached 100 shaves, it seemed to go much better due to my technique and skills etc. Now at 180 I get a perfect shave every time. It really came together at about 150 when I listened to Tony Miller. I followed his advice. Strop 30 on the linen and 30 on the leather and have not had a marginal shave since

I am now at 205 and I get a wonderful shave every time

when my hands stopped shaking ..lol

really i was pretty much always comfortable but when i mentally learned the proper angles of the blade is when it all came together !!

Hey Gang;
Just to chime in...my routine has kind of developed to the point to where a cold water rinse and "almost scrub" works well. I suspect it's because the erector pili raise the hair up slightly. A warm water rinse is of little value to me in my routine. From the rinse I leave my face wet and make my lather with cold water and lather up. No pre-shave oil. I've tried it a few times but saw no benefit. Today I actually got a really good shave using two passes. I normally go with a one pass ATG but today I had two days growth from missing my shave yesterday. We had a "Fun Run" that I had to get up early for and manage. I thought it best then not go straight to the ATG with the str8 as I normally go with the ATG in my only pass. Today was WTG then ATG. Still had the trouble spot between my trachea and neck muscles and the corner of my jaw haded up to the ear. Funny too...I was really close to giving up the str8's altogether. Between the bit of extra time it takes, the extra effort and the crappy shaves I've been getting lately I was seriously questioning whether it was all worth it. My stropping and shaving technique had suffered due to the layoff I had to take while getting ready for a bodybuilding competition (placed 2nd in my Division) and the jittery-ness caused by the low calories and cutting supplements but...now the diet is a bit more relaxed and no cutting supplements are in the routine for the near future. All said I'm reconsidering my decision to quit the str's...all depends. Anyhoo...take care y'all.