Experienced Str8 Shaver... New Technique!

I continue to use "the thumb on the blade" technique, and will not go back to the other way (however, I do not use this technique when going up on my neck, as it is very awkward... my neck is the only place I go s/n, everything else is with the grain or cross grain).

I dont' see any danger in using this technique... it really stabilizes the razor and gives me considerably more control, especially on those reall pesky parts such as right under the nose. I'm really able to single out any whisker and take care of it easily.

If you are seasoned enough to have good technique and feel comfortable wielding one of these things, I would recommend giving this a try. Again, I had been using a straight for 3 years before discovering this.

OK, my soap box is beginning to get wobbly.

best,
Andrew

Quote:

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Originally Posted by str8_razr

I continue to use "the thumb on the blade" technique, and will not go back to the other way (however, I do not use this technique when going up on my neck, as it is very awkward... my neck is the only place I go s/n, everything else is with the grain or cross grain).

I dont' see any danger in using this technique... it really stabilizes the razor and gives me considerably more control, especially on those reall pesky parts such as right under the nose. I'm really able to single out any whisker and take care of it easily.

If you are seasoned enough to have good technique and feel comfortable wielding one of these things, I would recommend giving this a try. Again, I had been using a straight for 3 years before discovering this.

OK, my soap box is beginning to get wobbly.

best,
Andrew

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Andrew,

Before you fall off the soap box......How does this technique change the angle of the blade to the face. I've tried it and it seems like I need to keep a much sharper (greater than the traditional 30 deg.) angle. I'm not really sure why but that's what I've run into.

OK, now close the razor before you fall :D

It seems that he's holding the blade at almost 90 degrees to his face and that he goes over each area repeatedly.

So he is apparently scraping the hair off rather than cutting it cleanly.

Tom

The angle doesn't change at all... still very easy to keep my normal 30 degree angle. I maybe have to torque my wrist a little more than usual when I'm shaving down on my neck, but that's really the only time where anything feels different, and the difference is very minimal.

As I stated in a previous post (or at least I think I did) I put my pinky on the underside of the monkey tail to provide support (I've always done this). Without having that pinky for added stability, the grip feels pretty awkward (I've tried it). The guy on the video obviously does not use his pinky in this manner, as it is IN the monkey tail... so it can be done. To me it looked like he kept a pretty standard blade angle to his skin.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions

Andrew

Thanks Andrew

Quote:

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Originally Posted by str8_razr

To me it looked like he kept a pretty standard blade angle to his skin.

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I don't know.. If you watch the scales for the gap in between them you'll see many times when it's pointed almost directly at the camera which, aside from when he's doing his neck, makes it almost 90 deg. (especially in parts around chin/sideburns)

I don't like my thumb on the blade but that's just me... I'm in the "go with whatever you're most comfortable with" camp.

Ant

I tried the thumb on the blade idea for a while after that thread mentioned before was started - personally I never really got comfortable with it, but to be frank I never stuck with it for any appreciable amount of time.

But if it works for you - go for it. Anything that gets you safer, better shaves is good in my book.

Personally, if I want extra blade control I whack my pointer finger about half-way up the spine - works for me, YMMV.

James.