Thread: Importance of technique

Probably a topic that has been covered numerous times before, but I had to post my experience with my technique. My shaves as of late have been rather uncomfortable. Razor burn on my neck in particular, and less than close shaves. I thought perhaps the culprit was that my razors weren't honed properly, or perhaps bad stropping technique.

However, I started experimenting with the angle of the blade - trying to get 1 or two spine widths distance from my neck throughout the shaving stroke. What a difference. My shaves are closer then ever, and no need to re-hone any razors. I'm using a 1K king and 4k/8k Norton, and am coming away with some really comfortable shaves.

Of course, proper prep helps too. Just thought I'd share this experience in case anyone else is having similar issues. Just pay a bit more attention to your shaving angle, and see what works for you!

There was a few times in the past when I needed to learn my lessons on how to shave. The technical points the were very important for me were, skin tight, lather wet enough, angle low and no pressure. Once I had incorporated those into my shaves, my shaves became very close, very comfortable and quite consistent. I'm glad it has come together for you.

It's a nice feeling when everything comes together. After the long learning curve, it helps to see a great result.

In my experience (not just SR saving, but across the board), there are usually four stages to learning a new skill: first, methods are not fully understood or applied but participant is eager, followed by methods being understood with careful but unskilled application with the participant still enthusiastic, then overconfidence leading to inconsistent though more skilled application with the participant struggling to overcome challenges, and lastly by consistent application with increasing skill. This leads eventually to competence and mastery. The third stage is where many people fall off the wagon, believing that the problem is equipment related and, despite heavy financial investment, show no improvement, so they quit in frustration.

Originally Posted by Moonshae

It's a nice feeling when everything comes together. After the long learning curve, it helps to see a great result.

In my experience (not just SR saving, but across the board), there are usually four stages to learning a new skill: first, methods are not fully understood or applied but participant is eager, followed by methods being understood with careful but unskilled application with the participant still enthusiastic, then overconfidence leading to inconsistent though more skilled application with the participant struggling to overcome challenges, and lastly by consistent application with increasing skill. This leads eventually to competence and mastery. The third stage is where many people fall off the wagon, believing that the problem is equipment related and, despite heavy financial investment, show no improvement, so they quit in frustration.

Extremely well thought out and scary accurate lol. A week long class could be taught about each of those stages with numerous related anecdotes. I'm probably between stages 1 and 2 and still loving the whole experience.

Originally Posted by Moonshae

It's a nice feeling when everything comes together. After the long learning curve, it helps to see a great result.

In my experience (not just SR saving, but across the board), there are usually four stages to learning a new skill: first, methods are not fully understood or applied but participant is eager, followed by methods being understood with careful but unskilled application with the participant still enthusiastic, then overconfidence leading to inconsistent though more skilled application with the participant struggling to overcome challenges, and lastly by consistent application with increasing skill. This leads eventually to competence and mastery. The third stage is where many people fall off the wagon, believing that the problem is equipment related and, despite heavy financial investment, show no improvement, so they quit in frustration.

Agree completely. I do a a fair amount of professional education. The stages are boiled down to
unconsciously incompetent you don't know what you don't know
consciously incompetent, you know what you don't know
consciously competent you know what you should know
unconsciously competent, you know without thinking about it.

Your version is more elegant

I boil it down to "trust your equipment, doubt yourself and strive for better execution independent of experience."

I'll boil it down to, if it ain't shaving right, lower the shaving angle so that the spine is closer to the skin.

I too will boil it down: Improbe Neptunum accusat, qui iterum naufragiam facit.

I too will boil down the boilings down
ο καθένας προσπαθεί να πει το ίδιο πράγμα σε διαφορετικές λέξης

I have watched and patterned my technique after GeoFatBoy and Lynn. I was in FL for 2 month and went in to get a shave. The young man who gave me the shave was discussing straight razor shaving and he brought up some interesting ideas. First, angle the blade don't shave with the blade straight. He said if you are plowing snow, it works better moving snow with the blade angled. Second, use short strokes where the blade point passes the heel. I thought that was really strange. He showed me with his shavette and asked how it felt. It felt very comfortable. The next day I tried it with my 6/8 Mastro Livi and it shaved very smooth with no irritation and the shave was very close. One point, you must stretch the skin and use a very light touch.