Thread: My straight razor abilitys

I knew I was getting comfortable when I got up the day of my daughters wedding (which I was officiating) and shaved with a straight without giving it a thought.

I'm coming up to my 2 year mark in July. While I still very occasionally have a bad shave, it's almost always due to not being patient enough with my lather. The thing that I appreciate the most about SR shaving is the fact that you're forced to take the time, be patient, be observant, and be mindful on a regular basis - and if you skimp on any of these, it's usually immediately apparent in some way. The other thing I appreciate is that there is always something to learn and something to get better at, no matter what level you're at.

It almost sounds like a religion....

Originally Posted by joelkerr

I'm coming up to my 2 year mark in July. While I still very occasionally have a bad shave, it's almost always due to not being patient enough with my lather. The thing that I appreciate the most about SR shaving is the fact that you're forced to take the time, be patient, be observant, and be mindful on a regular basis - and if you skimp on any of these, it's usually immediately apparent in some way. The other thing I appreciate is that there is always something to learn and something to get better at, no matter what level you're at.

It almost sounds like a religion....

Agreed. I consider shaving part of my mindfulness practice. Meditation in motion if you will.

I don't know if this holds for other veterans, but over time your skin becomes conditioned/ tempered to the str8.

I can use more pressure and angle without any ill effects.

Originally Posted by outback

I don't know if this holds for other veterans, but over time your skin becomes conditioned/ tempered to the str8.

I can use more pressure and angle without any ill effects.

I agree with this Mike. I find the same thing even though I've not come close to the amount of time with the blade as you.

Gasman, fantastic post, thank you for that.

I'm a 45 year+ wet shaver (DE, SE, brush, traditional soap) but a relative newbie with the straight razor. Just passed 200 SR shaves.

What once seemed impossible to do (shave with my non-dominant hand? shave against the grain? get a BBS or near BBS with just a straight?) now seems relatively effortless. Sure, it still takes attention, but it no longer feels 'mechanical'.

When I was playing a lot of golf, there was a time when I focused on technique while I was playing. Actually, I was playing 'golf swing' rather than golf. Once those new aspects of the game were integrated, I could get back to playing the game.

Like that, I don't have to focus on the mechanics of SR shaving as much: it feels like just shaving. It's not that I don't have a lot to learn-I do. But what a difference a few months and persistence makes!

I'm grateful to this forum for all the great info and discussions. In fact, just last week, one of the intrepid moderators shared about what worked for him on a third pass with a straight. I put that into practice the next day, and what a difference in the quality of the shave!

Thanks so much, gentlemen!