Thread: Different strokes for different folks,........

All I do is scythe

medium strokes

As long a stroke as I can manage, except for the area under my nose and my bottom lip to the crease at my chin, lots of little strokes in those places.

I use both short and long strokes and everything in between.
Totally depends on the area and direction of the stroke.

Pete <:-}

Long strokes here. Early on I read that one should never shave where the lather is already removed from a previous stroke. I figured that the way to avoid that was by making the strokes as long as practical.

Originally Posted by outback

Long strokes, except around the stache n goat.

During a ATG pass, I start at the base of my neck, and swoop it over the jawline in a C shaped pass, with the blade slightly slanted as well.

Warning.....not a pass for the novice.!!!
As is my so called..X Pass.

Attachment 307463

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Its what I have to do, to obtain that BBS shave.

Right on Outback! A great illustration of how to get those tough spots on the neck BBS!

I allways giggle when a thread like this is opened.. Call me juvenile but gets me everytime reading members posts about their stroking technique.. I am with just about everyone else in that it depends on where im at on my face, what pass, what razor im using,.. Number of reasons why and where i use short or long strokes on a shave..

Usually most of the long strokes wind up being against the grain passes ala neck to chin. The rest vary I don't think about it much to be honest.

Originally Posted by TCMichigander

I allways giggle when a thread like this is opened.. Call me juvenile but gets me everytime reading members posts about their stroking technique.. I am with just about everyone else in that it depends on where im at on my face, what pass, what razor im using,.. Number of reasons why and where i use short or long strokes on a shave..

OK i call you juvenile. :-)
Thank you all for your responses. Seems like most use long strokes where possible. I tend to use shorter strokes even on cheeks but what the heck,.....call me juvenile.

As per length and speed of the strokes I‘ve done following observations (of cause strongly subjective and applies to my skin-hair-blade-hand combination):
When a razor/DE tends to produce irritation on my skin shortening up the shaving stroke noticeable helps me to achieve a comfortable shave. I move the blade in short strokes (about 1-2 cm). I believe this leads to following:
1. Lifting up the razor between the short strokes kind of “resets” the pressure applied to the skin. Doing so I can ensure the minimal shaving pressure. But maybe it’s just my hand...
2. Shorter stokes are automatically performed noticeably faster than long strokes. By this the razors blade seems to have better chance to slice through the hair. But maybe it’s my blade...
3. Shorter strokes also tendentially run a different “path” on my skin. Running long stroke the razors blade seems to run more perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. Whith short strokes the razor traces kind of Zickzack line and the blade runs more diagonal, which again increases the “cut-ability”. By this less pressure can be applied to achieve the same closeness of the shave.


Happy shaving!
Philipp

Originally Posted by Raol

Watching a video of a straight shave demo by a renown barber recently.
He was suggesting longer strokes with the straight razor (shavette) which to me went against the grain so to speak.
Obviously there are areas of the face where you can't use long strokes but say the cheeks????
I have always used shorter strokes with both straight and DE razors.
What is the consensus? What length of strokes do you use?

As a barber I bet his logic tells him long strokes = quicker shave & onto the next customer