Thread: Shaving improvement cycle

OK, so I was reading the thread about how to go from a good shave to a great shave.

As a 4 month rookie myself I have found that there are many things that go into shave improvement, and that they are inter-related.

So, for your consideration is Seraphim's shave improvement cycle:

1. You must start with a sharp razor!
2. But a sharp razor is only so good if you don't do some good beard prep prior to the shave.
3. And a sharp razor and good beard prep will only do so much if your shaving technique isn't up to snuff. Blade angle, skin stretching, knowing your whisker growth direction, scything...
4. After shaving you can re-evaluate the level at which your razor is honed. Can it be made better? Sharper? Smoother?
5. A well honed razor also needs effective stropping to refine the shaving edge and to make it comfy for your face. Stropping is an aquired skill/art (as is honing as per step 4 above).
6. Repeat the cycle, try to make small improvements in each and enjoy!

And the advanced shave cycle (WARNING: requires diposable income...):
1. Sharp razor
---------1a. Maybe I should buy a new razor? Yup, a new razor couldn't hurt!

2. Beard prep
---------2a. My shave would certainly improve with a sillvertip brush!

---------2b. Some new soaps/creams couldn't hurt either...

3. Technique
---------3a. I better spend more time on SRP doing "research"!

---------3b Attend a "meet up"!

4. Honing
---------4a. Shaptons, Spydercos, or Coticles? Maybe I better get some of each!

5. Stropping
---------5a. "Hello, Tony Miller! When are the new strops going to be in? Do you accept Visa/Mastercard?"

You forgot about the bonus step for drastic improvement - attend a meetup!

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

You forgot about the bonus step for drastic improvement - attend a meetup!

That's now advanced step 3b

Originally Posted by Seraphim

That's now advanced step 3b

You thought of everything