Thread: "Practice Shaving"

I have two blades that I'm going to be sending out shortly to get honed. They are both on the rather dull side. In fact, they couldn't cut a hair to save their lives, but may cut skin if pressed hard enough.

Here's the funny thing. I can't seem to stop taking them and doing practice "shaves" just to get the feel of holding them and trying out different angles and everything. Basically to get accustomed to the motions before they're wickedly sharp.

Anyone else ever do this, or am I just a complete cornball? OK, I know the answer to that one. So, has anyone else ever done this?

Done it. STILL do it on occassion. Cornball? Perhaps...
The only one? NOPE!

I did this for a while as I was waiting for a proper razor to come in the mail. I've only been shaving with a straight for 2 weeks now, and I'm doing great. No more cuts, and the chin and jawline are mostly smooth (almost BBS). I owe it all to practicing with my crappy Zeepk-esque Razor.

I guess they have a purpose afterall!


Chadd

---------------- Now playing: Kings Of Convenience - Know-How via FoxyTunes

Great. Thanks guys.

Oh yeah. I even balanced a butter knife as my make believe straight with a chopstick for the scales.

Originally Posted by xman

Oh yeah. I even balanced a butter knife as my make believe straight with a chopstick for the scales.

I just love that image. Wish I had thought of that!

I practiced stropping with a butter knife so that I could get the "flipping on the spine" action down. I also practiced honing with the same knife, running it up and down the cover of a hardback book. I think working up the kinetic memory is a good idea, so that there's less chance of damaging a blade or a facial feature!

I've never done a "practice shave" but I sometimes whip up a practice batch of lather when road testing a new soap, cream, or brush. That way I can get the mix down pat so when I do shave I'm not wasting a bunch of time (that I normally don't have when I shave) experimenting or suffering a bad shave.

When I started shaving I picked up two razors, a DA and a Dovo presharpened from classic shaving. My DA came first, and I intended to use it to learn to hone with. Unfortunately for me, my Dovo was not in yet so until it came, and until I got a hone, I practiced shaving around my goatee and sideburns with the DA.