Thread: Have reached shaving nirvana: thanks guys!

Yesterday is now. Tomorrow is now. Now is now.

Shaving nirvana is the blissful unity of shaver, shaving and shave.

Greetings,

lux

Though I've only been shaving with straights for a little over 2 months now, it was a month ago I came to the conclusion I would never go back to a disposable or electric again. In my opinion, this is the only way to shave... any other way is a sad girly-man shortcut.

There are many technological innovations where the "improvement" is that the new way is easier or more convenient. The end result might not be any better, and it may even be worse. The move from reel-to-reel to cassette tape is one such innovation. The move to disposables is another.

Hello fellow wet shavers,

Seems to me that much "progress" and "innovation" is mostly marketing hype to replenish some persons' (already overflowing) pockets and encourage the waste disposal industry. Not only shaving, consumer electonics but almost any other field.

Opting for a str8 and excluding disposables from one's budget will scarcely be understood as good citizenship in a world feverishly devoted to economic growth.

Greetings,

lux

Give the man a gold star! Let it read "Citizen of Shaving"

X

I almost reached shave nirvana today: I pre-stropped, got under the shower, pointed my face at it on superhot for about 5 minutes then quickly lathered up and started shaving with the razor I got from usted (Its great by the way). Was all going superbly until I got to the moustache (my personal nemesis), I seem to get an inordinate amount of pull in that region due, I think, to razor being at a non-optimal angle because of my nose getting in the way and the fact that I dont think I know the best way to get that skin taut. Apart from that I was as smooth as I have been since I was 12 (especially the troublesome under-chin) with no nicks and no burn. Any tips for a beginner wanting to reach shaving enlightenment?

I'm amazed at how much simply pulling my nose aside (away from the side of the lip I am shaving) helps. it's in all the diagrams in the barber texts. What if you shave it first as well so the moustache is at its softest.

X

I push the tip of my nose up and keep the blade almost at 90 degrees at the very top of my moustache only under my nose. Yes, you need to be careful using your blade like this. But, you keep that angle only until you start moving down when you can move your blade to a better shaving angle. I do this everyday and haven't cut, or even nicked, myself yet...knock on wood. The key is patience and being careful. Once you shave the the area immediately under your nose, you can adjust your blade to an angle to give you better cutting action to shave the rest of your upper lip. I hope this makes sense and you understand what I'm trying to say.

Good luck,

Jeff

under the nose, I begin up top with the blade "dangerously" perpindicular to my upper lip. Never rest the razor there, but make contact with the skin when you're already in the downstroke. This is key for me, I sort of "roll" the tang between my fingers during the stroke in order to get the edge going down towards my mouth while keeping the spine gliding on the bottom of my nose towards the lip. I've probably just confused the hell out of you. If it does make sense and you employ this method, it will become second nature in no time. I've never had to move my nose aside and haven't had any ittitation/nicks there is a long long time.