That sounds like grounds for a divorce. Or at least couples counseling.
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Yeah, starting sentences with "woman" isn't very good either. I know I'm the kind of person who always backs down and seek to avoid conflict as long as I'm in a good mood, but I would just have locked both doors and been done with it, or moved my den to another bathroom.
I remember reading about crime statistics in the late 1800's in London. Due to sloppy investigating techniques there were an inordinate number of women who killed themselves by cutting their throats with their husband's straight razor. I think I understand why.
Hmmm. That's got me thinking she might have ulterior motives! See, I left out what happened later that same evening...
I'm still honing at dinner time. I'm totally Zenned out; the mechanism is cleared. All I see is the blade, all I hear is the blade, all I feel is the blade. Nothing else. Well, nothing else, that is, until suddenly a mushroom appeared in my right eye's field of vision. A mushroom, smothered in steaming hot marinara sauce. This results in the first school girl scream I've let out since... well.. earlier that same day. Again, I'm mid stroke. While trying to control the razor, my head starts backing away from the mushroom, which made it's initial appearance approximately an inch and a half away from my right cornea, follows as rapidly as I move my head; my head moves faster away, and the mushroom keeps pace. Gains a bit, if I'm not mistaken. "Does this taste ok to you?" "Honey, I'm one of those rare men that can't taste with my eyeballs."
Setting the razor aside, I hurridly shove the mushroom in my mouth. I never realized a mushroom could attain such temperatures without reaching critical mass. My 8k Shapton now has a marinara stain on it.
That woman is trying to kill me. Be it by straight razor or nuclear mushroom. I never should have showed her my life insurance policy.
Sorry for the totally off-topic post, but dang... that Starbucks Aged Sumatra is gooooood.
thought this deserved a bump :tu
Being fairly recent to this all I've been learning on a very steep curve. I can personally vouch for every one of the axioms so far. I'd add that one added later here seems seriously true - using a dull razor and dragging it across the same area over and over accomplishes nothing but pain and bumps. If I've somehow missed or messed up a stropping, and start to have to repeat areas, I'll now put that blade back into rotation and select another - and will pay close attention to stropping before I start back in on my face. I was very hardheaded about pushing a dull blade - and have some scars to prove it! Stropping is certainly an art in itself, and something many ignore at their risk!
Axiom N+1: forget about shaving with a straight razor in a budget hotel in London because:
* You can barely turn around in the tiny room, there is not enough space for stropping there.
* The hyper ultra hard water turns your favorite soap into a brick of frustration.
* Hot water is sparse and far between. Occasionally, there's no water at all.
* The plumbing noises will scare the heck out of you. You'd better not have the razor near your face when that happens.
* The towel is the last thing you want to get near your face.
* Carrying the straight in your suitcase is a criminal act.
PS: London marathon be damned.
Thanks for shaing:
Axiom 5-If a little honing goes a long way a lot of honing must go further. The only thing a lot of honing will do is wear down your blade. The trick is to expose the blade to as little contact with the hone as possible to get the maximum result. Remember, each time the razor slides down the hone your leaving metal behind.
Axiom 6-Spending more money on razors and paraphernalia does not guarantee better shaves. Your shaves only become better as your mastery of the skill increases. Spending more money may increase your satisfaction and may make you feel better but as far as better shaves go...
+1
Yes, Keep a DE or even a toss away (BiC or the like) handy
for the days when the str8 is not right.
And sure if you have a rotation of str8s or a feather then what you
reach for when todays edge is unexpectedly dull or mismatched
to your face is up to you.
And always if you had a good shave yesterday -- walking away could be an option.
The main thing is take your time, and enjoy the shave. Good prep and a well sharpend razor takes time to do but it's worth it.
"I am a Buddhist and keeping your mind foucsed on the task at hand is a huge concept of Buddhism.
Be in the act of the shave, use your entire focus on your shave and your shave will be more enjoyable, you day will start better and your mind will be clearer."
This is one of the two main reasons I've shaved with a straight razor most of my life, and continue to do so now. It is a form of meditation - it forces you to pay attention, or suffer the consequences. How many things in life - I mean things you have to do every day - force you to be 100% in the now?
This is so true and especially so in the morning. I find it is an exercise in quieting the mind through focus. There are other things that help you to focus but don't have the consequences of shaving with a straight. :tameshigiri:
______________________________
Great acts are made of small deeds.
-Lao Tzu
The distracting wife is one thing...but don't forget the lethal impact simply of an incredibly beautiful wife.
I was headed toward the first straight shave where I would NOT look like a candidate for German dueling fraternity. No nicks, no blood, smooth...as I rounded the corner to the third pass ATG, my rather lovely wife just looked over at me shaving and said "You know, that's kinda sexy..."
Whereupon a fine slice appeared on my cheek…
so another tip:
DO NOT SHAVE WITH A HOT WOMAN IN THE BATHROOM WITH YOU
hey big spender did you ever get you thater brush from germany, i think it was grounder for some time/ ashes in the sky...didnt mean to get off topic
I should have honored Axiom #3 more intently as I tried to get a quick shave in while my one year old son was trying to kick down the bathroom door to get at me and my 3 1/2 year old daughter was slamming closed the door to her bedroom that is right next to bathroom while throwing a tantrum at my wife. I was clearly distracted and thought to myself for a second that it probably wasn't the best time to tackle the area above my upper lip but went for it anyway. Couple this with the fact that I had only put a straight razor to my face (3) times prior and I caught a nice little nick under my right nostril. I had to go on the internet to find out how to use a styptic stick before I bled out.:)
So in closing, I learned my lesson and couldn't agree more... pay attention and find the appropriate time to shave when you won't be disturbed.
By the way, styptic or alum block? Which is better for a small nick? Any suggestions on proper use of both? I'm new to Straight Razor Place and apologize if this info is posted elsewhere.
Best regards everyone and thanks for all the info. This is a great forum.
Check the label but both contain alum.
A styptic pen lets you apply the product
exactly where it is needed. You can also
apply a bit of local pressure.
One alternative trick is to use one of the sterile eye drop products
that "gets the red out". i.e. a vasoconstrictor eye drop can
work in a pinch.
Do invest in a triple antibiotic ointment, a nick is a cut
and once the bleeding has stopped a bit of ointment
can help speed healing.
I often keep my DE (Merkur or old Gillette) handy for the odd day that the str8 and I don't mesh...although lately I think it needs some honing too so...I'm getting a box ready to send to the honemeisters here...the chin is still giving me fits so I might grow my goatee back...
My contribution.
- Mis en place. Make you sure you have everything you need out and put in a specific place before you start. When you pick something up and you put it down for any reason you put it back exactly where you got it from.
If your way of shaving serves you well - you are doing nothing wrong.
Rules are for fools.
I absolutely totally agree with the one that says you must give the shave 100% concentration...if you don't, you will pay! I know, I have the scar or three to prove it!
The DE is a great idea, I bought one when I began a year ago. There are days when one is a hurry, and it's best not to use the straight. Not leaving the straight touching the skin because your hand may involuntarily move and you get cut like I did. And buy a razor from a vendor that sells them honed. I bought my first straight razor from SRD a Dovo Best Quality 5/8 half hollow, messed it up with bad stropping but with the 8000 Norton brought it back to life. For a long time while I learned I alternated between the straight, a Parker shavette, and the DE. I used to shave one or two days with the straight per week, now the straight is the norm and only when in a hurry I pick up the DE. Also a DE can help if you start with the straight and some situation pops up that you have to hurry. This is really a great thread. I've learned a lot.
Don't Cook Bacon While Shaving Naked! :o
Thank you guys for the tips.
I'm a long time DE user, with which I always get BBS. That is to say that I know how my face looks like when I'm done shaving.
Now it's two weeks I'm using a straight razor, bur reading this thread I understand that there must be something wrong in my techinique or in my razor or both. The first pass, following the grain, doesn't remove much, just a rough removal. I couldn't go out that way. Then the two ATG I do still leave a some hair, especially on the chin. Not a BBS at all, I must finish with the dear old DE not to seem too strange!
I've seen videos where people get a very good shave just with the first WTG pass, so I think my razor is not sharp enought. I tried honing with a chinese 12000 and it helped a bit, but there's still a lot to improve. The razor cuts my arm's hair easily. What am I doing wrong?
I know you have little elements to answer, but, any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks.
My tips is (it works with the DE at least): put the razor in hot water, it shaves better than when it's cold.
Well, I think your razor is not as okay as you may think. For me, my razor on the first pass is always good enough. When I shave, the only place I even do more than one pass is on my neck, where I do a couple. First wtg, second atg, and then I feel for any bit of beard that "feels" to be longer, yet I can't see it. The same for my facial area as well. I do sometimes trim it up a little, but only after feeling around and feeling if it is really needed (it's in the feel, if you get my meaning). I mean, unless you have a beard like that big guy from that show "Highway to Heaven," you might need to go the whole route; but, by and large, I think sometimes some people over shave. I don't really know what to tell you. Maybe you should have a razor professionally honed so to at least give you a point of reference. Because, I can say truthfully, something's not right with your current method. And you should probably begin there. I mean, this should be a pleasant experience, not an episode that you regret you have to perform every day. Personally, I find my shaving to be a pleasant experience. I put my little radio on and I go into my own world for a short time. I also no longer fear it. Since I haven't cut myself in ages, the occasional little nick here and there keeps me on my toes. By and large, for me, it's the pleasure of using the varying shapes and sizes of razors in my working collection; and, make no mistake, my razors are gainfully employed. Razors were meant to be used and if you're just a pretty face that does not perform, well then, you're out of here. So, that's where I would begin if I were you. Make sure you have an extremely (scar-sharp [I love that term]) razor. And get yourself some chro-ox; strop the bugger; and, keep us informed.
At the moment whilst learning I like to regard straight shaving as a slow and relaxing Sunday shave. If I haven't got time for that I don't do it. I agree it should be enjoyable otherwise I wouldn't be spending all this money on razors, strop, brushes, etc. If it's rushed and sore it's not enjoyable. I also no longer look for BBS that I got from a DE. It may come with experience it may not but it's no longer the holy grail. My skin looks and feels better with straight shaving so if I feel a bit of stubble there I don't mind.
If your brush/hone/strop/soap falls onto the floor, make absolutely certain that your razor is not in your hand before you bend over to pick it up.
I bear witness to axiom number 4... it was a cold morning when i decided to strop my razor before a nice shave. however, i walked just about 6 feet towards my strop with my open razor which i held in my right hand. it is beyond my comprehension, but it seems that the edge transversed through time and space and lashed at my left thumb, leaving a deep gash right beside the nail :gaah: the point is that i learnt to keep my razor open only when needed i.e. stropping and shaving, not before and not after. because no matter how careful you are, the edge will find you!
happy shaving to all! :D
Very useful tips! Thanks for sharing!
Ok guys,
my turn to write down some recommendations. I'm far from being an expert, but I've been shaving with straights for a while now. What I put down below comes from direct experience :)
1. Keep your razor closed! Really, I mean it! Open the razor only when needed and keep it closed otherwise. I have a nice scar in my thumb to remember me that.
2. Lather, lather and more lather! No lather, no blade! ;) Your blade should never go where there's no lather! Ignore this and you'll get cuts and nicks.
3. Proper lather! Spend time to learn how to get a nice and smooth lather. Lather keeps the blade flowing, if it dries, re-lather. If there's too little lather: re-lather.
4. Do not aim for BBS when you begin! Especially if you are coming from multi-bladed cartridges you may want to get that very same BBS shave you were used to; if you used to do ATG it's even worse. The shave you get with a cartridge is a CLOSE shave, not just a shave. If you aim to get that close with your first shaves with a straight you will be disappointed.
5. Take your time! Not just to learn the technique, I really mean the time that you need to shave. If you think you can shave with a straight in 2 minutes in the morning when you are in an hurry, well, be prepared to the worst! I'm not trying to scare anyone, but hurry and SR do not go well together, especially when you begin.
6. Yes, the learning curve really is that long! No shortcuts, no cheating! You will need time and practice.
7. Always, always know where your blade is.
8. Never underestimate your razor and do not get too confident in just a few days. Ignore this, and your blade will gladly remember you why I wrote this one (check out the "Cut of the day" thread for some examples ;) )
9. If the blade is sharp, you need no pressure on your face. If you need to press it, your are doing it wrong. If you come from DE or cartridge pay lot of attention to pressure. Pressure = irritation or razor burns
10. Watch your angles! There are plenty of threads on this topic in the forum, read them.
11. Proper preparation is the key to a comfortable shave. This is even more true if your have a tick and hard beard.
12. Get an alum block and use it at the end of your shave. Once you have shaved, rinse your face in cold water and then use the alum block. It's a great indicator on how well you shaved; if it stings like hell, you put too pressure, you used wrong angles, you have a bad edge or possibly all of them. It's also useful to identify the areas of your face where you need to improve your technique. (and it's also a wonderful solution for nicks and cuts ;) )
13. On top of an aftershave, you may want to use some sort of soothing balm or cream. It'll help keeping your skin soft and protected.
14. Do not try to do a whole shave with the straight since the beginning. Follow the tips that you find on this forum and in the wiki.
15. Stropping. Stropping is one of those key elements that you'll need to master in order to get a great shave. When you get your first razor have it honed by a professional and do no strop it at your first shave. Use the razor as it come in. I can promise you that when you try and strop your first razor for the first time you will have very good chances to dull the blade. :)
16. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice make perfect! That means that you need to keep calm and master every single tiny step before you move to the next one. ;)