Thread: Getting smoother and easier

After 3+ months of str8 usage, it is getting almost too easy at this point. What use to take 3 passes and touch-ups, now takes 2 passes with few touch-ups. Todays shave was totally without blood and took 2 passes. A little AS and I was out the door. Total time about 15 minutes. After all the decades of other blades, this is the only way to go! Don't quite understand all the fear people have?

Originally Posted by woodturner

Don't quite understand all the fear people have?

It's no doubt been pounded into our culture that straight shaving will end up in a result of the user cutting his own throat. How many movies portray the use of a straight as a weapon to dispatch their foes? Even my grandfather won't shave with his father's razor and gave it to me...he said that he never even tried it. Too afraid to cut his own throat. So the fear goes back at least four generations now. The latest generation, the Gen-X'ers, the Baby Boomers, the Greatest Generation, never shaved with a straight razor...and that's just a pity.

Keep up the good work!

Originally Posted by woodturner

Don't quite understand all the fear people have?

We all laugh about it now, but what about that very first time you put that blade to your throat?

I don't know that I could put into words how nervous I was the first time I put a str8 razor to my own throat.
Brian

Fear is usually the result of lack of knowledge. We all were initially fearful of the str8 in our hands, but lots of reading on this site and others helped each of us learn that our fear was largely unsubstantiated. Fear has been perpetuated in our society to help sell products, Gillette and Schick have done a wonderful job! Hollywood has helped the myth stay alive. As str8 users we also need to be teachers to help spread facts.

Originally Posted by red96ta

It's no doubt been pounded into our culture that straight shaving will end up in a result of the user cutting his own throat.

Even an old barber I had, who had used a straight when he was young, warned me that I could cut my face to ribbons. Sure, I've gotten some cuts but I haven't been able to tie a bow with my face yet.

I was feeling super confident, really enjoying the straights, and then administered to my face a truly dramatic cut--a spike point Torrey had been waiting for days for my attention to lag just a tad, then it pounced, digging about a 1 inch gash into my cheek, matching one that I got on the other cheek a bout a month before.

For me, that's the end of spike-points until I have a much more refined skill! Spike points show no mercy!

So my suggestion to the OP--after congratulating him--is don't get ****y!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I was feeling super confident, really enjoying the straights, and then administered to my face a truly dramatic cut--a spike point Torrey had been waiting for days for my attention to lag just a tad, then it pounced, digging about a 1 inch gash into my cheek, matching one that I got on the other cheek a bout a month before.

For me, that's the end of spike-points until I have a much more refined skill! Spike points show no mercy!

So my suggestion to the OP--after congratulating him--is don't get ****y!

Having already paid my bloody dues with a spike, I use a spike in my rotation to assure myself that I need to stay on top of my game. I agree, spikes have no mercy, so skill level must be up to the task. The nice thing about shaving is that there will always be whiskers tomorrow morning! We have many years to get good at this.

My fear of the sharp edge was overrated. The edge just needs to be respected. I am still amazed how my standard for a good shave soared and how much better I am with a straight razor. No looking back!

Pabster

Glad to hear this. I'm starting my second week and my best shave was 3 days ago. I seem to be moving backwards. I've gotten a bit discouraged and have the marks to prove my point, but comments like yours keep me in the game. Thanks.