Thread: Frustrated, confused, a little discouraged but determined

I'm just jealous that you get to spend an hour and a quarter shaving. I suppose afterward you lit up a nice fat cigar!

Originally Posted by flyman

I'm just jealous that you get to spend an hour and a quarter shaving. I suppose afterward you lit up a nice fat cigar!

That is saved for the week-ends! The problem with an hour + shave is that at my age, I forget why I'm standing in front of the mirror.

My first shaves also took an hour and needed relathering.

As time went on I simply got better shaves out of each stroke, and now I'm shaving in about 10 - 15 minutes.

I had some bad shaves, but I attribute them to bad technique + bad stropping when I was in a hurry.

Alot of faceturbating is also needed to figure out which way your whiskers grow. So after your next shave, let your face rest for 1/2 hour and then start faceturbating and you will find those funky whiskers and think about the direction you have to attack them on the next shave. I would just do the cheeks,and get them down pat,and then move to the neck. this will help you to learn your face,and the shaves will get alot better.TRUST ME

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, DBurnette:

Remember this:

Throw the clock away and take your time to embrace the entire shaving ritual. Forget the idea of baby bottom smooth for now. That will come in time.

Wet shaving with the straight razor is an art form that requires skill to master. That means good days and those that could be better. It also means experimentation and improvisation. Throw in a few nicks for good measure.

The time you spend learning will pay off in the end. And like any adventure, you have to pay a price. Is it all worth it? To me, it is. To you? Well, you will have answer that.

Take a deep breath and start everyday as if it were your first, except that every new day you will stand before the mirror with your skill a touch stronger than it was the day before.

Sure, even the great artist now and looks at his canvas and decides to start all over again. Every writer now and then will scrap the chapter and start a new one. Every film actor now and then will ask for a re-take. That's how it is with art.

Think the quality of life you experience everyday from making lather, stropping and shaving. The rest matters little, especially the occasional setback.

Regards,
Obie

+1

I cannot overemphasize what Obie said here. It does take time and time is the price all of us had to pay at some point or another.

Beard prep and lather are of paramount importance in differentiating between a "so, so" shave and a great one. Take your time and make sure your lather is thick, moist and has plenty of cushion.

Don;t be afraid to experiment...everyone's face and skin chemistry is different and you will need to find out what yours says about the regimen you will need to get a successful shave.

Shaving with a straight razor is a skill that takes time, patience and practice to learn. Just like using any other old hand tool.
Do not look at the watch but try to see what you are doing while shaving.
It took about few months before i realized how sharp the blade should be and how i should use it to get the good results.
Do not give up. If it were too easy, it wouldn't be worth of it.

I work a lot of long hours, so sometimes I don't shave every day. After three days stubble I used to have to first shave with the electric. It pulled some, but less painful than dragging the DE across that long growth. Then when it was short enough, I could use the DE to finish. Usually it was a painful process that left me unhappy...

Now I have found Straight Razor Shaving!! I have lost a bit of blood in the learning process, and have learned how to use the styptic to shore up the bleeding. But I am very happy to have a method of shaving that does not pull the hair from my face by the roots!! It is amazing how much better the straight can shave with just a few WTG passes! I know it will get better and better as I learn the hand-memory to shave with the straight!