Frustrated, confused, a little discouraged but determined

After a little over 30 days with the straight(s), I've tasted both the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat. My shaves were progressively getting better for the most part, and suddenly, yesterday the wheels came off. Lots of stubble and some irritation after the shave.

My temptation was to blame the blade - did I roll the edge while stropping? But I had a few smooth spots, so I have determined that my technique stunk. Today, I really concentrated on blade angle and stretching, and got a very nice shave, but it took an hour and a quarter. After decades of woodworking, I have learned that no one cares how long it took, the results are what are important.

Is it normal to have these setbacks, and what is a reasonable amount of time to allow for a nice shave once the technique becomes consistent? It has been tempting to return to the DE, but I really like the feel and last of a straight shave when done properly.

How long a shave takes depends on how much pre-shave prep you do and what not. In the beginning it took so long for me to shave one side that the lather would dry on the other side before I could get to it. I would have to re-lather. I was doing two passes and it might have took me thirty to forty five minutes. Now I can shave in less than ten minutes. Frequently doing one pass. I haven't timed it lately so that is an estimate. Suffice to say that IME speed comes with practice and so do better irritation free bbs shaves.

Yes it does take time.

But you've hit the nail on the head with consistency.

I've had moments where I've done something that worked really well... then I've had to figure out what I did and try and repeat it!

I also appreciate the shave becoming poorer - when I'm experimenting, looking for ways to improve what I'm doing, this can result in the shave getting worse before it gets better. So, when you're working different things out you can find it can be two steps forward, one step back (and even three steps back!)

Perhaps try and minimise the things you change with each shave?

[Edit: Just re-read your post about focusing on blade angle and stretching, getting good result but taking long time - ok, but if you keep doing this, the time will reduce with each shave as you get more practice.

To use your woodworking analogy, there are probably many things you do now in a short time that initially took you a long time - as you got more practice and worked out the knack for doing things more efficiently)]

Sounds like you've caught glimpses of the good stuff, so you know there is something in this straight shaving caper.:)

All the best with your journey,
Michael

Your experience is frustrating, and I empathize. Just as I thought I was getting good, a spike-point razor gouged a 1 inch + rip down my cheek that bled like a stuck pig. I still have a "GI Joe" cheek scar that will re-cut if I shave over it just wrong.

If you haven't had to dial 9-1-1, you're not at the bottom yet!

It has been several years, but I don't remember it being that frustrating. One can, however, overthink the whole process, and this can lead to just the type of experience you discribe. Ask yourself, are you doing what feels natural; or are you trying to force what someone told you was the correct way to do it even though it feels strange and awkward?

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 to 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

Check your blade angle too.

In the beginning, when you are having your first few shaves, you are generally hyper vigilant about setting the blade at just the right angle to the skin and keeping it there as you shave. Then, when you get a little success under your belt, you maybe stopped watching the angle and started to focus on other, less imporant stuff.

The angle that the blade makes with the skin is everything. If you have the wrong angle, you can scratch a sharp blade over your face all day and never remove one whisker.

Just my two cents.

Three things....1)Angle....good angle=goodshave2)Light pressure...don't try to mow through it like your old cartridge blade has conditioned you,let the blade do the work so to speak firm grip but light pressure.3)Buttered toast sound....when you hear what sounds like toast being buttered ,thats the blade doing it's job. Have fun,don't get too frustrated..it will come,it really will I swear it.Hang in there,we're all here for ya m8te !:)Oh yes and I'm getting great shaves evry day now and I still take around 45 min to an hour depending on how into it I get.Forget time..just give yourself plenty of and turn on the classical station on the radio and enjoy ahhhhhhhhh!:):):)

I am new to this as well so I feel your pain. I am getting better at it now where I enjoy my shave more and more and look forward to them. I have noticed that the time it takes me to finish my shave has decreased so it will get better for you. Like others said when you do something that worked well try to remember what it was you did so you can repeat it next time. It only gets better so stick with it.

When I started I wasn't one of these lucky guys who pick it up easy and fast. As I recall my early shaves took at least 45 minutes and left me with loads of razor burn. These days probably 15 minutes start to finish including prep and all that. If I cut the hot towels and all that probably 10 minutes.

Just keep at it.

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! :)

Quote:

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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! :)

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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

Quote:

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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

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+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... :soapbox:

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!:beer2: