Thread: I owe Lynn a apology.

Just curious, could you name the specific changes you started to take in your shaving techinique that improved the quality of the shave?

i.e. getting familiar with your face. Blade angle. Adjusting blade angle for different parts of your face. Stropping. Pre shave prep. etc.

Usually people get better shaves with a progression in all of these area's. But I've found in all the reading I've been doing, that usually it's one area that had a huge effect on a person's shave.

I was just curious if you could name your one area and what you started doing differently.

Danricgro,

Your's is a nice gesture; good going. One of my toss off comments is that it is the mark of a true craftsman to know when to blame the tools. Actually, it's usually the guy in the mirror who erred, but blaming the inanimate devices used is one way to try to take some weight off those shiny shoulders.

Thanks from those of us who have gone through it too.

I think stropping was the issue in my learning curve. I had no confidence in my technique. The actual shaving went smoothly. Problem was I didn't know if it were the stropping, blade andle, the razor, my prep, and on and on. Having aa fresh "shave ready" razor proved to me that it was something in my technique. I just kept trying things and nicking myself. It's just my experience I found the larger blade eassier to shave with again that was MY experience.I was trying everything but it was the fact that every razor seemed to tug and pull thaat pointed to my technique.

Originally Posted by thorxes

Just curious, could you name the specific changes you started to take in your shaving techinique that improved the quality of the shave?

i.e. getting familiar with your face. Blade angle. Adjusting blade angle for different parts of your face. Stropping. Pre shave prep. etc.

Usually people get better shaves with a progression in all of these area's. But I've found in all the reading I've been doing, that usually it's one area that had a huge effect on a person's shave.

I was just curious if you could name your one area and what you started doing differently.

Not sure exactly what changed. I came to straight shaving from DE shaving so prep is the same. I think things just gradually fell into place as far as blade angle and skin streching.

This may sound really stupid but I found it really awkward looking in the mirror with everything being backwards. It took me a while to get my bearings. Completely differant from cartridge and DE razors. Not sure why.

Now I just have to cut down on the blood. Got a nasty cut on my neck this morning and I don't know how I did it.

Originally Posted by Danricgro

This may sound really stupid but I found it really awkward looking in the mirror with everything being backwards. It took me a while to get my bearings. Completely differant from cartridge and DE razors. Not sure why.

Your brain can handle up and down in the mirror but it has a harder time with mirror image left and right visual cues. In order to get better at straight shaving in the mirror, your brain has to do a little re-wiring and this takes time. Learning to ride a bike has the same requirement. That's why you get better with practice!

Originally Posted by ShoreBird

I think stropping was the issue in my learning curve. I had no confidence in my technique. The actual shaving went smoothly. Problem was I didn't know if it were the stropping, blade andle, the razor, my prep, and on and on. Having aa fresh "shave ready" razor proved to me that it was something in my technique. I just kept trying things and nicking myself. It's just my experience I found the larger blade eassier to shave with again that was MY experience.I was trying everything but it was the fact that every razor seemed to tug and pull thaat pointed to my technique.

I think I've heard stropping to be a huge issue for the majority of people.

I often see people tell about how they finally knew they had a shave ready razor once they adjusted something with their stropping. Whether they changed stropping above the waist, at the waist or maybe just amount of pressure, the shave "readiness" seems to come once you really get the hang of stropping.

Then they usually say what danricgro just said; "Now I just gotta worry about the Blood". lol Once you know you have a tool for the job, and you can maintain it, all that's left is being able to use it properly.

maybe we need shave ready strops???

Just occured to me. I also lowered my expectations, meaning I developed a more realistic set of goals for my daily shaves. Doing this took the pressure off of trying to be perfect and just let me enjoy the journey. In other words I think I relaxed and let it happen. Does any of this make sense?

Originally Posted by Danricgro

Just occured to me. I also lowered my expectations, meaning I developed a more realistic set of goals for my daily shaves. Doing this took the pressure off of trying to be perfect and just let me enjoy the journey. In other words I think I relaxed and let it happen. Does any of this make sense?

Definitely.

I think this actually applies to every aspect of Straight Razor shaving. From the honing, to the prep, to the actual shaving. Even the nice burn of aftershave should be fun and bring you a sense of satisfaction.

I remember that things started falling into place once I did exactly what you describe.

Originally Posted by Danricgro

The moral of the story for all us noobs is that as long as we are using qualit equipment the problems we are having are likely our lack of skill and not the products.

Lynn, please forgive my ignorance. I'll never doubt you again.

Danricgro,

As others have said it's a sign of a true gentleman to apologize, and I applaud you for doing so.

I'm so glad I bought a shave-ready razor from Lynn when I started shaving with a straight 5 mos. ago. For the first time ever, yesterday I shaved with a vintage razor I cleaned & honed all by myself. Although it gave a respectable shave (better than I anticipated), it PALES in comparison to the shave I got this morning by one of my Lynn-honed razors.

I'm not saying this to "toot Lynn's horn" (although it deserves to be done), but to re-affirm what everyone else has been saying. It just plain makes sense to reduce the number of variables when learning to straight shave. In medicine, we talk about certain lab tests or procedures being a "gold standard". A professionally honed shave-ready razor is straight shaving's gold standard. It provides a benchmark by which one can accurately gauge his or her success.

Happy Shaving!