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Just in case I needed to be knocked down a few notches, it happened this morning. My shave performance was just a little worse than the first time I picked up a straight.
With the exact same everything that has been giving me near perfect results for the last 6 months I completely blew it. Three nicks and some razor burn. I'm glad I didn't throw out my Nick Stick. I wish I could blame the equipment, But......
Brother was that humbling.:gaah:
Sorry to hear of your experience. If it's any consolation, I find that I learn more from my mistakes, which are still numerous, than from the shaves when I don't make any.
That happens to me occasionally. When it does I can be certain that for me, it's a state of mind. If I have trouble focusing and/or I'm concerned where I have to go, I have one of those days. I noticed that when I have a restless night and not well rested, it definitely has an impact on my shave quality. Lately, I've changed to shaving at night. I'm much more relaxed, can take all the time I want & it has a soothing effect on me for the rest of the evening.
With a few unpleasant experiences I have come to the no shave day if I am not Zen with the world when I get out of the shower in the morning. I do not like Pink Lather..
It does happen occasionally, it is ok to take a day off.
It seems like I am more relaxed at night as well, I find I enjoy the experience more and never feel rushed. I find myself looking forward to my night routine and the enjoyment of a good straight shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by rc05
Alembic,
I've been doing this for over 2 years, and even now I'll admit that not every shave is a work of perfection. Which is fine, since I no longer strive for BBS perfection each and every shave. Don't beat yourself up too much, we all have the occasional stinker now and then.
WORD !!...........It's really amazing how much more this whole straight business is than just shaving.It puts you in a good frame of mind.It lets you know if you are not focused and makes you focus.It gives you great friends.And after Glens 100000 posts thread,I went back and read my first post just to bring me back into perspective.This reminds you that not everyday is a BBS day but that is okay and you strive to do better.All this and more from a primitive yet elegant piece of carbon steel that treats you well only till you stop paying attention and then it reminds you to sit up straight........As I've said before,I would like to see a cartridge razor even come close to fulfilling any of that quota. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
lol - Beauty! You should submit that one in the "shaving aphorisms" threadQuote:
Originally Posted by Nightblade
Heh,not sure how to do that ,but I'll look into it eh.It's the truth though huh?The minute you start acting up,it puts you in your place.:tameshigiri:
Is it really any different than anything else when you really look at it? Everyone has off days. Professionals on occasion injure themselves with tools they have used for many years without incident.
Which has come to prove a point in this day and age..........Seems there is a big polarization between predators and food at the watering hole.Most people are food cause thay just walk around not paying any attention to important things and are more worried about their facebook accounts and cellphones.Then there are the hunters who use straight blades and know exactly what happens when you stop paying attention haha.A little extreme I know.....I'm just saying is all.:rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Show of hands: who gets a perfect shave each time? No one? Ok, one hand in the back.
Well, I try, and that could be my problem. So many variables to get just right...especially when rotating through many blades in varius states of condition, while also rotating through different soaps and creams and pre-shave preps.
Yet, having achieved a level of competence that produces bbs shaves -- I mean BBS to the point that I demand that my wife give it a feel-- I expect that I should have that every day regardless of the variables. And so when a blade feels a little harsh, damn the torpedos, I push through. I stretch and pull with a by god I'm gonna get that perfect shave again. And we all know where that can lead....burn, a cut....a bad day.
So, I'm trying to back off. I've made a resolution (just now maybe) that I'll forego perfect; I'll abandon a blade that doesn't feel right even in mid-shave despite my deep intent to prove that I really honed just right; I'll go for comfort even if it means catching the fibers of the most delicate silk nylons dragged against the grain (legged or sans leg), etcetera. But I must tell you, its been 13 hrs since my last shave and man is it good....really...feel....
Enjoy and don't lose sight of the big picture. What is the big picture?
Best to all J
By the way, I liked what you said Ryan about looking at your past posts; a reminder of how far you've come. Does everyone do that and smile?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
My mistake. This is the thread I was referring to :http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...t-shavers.html.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightblade
I considered today to be a huge step in my learning curve. After 7 months of straights, I realized that things weren't going quite right for me so I consciously abandoned my usual insistence on a BBS and just decided to be satisfied with a CCS after two passes...
Don't beat yourself up. This is just a friendly reminder from your razor/body to pay attention to this activity. I find that when my mind is elsewhere is when I have days like this. It's a good kick in the pants that says "Hey! Smarten up and focus when a sharp blade is against your neck.":tameshigiri:
I think I may have found the culprit. I bought a tube of Musgo Real cream and that is what I used for the first time when I tore myself up. I normally use CarrieM's cream.
I tried the Musgo Real a second time with exactly the same results. I should have mentioned that in the OP, but thought for sure it was me not paying attention.
At the end of the day, it is still my fault. I would think that if I had been paying closer attention, I would have made some changes to angles and pressures during the process when I discovered all was not going well instead of keeping my technique the same as when it is going well.
So let that be a lesson to me!
I am very happy to return to CarrieM's.
Sure... go ahead, blame the shaving cream....:w :roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by Alembic
I just honed up 3 new finds, and found a diff technique w/ my finisher that gives more keenness than I'm used to. I now have 3 new racing stripes on the face. Sigh.
'Very sorry it happened to you, but it's some comfort not being the only one.
That polarization is why I left the white-collar world and became a trades apprentice at age 41. Wasn't learning anything worth bartering around the watering hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightblade
I'm another night-time shaver, for the reasons everyone else has cited, plus it gives my skin time to get over it before facing the hot and/or dirty world.
This is all a reminder to be fully present in your activity... which is not a default. My left thumb is currently pocked with lapses of mindfulness, current and former blood blisters where the hammer wandered arm in arm with my attention.
Full attention is incredibly satisfying, and is a large part of the charge I get out of straight shaving. It's much more exciting than driving staples and makes me look way better too.
I've been shaving with a straight for about four years now, and find that getting the best shave possible is similar to how I golf....the "harder" I try to get a good, nay GREAT, shave the worse I tend to make things. Same for my golf, often my best rounds of the year (or at least my best feeling swings) come early in the season, before I start trying to tweak my swing or strategy. Now, I'm not saying that continuing to learn, striving to do better, isn't important...staying engaged in the process is a big part of why we shave this way (and continue to golf, etc). But, once you've got good basics, forcing a "great" shave can lead to frustration and poor (or downright bad) outcomes. Plus, our expectations change as we become more proficient...what was a great shave when we're learning may feel like a mediocre one down the line, and we so badly want that glassy-smooth shave that we all know we can achieve.
Well said, Bikeguy!