Thread: Tonight I had an awful shave

Awful shave tonight. I guess I just didn't have the mojo. First pass left my face looking like it was weedwhacked. Second didn't do much better. I ended up doing 4 passes (er, 3 and a half) and it still sucked. I have some irritation in this spot I keep having issues with...even my cheeks, which normally feel great, feel poorly shaved.

On a good note, I learned a little more about specific growth directions in specific areas of my neck...and I have the razor burn to prove it. I also did a pass with my SE and I actually did it well this time!!! My previous attempts at SE touchup were bloody, but this one was great, so there's that.

It's always good to find the positives when you're learning...even after you've had the worst shave in weeks (if you discount my first 2 or 3 straight shaves, this one becomes the worst ever), there are still things to be happy with.

You get good shaves and you get bad shaves. You'll find that the bad shaves provide you with more lessons than the good shaves do. You have to know what you're doing wrong before you can rise above it and make progress.

In the mental health industry we call this: AFGO . Another F$%#@ing Growth Oppertunity.

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Awful shave tonight. I guess I just didn't have the mojo. First pass left my face looking like it was weedwhacked. Second didn't do much better. I ended up doing 4 passes (er, 3 and a half) and it still sucked.

Sorry, but your first mistake was not calling it quits after pass #1, before proceeding to do 3 additional passes. If the first pass is rough you'll get no benefit from going XTG, and certainly none from ATG. Could be your razor, could be your prep, could be you, who knows? But sometimes it's best to listen to your face.

I think it was me. It just felt off. But I think I might have been too hard on myself. Just came out of the shower and WTG my face feels really smooth. ATG though is another story.

But even though it looked bad, it wasn't really uncomfortable except for this spot on my lower neck, left side-to-center, that I've been struggling with for years. The hair here grows in a thick, pointy swirl that gives me all kinds of issues, but I'm improving it. No weepers today. Even in my electric days I could feel the cutting mechanism struggling there.

but typically, if it hurts, I stop and switch to DE/SE or call it quits.

But tonight did give me the impetus to finally go out tomorrow and get the materials to make a small pasted paddle strop. I need to keep this razor as keen as I can.

Post 4 brings a smile to my face,was out in the shop and the wife comes out to ask something.
She looks at me and says,Bill, why is only half your face shaved? Just because, leave me alone.
Well the blade I worked on the night before just was not perfect,quit shaving,got busy fiddlin around with something else,re did the blade all was well.

+1 on the paddle strop - hobby balsa wood works great, just remember to lap it first!

I am going to use balsa, but after I lap it I'm going to put some leather on it first. I'll post pics when it's finished.

My last shave was dissapointing. It ended much too soon.

Ooook, so here's what happened tonight:

It was worse. The razor was pulling like a mofo and actually hurting by the end of my first pass. It was barely even removing hair! So I stopped and finished the first pass (and did two more) with my SE (GEM 1912 Junior, for anyone wondering...it was my grandfather's). That particular experience gave me some thoughts that I'll share in another post...sorry for the teaser.

Lacking a pasted strop, at least until my stuff arrives in the mail, I went to my Pike SWATY. I brushed on some water, and gave it 10 laps. They were light laps, very careful and even with very little pressure except to keep the razor firmly flat and moving smoothly. There was a VERY mild and satisfying grinding sound. Then I went to the linen for 100 laps, and the leather for another 100. I haven't used it since, obviously, but when Saturday night rolls around I'll give it another 30 on the linen and 75 or so on the leather before giving it another go. If that fails, it's back to Larry for a proper rehoning. That idea makes me sad because I don't have a backup straight razor yet, and money's tight. I think it should also be depinned and the pivot properly cleaned by someone who knows how to pin razors, but that's WAY out of the budget. If this doesn't work I'm going to have to put the straight away until I can raise the funds to get it honed and properly cleaned...which would probably be after Christmas.

So here's hoping it just needed a little QT with the SWATY.