Thread: Had an epiphany

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No matter how long you have been using a straight there is no auto pilot mentally wise. Lose focus and you are inviting trouble.

+1!! and this is part of the Zen of shaving. I find I sort of hyper-focus and lose track of time. It IS NOT tedious or boring. It is just focus on the pressure and the angle, the pass ends, I cold rinse, take a breath, re-lather and next thing I know I am ready for another rinse. I'm going on 3 years with a straight and this is part of the addiction.

"Feel the Force"

Good thread. The danger element is actually a good thing. If autopilot was a safe option, then shaving with a straight would evolve into the mindless chore that we all used to experience with disposables. What would be the point then? Shaving with a straight takes my full undivided attention and I'm grateful that it does.

I found that if I am looking too much at the mirror I make mistakes on the angle at which I am holding the razor. On the other hand, if I trust my hand (at least my right hand, as I still have to really concentrate on my left), I find that the angle is much better. I am still learning to use straights and definitely learn as I get more shaves under my belt.

I completely agree. Its why I look forward to shaving so much. Its one of the few times I must & can put absolutely everything else out of my mind and focus only on my shave. It is my moment of Zen. If I ever got to the point where I shaved on auto pilot, I would probably loose intrest.

On one hand, if I have something weighing heavily on my mind, I'm better off without using a straight razor. On the other hand, straight shaving is a great way for me to clear my mind of daily stresses. Being able to focus on something that doesn't allow for distractions definitely helps.

For me, the concentration starts before I have decided which razor, brush or soap to use. Putting together the kit, doing the prep and then lathering and shaving, all require my attention or something will go amiss. A poor prep, thin lather, a poorly stropped blade, a slip and a cut; my mind must be completely focused on the task to complete it successfully.

I just got a fresh slice this morning (not deep enough to scar thankfully) for violating this rule. I let my mind wander to what I needed to do for the day and then got called back to the task at hand because the razor started to tug; it was tugging at skin of course.

The focus is definitely one of the most appealing parts of straight razor shaving for me.

As for watching the mirror too closely, I have learned that the mirror is there to remind you of where you are going with the blade but your skin tells you everything else you need to know: angle, pressure, speed.

Your skin is your best feedback, the mirror helps you avoid your nose

Originally Posted by ace

My earlobe knows exactly what you are talking about!

Did you find it so you can glue it back into place?

I relax and stay focused on what I am doing. But I still have a slip up and have to plug a leak. Hey, it's part of the territory of SR shaving.

What did Mr. Miyagi constantly say to Daniel-san in the first "Karate Kid" movie?
FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS