Thread: Is This Beginners Luck?

Hello All,
Not one ever to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have completed Shave Four of my Straight Razor career - without incident. So, the purpose of this post is to ask whether my beginners luck is just that, or is the worst yet to come.

Before commenting, here are some background details:
To give you a feel for my beard, I can last approximately two days without shaving if necessary; never a five o'clock shadow. For business appearances however, I would shave every day.

During my pre-straight razor days, I always followed a solid pre-shave regiment: hot towels, pre-shave. After shaving, hot and cold towels, astringent and shave balm. The only difference now is my use of a better shave soap and a brush. It should be noted (I think) that I have always diligently cared for my face: scrubs, creams, astringents, little sun, and a desk job minimizing environmental issues related to the skin.

Now, after stropping, I can shave with and against the grain with no issues. My only problem is the chin and jaw line that require a safety razor pass as I have yet to find harmony in these areas with the straight razor. I had minor burn after my first shave, none since. No ingrown hairs, no blood during the shave. My shaves are like none I have ever experienced - close, smooth and very satisfying.

The only thing that comes to mind is the time I now spend shaving - from strop to final wash is about twenty minutes - give or take. Previous to this, I was shaved, showered and perfumed in fifteen minutes.

So, those are the clues. Should I call for transfusions for future shaves? Am I on a solid path to straight razor nirvana? Is the worst yet to come?
Thanks for your thoughts.

Andy

Sounds good to me. I never had any serious problems with the shaving. Have yet to bleed, after four months...knock on wood. A couple weepers on a shave test a couple times. It's sharpening, and restoring that seems to be where my weaknesses are. But those things are just optional anyways. There's no shortage of shave ready and fully restored, or even brand new razors I could have bought instead. So, I doubt you're gonna all the sudden have a problem, if you haven't had any so far. It only gets better so far as I can tell. Four months in though...Maybe I shouldn't be saying anything yet.

I think you're on the right path Andy. It sound like you're diligent in your routine, and care for your shaves. My only caution would be to avoid complacency. I had a bit of razor burn at the very start, and did not have any major complications or cuts until I "thought" I knew what I was doing.

Keep concentrating and you should be ok!

Congrats Andy,

You will get the jaw line and chin with more practice. You may be able to stretch or pull your skin above the jaw line. It will come, don't give up on it.

Originally Posted by AndyPic

Hello All,
Not one ever to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have completed Shave Four of my Straight Razor career - without incident. So, the purpose of this post is to ask whether my beginners luck is just that, or is the worst yet to come.

Yes. The Force is strong in this one.

Originally Posted by AndyPic

Before commenting, here are some background details:
To give you a feel for my beard, I can last approximately two days without shaving if necessary; never a five o'clock shadow. For business appearances however, I would shave every day.

Slow growth rate or flimsy, thin facial hairs?

Originally Posted by AndyPic

Now, after stropping, I can shave with and against the grain with no issues. My only problem is the chin and jaw line that require a safety razor pass as I have yet to find harmony in these areas with the straight razor.

You need to describe your beard growth pattern along the jaw line. Some people pull the skin up or down to avoid shaving along the jaw (harder to do with the difficult to stretch chin area) and seem to do fine. I personally do much shaving along the jaw and find a very sharp edge that cuts cleanly without incident to be important (I'm doing mostly along, not strokes upwards or downwards, for my WTG strokes I'll pull the skin up, then catch the ones under the jaw by pulling my chin in and pulling the skin down and use upward strokes for a pseudo-ATG on those pesky jawline hairs).

Originally Posted by AndyPic

I had minor burn after my first shave, none since. No ingrown hairs, no blood during the shave. My shaves are like none I have ever experienced - close, smooth and very satisfying.

The only thing that comes to mind is the time I now spend shaving - from strop to final wash is about twenty minutes - give or take. Previous to this, I was shaved, showered and perfumed in fifteen minutes.

So, those are the clues. Should I call for transfusions for future shaves? Am I on a solid path to straight razor nirvana? Is the worst yet to come?

[consulting magic shave ball] No. Yes. Most likely, but all signs indicate only minor problems or setbacks.

Originally Posted by AndyPic

Andy

Get yourself a shaman or other qualified metaphysician to protect you from the scores of jealous open razor newbies who may curse your success. You know there's even more of them this time of year with the gifts and resolutions...

Whatever it is, enjoy the luck. Shaving isn't quite like baseball. Once you get the skills down the good shaves just keep coming. If you're prone to ingrown hairs, or bumps, you might get a few booboos. but with care these heal up in a day or so and cause no problem. Amazing how fast the face heals. When I first started a number of years ago, I gave myself a 1/4" cut. Shaved over it a day later and opened it up again. It's left a very subtle scar. People don't notice but I do. Honestly it just adds character to my face.

As Maxi said, be careful that you don't become too comfortable. That was when I cut my face, then my finger, then got major razor burn, then dropped a razor and so on. Shave each shave as if you are learning, keep that focus on what you're doing, and you'll continue to get great shaves.

Charlie