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This is the question i was asked by a friend... After i shaved with a straight razor this morning. I was a little demoralised. I know i'm not getting as close a shave as my mac3 yet because i'm not going against the grain which i usually would with a saftey razor. My question is how long does it take to get your shave as good as where you left off with a safety razor? Do you have to go against the grain to get that really close shave? Is there any tips you guys can give me? Thanks
Sorry to answer your question with a question but why don't you finish off with your safety razor & that way don't put a time limit on your learning.
If you have to go ATG with the m3 you may also have to with a straight but progressing to the XTG passes will make a big difference in the short term.
Just finished my shave. I did a WTG first, then creaming my face again, using more hot water then the first round, and I did an ATG. Except for the chin which I did XTG. Although not really smooth I am more then satisfied with the result. And I did not cut myself.
Shaving straight razor for two months now, only the first month I did solely WTG.
Most important is to take your time. This shave took me an hour and it was worth it. Now already the result resembles the safety razor shave.
Don't give up!
My first shave (with a Shavette), and yes I did my whole face neck (minus the goatee), got closer than I ever have before with my Mach3. I did go atg, but always just went one pass atg with my Mach3. Hang in there and it will come together. Don't be afraid to touch up with something other than your straight.
+1 to this. Clean up with your safety and you can learn at your own pace without anyone critiquing your shaves (unless you want them to, like your SWMBO). Eventually you'll master different aspects of straight shaving until things finally come together for you consistently. This could take a very long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
I think one thing we have to remember coming new into straight shaving is that this won't happen quickly. Note how some experienced members who have been shaving for a year and a half post that things have finally came together for them. Back when all there was to use were straight razors, young men were learning how to use these things while their beards were still under-developed.
You and I and very few others here have this luxury. So take your time and clean up with your safety. There's no need to rush.
Two-pass: WTG then ATG. 10 minutes. Excellent shave. Badda boom.
I usually go WTG, lather up once more and do a XTG with a steeper angle on the blade (carefully). This routine takes me about 5-7 minutes.
If I want to be fancy and are using my sharpest razor I do a third lathering and ATG.
The ATG took me a couple of months to get comfortable with.
Just use the straight for every shave, clean up with your Safety razor, mach 3 or whatever. Before you know it you`ll throw your mach 3 in the bin and never look back.
Great thanks for everyone's replies. I guess i will finish off with the safety something i was trying to avoid until i get the hang of it...
Sort of felt like a traitor going back to the shitty safety razors... lol
Yes. Reconsider why this person is your friend.
James.
As have been stated above, just keep at it while finishing off with your preferred safety razor.
And do take the time to enjoy the fact that you are learning a skill.
Once mastered it will provide shaves like no other system can, and you have actually learned something that is not that easy to learn at all:)
My shave isn't complete until I go against the grain. This way, it feels smooth in any direction I rub my face. As you get accustomed to the razor, you'll be able to get smooth results with an against the grain pass as well. Go slow learning though, this is the easiest way to cut yourself! Good luck.
Yes, you are and you do. Now don't you feel better for sharing?Quote:
Originally Posted by aquapura1
Seriously, there're no rules really. Take your time, enjoy what you're doing, the focus, the scents, the sensations.
ANYone can use a 6-bladed battery-powered gel foam in a can lather whacker and get decent to excellent results the ladies (and not a few men, let's be fair) will swoon over. To get a truly BBS shave with a blade, a brush, cream/soap/stick takes skills, focus, knowledge and something more than the average Joe just getting his
face scraped to meet the scrutiny of the boss of SWMBO. Most of us are searching for something different than the maddening crowd's lemming-like fascination and use
of multi-bladed throwaways. You'll find it too.
Enjoy.
Yes there is something truly magical and masculine about holding a glistening blade that you sharpened close to your skin. It's environmental, cost effective, more dangerous (thrill factor!!), more masculine and looks cool. I mean what's not to love! Today i honed my razor the sharpest I've ever got it and went against the grain. I'm still finding getting really close on the chin part is a challenge and gave myself a couple of nicks but it was fine. It was a very beautiful experience...
yep...i got hurt using a filarmonica 14 Robles temple this morning, though...:(Quote:
Originally Posted by aquapura1
Destutt de Tracy
what happened mate?
Just to add a little to this conversation, my being a novice, too, notwithstanding:
"All the best people shave twice a day." -- Vladimir Nabokov, in Lolita.
"The correct technique is the one that works." -- SRP guy on youtube.
I'm still a beginner, and finish shaving with a Fusion razor, each time starting with my straight, and gradually working on the tricky parts.
Cheers,
Jack
It took me about a month of daily shaving to get quick and good with a straight razor. I don't do atg on most places, though, or i'll light up like a christmas tree. XTG on the second pass gets me a great shave, and I have less razorburn than I did with a mach 3 or schick quattro.
It is not quite as fast as shaving with a disposable razor in the shower, though - I think that took about one minute. the SR shave in the morning takes me about 7 for two passes, or 6 with one pass and blade buffing.
me too, after a month I decided ATG wasn't worth unless there was zero razorburn.Quote:
It took me about a month of daily shaving to get quick and good with a straight razor
Don't try to remove all your stubble on the first pass, when your starting out try and use the first pass to make the XTG easier and you should have a decent shave from that with good lather and shave ready razor of course.
Exactly, when WTG is the initial pass to facilitate a later/final pass it is just beard reduction and no excess scraping, especially for beginners (who may end up doing more strokes than ideal for their more difficult areas).Quote:
Originally Posted by justalex