Had a bit of a revelation this morning

Well, this was only about my 6th SR shave, but a few things FINALLY hit me this morning as I was having the most success to date, and they may sound like common sense to the vets, but not necessasarily to newbies:

- If you look at the process of shaving as running a blade over your face and have the "get it done" type attitude, you're never going to have great success and probably nick or cut yourself most of the time. It took me longer to shave today, but I had the most success to date. Even got under the nose and worked a bit around the chin with only one small nick that I can't even tell where it is now.

- If you use the same concentration to shave as say cutting out a pattern on a piece of paper (cutting along the lines), you're going to do well, not get any nicks or cuts, and be able to shave in the hardest places on your face with success.

- When using those harder type "paste" shaving creams line Castle Forbes, flatten it out on the bottom of the mug and heat it/moisten it while you're in the shower.

- When a newbie at stropping, when they say strop 20 times, you should strop 30 because 10 of them will suck.


This may only be the first revelation in learning to use a SR, but I certainly understand a bit more now.

Congrats on the revelations. It feels great when everything comes starts to come together, doesn't it?

The only thing I would add at this point is to increase your stropping lap count. Most of us typically do at least 50 on the leather, and if you have a material strop do at least 30 or 40 laps.

Have fun.

It's awesome when it start to clicks. Truly, straight razor shaving is an art, more than a science, and can really create some amazing moments of inner reflection and personal concentration. (wow, feeling way too contemplative today LOL).

Have fun with this process. I've been at it for a year and it keeps getting better and I keep enjoying it more daily.

Charlie

If you don't take your time and pay attention to detail, forget it - you'll never get it. Maybe if you're useing a SR for years and years you might get away with it, but not a newbie like me.

I have been doing it for thirty, and still do't have it down to perfection.... That is what makes it fun.

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Originally Posted by CharlieTN

It's awesome when it start to clicks. Truly, straight razor shaving is an art, more than a science, and can really create some amazing moments of inner reflection and personal concentration. (wow, feeling way too contemplative today LOL).

Have fun with this process. I've been at it for a year and it keeps getting better and I keep enjoying it more daily.

Charlie

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Charlie, you're not out on a limb at all. There's a kind of meditation called Mindfulness Meditation, and it's what we do every time we shave. Some people have to work at meditation way more than we have to work at shaving, and we get all the meditation for free.

To the original poster--you are on the right track. Keep it up and enjoy!

Great post, JoeS. Thanks. I'm a newbie of about six weeks, and I know I need to take it slower and pay more attention. Your post is a helpful reminder. Thanks, too, to the vets who chimed in.
Ed

I totally agree with much of the former comments, particularly with respect to being patient and taking your time. When I shave, I bring a small radio with me in the bathroom and put the volume up to a level that drowns out any familial noise. I also don't shave when anyone is awake or about in the house; my shaving time is truly "zen" time with me. Oh, and one little piece of advice: I can't emphasize this enough, make sure your skin is tight, tight, tight...you will hardly ever, ever, nick yourself, so long as your skin is really tight. Be it by distorting your face or by pulling your skin, make sure it's really tight. And especially the neck area. Just stretch your chin to the sky [make it really tight], you will never cut yourself again!

I started Str8 shaving back in 08. Over the 3 years of shaving I learned the same thing... Take Your time. If You need a quick shave, get a can of Neir, If You want a hair removal that will last for weeks.. Try waxing.

For Me I found that going slow is the best way for both a comfortable and relaxing shave. This works for many things, like building a selfbow, wooden ships, models and so on.. We live in a fast pace world and it does feel Great to slow down. I'm only 46 (soon to be 47) and trying to take My time on everything is hard at times, But shaving doesn't have to be done quickly to be enjoyed.