Thread: Praxis

I generally use pre-shave oil, and as for lather, I'm participating in a blind shaving cream test over at B&B with a shaving buddy of mine. Tonight it's sample #2, 4 or 6. I'm not sure what I'll be using, but he hasn't sent me any garbage so far. Heck, sample #1 was The Gentlemens Refinery Black Ice. Lovely stuff! I will be generous with tonight's sample to ensure a good shave.

/Mark

Scything is the technique that has helped me move to a straight exclusively. For the longest time I had to do against the grain and touch ups with a DE or my neck would wear the scars all day. It's really helped with my neck to get better shaves without the irritation. Makes sense. Chefs use a slicing motion because a blade cuts better when move in two directions at once. Same goes for shaving.

Charlie

I do a quasi scythe when I shave, as I bring the razor down the stroke, I "pivot" it slightly on the heel... Makes a difference but I still have problems doing it on my neck

For my neck I get a better result with a scything or guillotine stroke, as the hair grows from the center to the sides and slightly down. I can't do a comfortable exact ATG here, so learning to move the blade in different directions really helped. Of course, I'm still not perfect (far from!) but I'm definitely a lot further along than I was even a month or so ago (or so I like to tell myself...)

Good going!
Sounds like a great shave indeed!

I don't think I do a single straight stroke during my shaves.
Some kind of scything or guillotine motion are used on every single stroke to some extent.

That said, I would not necessary recommend it for novice shavers.
It is real easy to get cuts and nicks if one is not confident in the strokes, and proficient with the blade in hand.

I kinda eased into the whole guillotine and scything strokes over the course of a half a year or so.