Thread: Amazing shave in Japan! video

Originally Posted by DaveW

Speed matters when you're doing it by yourself and you need to catch a bus. My first pass is about 30 seconds, my second about a minute and a half.

Like mentioned above, I pull the razor from the top of my face to the bottom of my neck in one motion on the first pass.

If you have trouble pulling from top to bottom, two things could help:
1) razor sharpness
2) razor weight (the heavier the razor, the easier it will make that move)

Wow... you must have almost no hair compared to me. Plus my beard is really coarse lol. Like I said, takes me an hour still...

Originally Posted by pinklather

Hi DK, 'Gotta admit - I've never seen a nose shaved before. And I note he was using a Friodur.

consisten angle & pressure. This one won't get you far - except perhap a consistent *absence* of pressure. On consistent angle - your face (and any other) isn't at all consistent. Beard density isn't consistent. Your angle will vary according to the topography, lay of the beard and density. For now - just enjoy getting really familiar w/ the facial topography, trying all the stretches and strokes and bizarre facial contortions that give you a wonderful shave. I think its great you took the plunge and are doing well so far. It'll get better & better. Maybe in a while you'll do touch-ups or atg w/ only water, maybe test edges atg dry. It comes. 'Hope you have tons of fun while it comes.

Yeah, I guess I didn't word it quite right... He keeps the correct angle while going around the face. And yes, I don't use any pressure

I actually have done some ATG, and WTG. I've been doing ATG on my neck actually. Sometimes it tugs, and thats scary. Even with a very shallow angle it'll do that sometimes. But I've been working on my lather which can make a big difference of course. And last time I made one, it was awesome. But it was for a vintage Gillette Travel Tech DE that I got off of etsy.com (Which had the best shave I ever had... but I felt like I was cheating with a DE ) So hopefully next time I shave with my straight, I'll get that great lather again. I'm sure I will

Nice shave but I have 2 questions if anyone can help:
1. The brush that he used. Was that a "Human Hair" one? Seems too soft for badger and the color??
2. The pass that appeared to be the second one. The one "without" lather. What do you think he rubbed onto his face before the pass??
Thanks

Yeah I was wondering about what that stuff was... Looked like some kind of oil maybe? Or was it just water?? That would be crazy...

Wait what human hair? Gross... I hope not

Huh, I thought I just had a weird ATG technique, but I have been going ATG w/out lifting the blade from my face for a while; kinda of like a vacuuming type move...it sounds weird, but you don't have to keep repositioning and finding your angle or setting the blade right...you just keep moving, and it helps to speed things along w/out actually having to try to go faster if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by tiddle

Huh, I thought I just had a weird ATG technique, but I have been going ATG w/out lifting the blade from my face for a while; kinda of like a vacuuming type move...it sounds weird, but you don't have to keep repositioning and finding your angle or setting the blade right...you just keep moving, and it helps to speed things along w/out actually having to try to go faster if that makes sense.

Interesting! Im gonna try that next time... Maybe Are you buffing like he is, or just doing long strokes ATG?

Looking forward to my next shave, probably this weekend, and trying all these new techniques everyone's mentioning. Gotta make sure I've got a good grip with these long strokes though. Might actually put my finger tips on the alum block to help if it slips at all.

Interesting he was using a western style razor, not a kamisori.

In Japan, typically hair is removed from the entire face, not just the beard and that includes women too. I always thought one of the reasons the kamisori was the way it is owes to the fact it was designed for use over the entire face so it's more a multi-purpose instrument. I would think using a western style straight could be dicey in certain areas of the face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZLjRs0068&sns=em