Thread: Need some reassurance

I've been SR shaving now for just over 4 months, and have only within the last month gotten to the point where a) I can, if I need to, reliably shave (2 passes) in under 10 minutes without cutting myself and b) can reasonably tell the condition of my edges from how they shave. I have NOT yet shaved ATG or been able to confidently shave my chin (it takes up the majority of the shave time and if I do nick myselft, that's where it is). I bring this up only to point out both how quickly you will develop the muscle memory for a smooth shave but, at the same time, the amount of experience I suspect is needed to "master" the art. The three things I would go back and tell my self-from-February are these:

1) Respect the edge, but don't fear it. I cut myself less from improper motion and more from trying to shave too quickly and not paying attention to the angle the blade connected with my face. The blades are sharp enough to cut just from direct pressure, so if you try to go edge-on against your cheek, your cheek will lose.
2) The blades do weigh something. You don't need a death-grip on the blade and you don't need to press the blade into your face. Hold the blade like you'd hold your mom's/wife's/grandma's heirloom china set: firm enough to make sure you have control but oh so gently. Throw up your pinky if you need to.
3) You do NOT need to relocate your bathroom wall via your strop. I don't know what I was thinking when I was starting out, but apparently I was under the impression that if I pulled hard enough on the strop, I could get some more square footage in my bedroom. If your shoulders and arms hurt after stropping....you're wrong. If the hand holding your blade is cramping after stropping...you're wrong. I must not have believed that a strip of leather could do anything to a chunk of carbon steel without significant pressure, but in the end, all I ended up doing was dulling my blade and damaging a strop.

At any rate, thanks for sharing; and the cuts should clear up soon enough. Don't give up hope.