No Pressure?

[musicman1951]

I've been thinking about a recent post concerning pressure. I decided I would test myself: try and use too little pressure. Being a musician I've got some finger/hand skills, and I tried to do just that - use such little pressure that the shave would suffer.

I can't do it - the shaves keep getting better (and I would swear I was already using the minimum pressure possible). I did use my human hand/arm and not a machine, so there's some question how much actual pressure was used. The fact is I am unable to use too little pressure. I do use a fairly heavy razor with a solid handle, for what that's worth. I've been using the same razor for about 7 years, so I've got the angle down.

I think this might possibly be a good test for other shavers to try. Maybe you, too, will find you can use even less pressure.

 

[thombrogan]

It’s a difficult quest to reach that “Price Is Right” amount of pressure and probably even harder to maintain it.

 

[Halfbeard]

This is old truth user on our SR forum talk all the time. No pressure only remove lather and whisker magically disappear.

 

[BigJ]

For me this is a mind game: think, ‘No pressure,’ and I am more likely to get the minimal amount that works best!

 

[Chef455]

Nope. I do not believe in "no pressure". If I were to shave with my British aluminum tech and apply no pressure I'd wind up having made negligible reduction of my whiskers. Even with my bronze Timeless, my heaviest razor, I'm applying pressure (albeit minimal) while I'm shaving in order to guide the razor along my face. I do believe the "no pressure" advice applies when one is brand new to DE razors coming from carts. New shavers will apply pressure but should use much less. YMMV

 

[DesertIguana]

Practice, time, and trying different pressures, will find sweet spot.

 

[FarmerTan]

Nope. I do not believe in "no pressure". If I were to shave with my British aluminum tech and apply no pressure I'd wind up having made negligible reduction of my whiskers. Even with my bronze Timeless, my heaviest razor, I'm applying pressure (albeit minimal) while I'm shaving in order to guide the razor along my face. I do believe the "no pressure" advice applies when one is brand new to DE razors coming from carts. New shavers will apply pressure but should use much less. YMMV

Well stated. But I have been trying (remember, I have constant brane bleeds and am ADHD, so remembering can be.....tuff) to do what @musicman1951 does, no additional pressure, just enough to not drop the razor. I've been at this maybe? since the Spring, with great results. I know that you all will be as surprised as I was, but if anything, I am even MORE incredibly handsome faced than I was before!

I've been thinking about a recent post concerning pressure. I decided I would test myself: try and use too little pressure. Being a musician I've got some finger/hand skills, and I tried to do just that - use such little pressure that the shave would suffer.

I can't do it - the shaves keep getting better (and I would swear I was already using the minimum pressure possible). I did use my human hand/arm and not a machine, so there's some question how much actual pressure was used. The fact is I am unable to use too little pressure. I do use a fairly heavy razor with a solid handle, for what that's worth. I've been using the same razor for about 7 years, so I've got the angle down.

I think this might possibly be a good test for other shavers to try. Maybe you, too, will find you can use even less pressure.

And I'm a drummer, as my musician friends say, I am not a musician, but I rarely drop my sticks! (Tho I have thrown a few at a bass player with lousy rhythm!)

 

[Chef455]

@FarmerTan on drums-

He began his DE journey shortly after this was filmed. Also, supremely handsome.

 

[FarmerTan]

I was SLIGHTLY better looking than Animal back then, but SUPREMELY more poorly behaved.

Lol, chicks dig drummers.

 

[euro]

I've been thinking about a recent post concerning pressure. I decided I would test myself: try and use too little pressure. Being a musician I've got some finger/hand skills, and I tried to do just that - use such little pressure that the shave would suffer.

I can't do it - the shaves keep getting better (and I would swear I was already using the minimum pressure possible). I did use my human hand/arm and not a machine, so there's some question how much actual pressure was used. The fact is I am unable to use too little pressure. I do use a fairly heavy razor with a solid handle, for what that's worth. I've been using the same razor for about 7 years, so I've got the angle down.

I think this might possibly be a good test for other shavers to try. Maybe you, too, will find you can use even less pressure.

Relaxing your wrist, arms and shoulders help a lot too.

 

[Wogus]

A personal anecdote on this subject... My shaves improved significantly after someone, I forget who, told me, "Don't shave with your wrist, shave with your arm." At some point I had an "ah ha!" moment with the whole concept of "no pressure" (or correct pressure or what have you).

Just an anecdote, I don't presume this to be something that will work for everyone.

 

[musicman1951]

A personal anecdote on this subject... My shaves improved significantly after someone, I forget who, told me, "Don't shave with your wrist, shave with your arm." At some point I had an "ah ha!" moment with the whole concept of "no pressure" (or correct pressure or what have you).

Just an anecdote, I don't presume this to be something that will work for everyone.

Actually, I believe it is the reason short strokes are recommended - it removes the wrist. Fewer moving parts sure sounds like a good formula for success.

 

[psfred]

Some pressure is required to keep the blade in contact with the skin, but not much. Light pressure also makes the blades last longer.

I've been battling the "flex the wrist" issue a while, you do indeed get better shaves without rotating the head of the razor off the skin while shaving....

It's a skill, it will improve with attention and practice!

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Being a musician

I am a brass player and every time this subject comes up I'm reminded of the "No-Pressure Method" which was big when I was coming up. Maybe it still is, I don't know. I think most of us figured out at some point that if you wanted to be a high range specialist, at least with any clarity, that we had to modify it to be the "Some Pressure Method." Anyway...threadjack. Sorry.

A personal anecdote on this subject... My shaves improved significantly after someone, I forget who, told me, "Don't shave with your wrist, shave with your arm." At some point I had an "ah ha!" moment with the whole concept of "no pressure" (or correct pressure or what have you).

Just an anecdote, I don't presume this to be something that will work for everyone.

This is excellent advice. As a straight shaver, when I was learning to shave with my non-dominant hand I realized that I generally got better results with that hand than my dominant one. At first I thought it was just that I was being more careful but then I realized that because I didn't have quite the same level of fine motor control I was moving my whole arm instead of suing my wrist. When I applied that to my dominant hand my shaves got better overnight.

 

[Wogus]

This is excellent advice. As a straight shaver, when I was learning to shave with my non-dominant hand I realized that I generally got better results with that hand than my dominant one. At first I thought it was just that I was being more careful but then I realized that because I didn't have quite the same level of fine motor control I was moving my whole arm instead of suing my wrist. When I applied that to my dominant hand my shaves got better overnight.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that "gets" this concept, as I was afraid I might be. I'm also wondering if flexing the wrist is what's responsible for for more pressure than what's desirable for a proper shave. I know it's still something I have to remind myself of (to not shave with my wrist) even now; but there's no doubt it works for me.

I also think there's a difference between contact and pressure. I definitely want the blade in contact with my face, but I don't want to add pressure to that contact. It's a delicate balance and I think shaving with my arm is what helps me maintain that balance.

 

[Never Picked]

Depends on the weight of the razor. Try no pressure with one of these:

 

[Ravenonrock]

Yes, pressure, a modicum of pressure.

 

[Chef455]

Depends on the weight of the razor. Try no pressure with one of these:
View attachment 1749363

More importantly, where can I acquire one of those?

 

[Never Picked]

More importantly, where can I acquire one of those?

Oh, I just went to the first place where I could find an extreme example. Exaggerate to clarify as is said.

El Fantasma "Naranja" EPIC Open Comb Double Slant Safety Razor | It's Twisted! | Limited Fall Release

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They have other ones similar so you might want to look around first.

 

[musicman1951]

Depends on the weight of the razor. Try no pressure with one of these:
View attachment 1749363

I've been wondering about that, and it seems to make sense. I don't have one of those beauties but I'm going to try with a Bic Metal. It's a strange name as it's a plastic disposable razor.