is this guy doing it right?

[H2Andy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69_sqKFCA8&mode=related&search=

[joel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69_sqKFCA8&mode=related&search=
no.

[rtaylor61]

Lather is too thin, angle is NOT anywhere near acceptable, and cleaning off the blade with his fingers??? With my straights, he would be missing fingertips. I have no idea what he is saying, but my guess would be " I'm an idiot pretending to shave with a straight razor!"

Randy

[AFDavis11]

I'll have to agree, but he is obviously experienced. He starts against the grain, something I can't do because I shave with a straight every day (softer growth on him). In fact, I just go down N/S, then a little across.

At one point he uses an angle on the edge that is too extreme for me, but isn't that far from what I do on my second pass. It might roll the edge or cause unneeded irritation. Irritation should never be an issue with a straight.

I don't have any issue with the way he cleans his blade, but I wouldn't ever whip a razor around the way he does when he is not shaving. I rinse in the sink or strop on my hand to clean the blade, moving my fingers sideways would seem like an odd way to do it. I bet he got a minor cut or two in the beginning.

I think its a good example of the lack of rules involved once your experienced.

Once I learned how to really hone a razor well I was able to achieve great shaves without applying water. Just add the cream and went to town. I wonder if he does the same or if he just skipped that step. ????

Great video though. I haven't seen two people shave the same yet.

I think we do need a new guy rule though, if your making a straight video no kissing at the camera before you start. :rolleyes:

[mparker762]

He's shaven at the end, and doesn't seem to get cut by the process, so I'd say he did it right. I wouldn't particularly recommend it to newbies.

Everybody shaves differently, probably more so with straights than with DE's. I tend to prefer a thinner lather with soaps, and have been known to wipe the blade off with my fingers (you just have to make sure to gradually pull your fingers away from the edge as you swipe, and it's fine). But my beard is too heavy to start against the grain.

[Scorpio]

I think we do need a new guy rule though, if your making a straight video no kissing at the camera before you start. :rolleyes:


Man law? agreed


Raf

[Austin]

Entertaining nonetheless. Fabio seems to know what he is doing even though he started against the grain. Ouch!

[Darkcloud]

This guy tells in german language, that he is shaving several years with a staight. At the beginning he had a cut about .5 cm deep ( no wonder :biggrin: ).

He also mentions that he feels better shaving against the grain, but that most of the other shavers start with the grain.

[kozulich]

yeah, I think this guy is pretty much on target, but not for beginners. I shave very similarly with a couple differences. The narration clears a few things up. I do start with the grain, whereas he goes against, but he does acknowledge that he is atypical in this regard. He also clarifies that he wet his face before he began. The lather, I think, though not luxurious, was sufficient. He does strop in an unusual way. I usually roll mine across the spine. Its faster and safer. As for wiping the blade. I usually don't, but I have from time to time. Its fine if you're careful, and he does mention that you should be careful and don't copy him. The key, IMHO, is that you don't wipe the edge. You just wipe the hollow where the lather collects. Reasonably safe if you watch yourself.

Overall, I don't see any huge no-no.

[joel]

He rolls the edge of the blade into the strop, applies too much pressure when stropping, has a dull razor (notice when he shaves EVERY time he shaves against the grain it makes noise...the second time I come up on an area (follow-up stroke) it makes almost NO noise, often no noise at all, as there is no hair to cut/make noise) and this gentleman has a VERY light beard. Sure - it seemes to work ok for him - but if I tried to do what he did with one of my (much sharper) razors, and much heavier beard, on the first against the grain stroke the blade would end up in my neck. Even with an 8/8 blade - my beard is too thick/tough to start against the grain on. He seemed to do alright... but starting off like this gentleman is a recepie for disaster. :thumbdown

[RueTheDay]

He seems to shave with the blade's edge 90 degrees to his face. He strops it the same way. Not good, IMO.

[BlackLabelBrewer]

He also mentions that he feels better shaving against the grain, but that most of the other shavers start with the grain.

He's so fair haired, he could probably get a decent shave with a butter knife. ATG on the first pass is probably no big deal for him at all.

[AFDavis11]

I did notice his stropping looked awfully strange. I can never tell what kind of pressure people use just by watching, and I often use extra pressure, especially with a dull razor. I had my sound turned off. :001_rolle

[htownmmm]

Man law? agreed


Raf

Definitely! man law!



Marty

[GeeQue]

I don't shave with straights at all but it looks to me like he knows what he's doing. I always shave against the grain from the start with my DE...my first pass is usually the last and very close indeed without irritation nor nicks.

[kennethw]

Without the benefit of knowing the language, it certainly came across as a shave out of a Tom Waits song.

I think we should be a little more restrained about the words used to describe it though, as this guy may be a regular at B&B for all we know, or may want to come hang out with us some day.

EDIT: "Stirrin' my brandy with a nail, boys..."

[jimmy_g32]

I tend to agree with the line of thought that says it is NOT a video for a beginner to learn from. Having said that, I think shaving with a straight (more than with a DE) is like learning a sport: you do it how you are shown/told to start off with but once you've got the hang of it, you tend to make your own adjustments for what suits you and still gets the job done.

[rebornshaver]

As long as he gets the desired results and does not lose any body parts who is to say what is wrong or right. Everyone is different, what works for you may or may not work for me. But that does not make it wrong. That is as long as it is not immoral, illegal, or bad for your health.

[Dave_D]

is this guy doing it right?

Pretty rough, but I guess he succeeded at the shave. The half baked stroping on the loom paddle...pass.
While it is true that everyone has their own style and no approach is really 'wrong' there is certainly more grace in Lynn's style and that is the one I'd rather use as an example.