This is not your father's shaving advice

[micah1_8]

What is it about wet-shaving that appeals to so many? Is it a sense of nostalgia? Could it be a strongly held fascination for quaint technology? Might it be a deep seated appreciation for lost arts? Is it just obsessive collectoritis?

Yes.

If you ask an enthusiast what brought you to using “outdated” shaving equipment and techniques, you will likely get as many different answers as people you ask. Some are in it simply because they are collectors while others enjoy the economy of a modest shaving set. Regardless of their reasons, they are legion and will probably be glad to bend your ear and wax poetic about “last night’s shave.”

This shaving “hobby” can be a very rewarding experience. I would like to take a few moments to offer some advice to those who have just discovered Grampa’s razor and haven’t a clue what to do next.

1. Mingle
This first piece of advice is not completely necessary, but I feel it is invaluable; Find like minded people. The internet is the world’s town square and you can find almost anyone hanging out there at any given time. There are forums and informative blogs dedicated to this obsession of shaving with vintage tools and these places can help to prepare you for what lies ahead.
2. Get a dictionary.
It helps to know a few terms and what they mean before you get too involved in reading about the different techniques people are using. Here are a few to get you started.(But, don’t fret if you see a term you don’t understand, just ask, we’re mostly a friendly lot and will be glad to explain.)
Grain–This is the direction in which your hair grows.
ATG–Against The Grain–The act of shaving against the direction in which your hair grows.
WTG–With The Grain–The act of shaving with the grain of your hair.
xAD–This is an acronym for _____ Acquisition Disorder.–This is the obsessive need to collect some item. “x” represents a variable here that could be anything from Razors to Shaving Creams.
SWMBO/TWGW–She Who Must Be Obeyed, sometimes referred to as The World’s Greatest Wife.–Often the same person.
3. Choke up on the bat.
Many will suggest holding your razor near the tip of the handle. This is initially good advice. While holding the razor near the tips serves to teach one how to shave with a light touch, eventually you will want to choke up a bit and find your razor’s more natural balance point. Some of you might even prefer to hold the razor closer to the head. This isn’t necessarily wrong–a tad unorthodox perhaps–but not wrong.(I might suggest a Gillette Travel Tech) Remember when you’re sliding a scary sharp piece of metal around on your face, you want it to be as comfortable as possible.
4. It doesn’t matter when you shave(or where, for that matter).
Sure, some will tell you that you should only shave in the morning, but lots of us de-fleece in the evening when we have more time to devote to the ritual, and it hasn’t caused any major harm, yet. There’s also nothing wrong with shaving in the bath-tub. It was good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you.
5. Ask questions.
When in doubt, ask. No doubt someone else has had the same question before, and will be glad to share what they’ve learned. Sometimes we take for granted that everyone understands what we meant when we say we did an N/S pass with our Fatboy set at 6, following an EVOO prep. If that didn’t make sense, we won’t laugh at you for asking for clarification.
6. Ask questions.
See #5.
7. Be patient.
Wet-shaving takes time. It can almost become a ritual. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to learn about the different techniques. You probably won’t get it all straight away, but as your technique improves, your appreciation will grow. We won’t disown you if you don’t throw away your Fusion on day one. After 2 weeks, we’ll need to talk though–sometimes it’s just time to let go and move on, dude. Seriously.
8. Have a sense of humor.
If you find yourself over at the B&B and we make merry at your expense, please try to remember:
A. We kid because we love.
B. It’s all in good fun.
c. As long as they’re picking on you, they’re leaving me alone.
D. Who am I kidding, they’re probably picking on me, too.

So there it is, wet-shaver, a little advice to help you get started. Take it or leave it, but just remember, take note of what you learn on the journey that lies ahead; you never know when someone will need your advice.

[cactusbrush]

An enjoyable read, and true too. Nice post.

[Swiftsteel]

Nice work Micah, i now know what the literal translation of what SWMBO is (always knew it was to do with girlfriend,wife etc but never what it literally translated to)

Thanks
Swiftsteel

[Spatterdash]

If I may...

SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed

[micah1_8]

Awww shucks, thanks guys.

[sol92258]

#8 is really important around here sometimes....

[MotoMike]

Good Reasons Micah, and true. But did I miss what I consider most important reason.. the superior shave?

[micah1_8]

Good Reasons Micah, and true. But did I miss what I consider most important reason.. the superior shave?

See, there I go taking things for granted again. I just assumed everyone knew that the understood primary reason was "The superior shave." Good eye, and nice catch.

[ted]

Great, great info.

Thanks for posting that.

[john.crissman]

That is some sage advice. Well said Micah!

[netsurfr]

Nice post. thanks for taking the time!

[wksimple]

Awesome post! This noobie feels like he has found a 'home'. In addition to all the aforementioned reasons might I add one of my own: By using my dad's SS and my grandfather's mug I keep their memory alive in my heart daily. It just feels good......

[Bob Dobbs]

Great Post!

I plan to forward it to my son who just received his first DE razor and brush from dear old Dad.

[micah1_8]

Here's another tip:

9. Do your thing. It's okay if you want to use hair conditioner as a shave-cream or even as a pre-shave prep. Remember, just because something might not work for anyone else, doesn't mean it isn't right for you. Tabasco, however, never, ever makes a good aftershave--- I don't care who you are*.



*Even if you think Pinaud's Bay Rum isn't strong enough.

[Mainecanefan]

Great post. I think #8 is the key. This has been invaluable to me at times, like when I got my Slant and after 3 days of shaving looked like I had wrestled with a cat....or just recently when I shattered my shaving mug in the shower resulting in 5 stitches in my foot. I figured I'd beat my coworkers, wife and friends to the punch by laughing my ass off at myself on that one.

[soapbox]

Micah, great job! Perhaps you could add this to your Hall of Fame page, or the wiki? There should be a little section in the wiki -- in my opinion -- about the B&B 'culture' and how we do kid because we love, and if we step over the line (I've done this at least once), it wasn't malicious and the apologies are sincere, even if you've never met the person in meatspace.

Glad you articulated a lot of the conventional wisdom. Institutional memory is one of the hardest things to pass on, and you're doing a great job here. Thank you!

[Oldhope]

I'm starting a new acronym (unless someone has already beaten me to it)

SWMOM= She who must obey me. (for those of us who like to kid ourselves)

Great post. I think #8 is the key. This has been invaluable to me at times, like when I got my Slant and after 3 days of shaving looked like I had wrestled with a cat....or just recently when I shattered my shaving mug in the shower resulting in 5 stitches in my foot. I figured I'd beat my coworkers, wife and friends to the punch by laughing my ass off at myself on that one.

Or when you accidentally squirt Pinaud Clubman up your nose and into your eye whilst sniffing your first ever bottle...

[micah1_8]

10. Look both ways before sniffing. There will come a day, when you won't be able to control yourself, and you'll simply have to have a sniff of the different aftershaves on display at your local drugstore/chemist/hellmart. You will likely pick up a plastic bottle (If it's not Aqua Velva ) and place it near your nose. Before you get the bottle anywhere within 3 feet of your nose, look around you and make sure that there is at least 10 feet of distance between you and the nearest person. Trust me, the last thing you want is for someone to bump you just as you inhale the mentholated awesomeness of that store brand version of "Skin Bracer."

10-b. Walk it off. You of course will forget this advice on at least one occasion. When that day comes (and it will), it will inevitably happen that you will get a snoot full of camphor juice. The best I can offer you here, is walk it off. Everything will smell like some weird combination of fruit and menthol for at least two hours. You'll get something akin to an ice-cream headache and nothing will taste right for the rest of the evening. Sorry, but you really should have been more vigilant.

[Oldhope]

You forgot to mention the violent fit of uncontrollable sneezing... Think about 20-25 repetitions. And I hope you have lots of tissues handy, cause there's gonna be some mucous.

[micah1_8]

You forgot to mention the violent fit of uncontrollable sneezing... Think about 20-25 repetitions. And I hope you have lots of tissues handy, cause there's gonna be some mucous.

Yeah, forget the netti pot, nobody clears the slews like Mennen.