Zephyr's straight shave journey

[Drybonz]

I'll let my face rest for a day or two, using a DE, and then it's back to straights, I like it too much to let a small setback worry me.

Zephyr, I was looking at your Nov acquisitions post and I think you and I are just about in the same phase of our shaving journey, right down to picking up some of the same type of equipment recently.

I am actually taking a couple day break from straight shaving, waiting for a recently honed knife to arrive and letting my face relax a bit.

Anyway, just here to give some moral support since we are in the same boat.

Nothing wrong with taking a quick break... I'm sure you are as excited as I am about your next attempt.

We can do this!!!

 

[Alacrity59]

Thanks Luc, I know, it's just that the previous shaves has gone by almost without any blood, and then getting five "big" nicks and a small cut on the same shave irritates me, probably some of the reason is that the previous shaves has been that good, so I might have been a bit too confident, and not focused enought.
I'll let my face rest for a day or two, using a DE, and then it's back to straights, I like it too much to let a small setback worry me.

That's the spirit. Making mistakes . . .hopefully small. . . . is how we learn.

I look forward to seeing how you are doing . . .going forward.

 

[Zarniwoop]

I know how you feel Zephyr.

We are journeying along this Straight path together. With each nick I get a little frustrated and try to learn why I got the nick. Each nick, each stroke is one step closer to getting it right.

Taking breaks is a great way to step back and reflect on how things are going.

 

[Zephyr]

Thanks for the support guys

It was a strange feeling to shave with a DE today, kinda didn't feel right, funny how the mind works just one week of straight shaving, and my mind wants to strech the skin.
The sad part is that I actually had a VERY good shave, probably one of the best ever, makes me question my decision about straight shaving

But there is something appealing about straight shaving, and I know that I will conquer it, after all I think I have done reasonably well so far (and I just bought another straight)

If the face feels good tomorrow I'm back to straight, if not, I might do it anyway, I just do enjoy it too much

 

[Drybonz]

It was a strange feeling to shave with a DE today, kinda didn't feel right, funny how the mind works just one week of straight shaving, and my mind wants to strech the skin.
The sad part is that I actually had a VERY good shave, probably one of the best ever, makes me question my decision about straight shaving

I had the same experience shaving with my DE earlier today... I found though, that I was thinking about how I could apply good habits from my DE shaving to my straight shaving. For example, I used a XTG stroke to touch up a tough patch under my chin, and realized that I had been trying to do the same spot ATG when I touched up with my straight. So next time I use my straight I will go XTG in that spot, because I know from my, more experienced, DE shaving that it works better.

Anyway, I guess my point is that I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing for us to alternate a bit because it can offer some new perspective.

 

[Zephyr]

I had the same experience shaving with my DE earlier today... I found though, that I was thinking about how I could apply good habits from my DE shaving to my straight shaving. For example, I used a XTG stroke to touch up a tough patch under my chin, and realized that I had been trying to do the same spot ATG when I touched up with my straight. So next time I use my straight I will go XTG in that spot, because I know from my, more experienced, DE shaving that it works better.

Anyway, I guess my point is that I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing for us to alternate a bit because it can offer some new perspective.

Funny thing, I did exactly the same but I didn't think of it in that perspective untill now.

 

[Zephyr]

Two words to describe this shave: Smooth, great!

Just a VERY good shave, almost as good as yesterday's DE shave
A smooth almost DFS shave, no cuts and no burn at all, just a tiny little nick on my chin, a great confidence lift from Sunday!

 

[global_dev]

That's a great feeling!

 

[Gustav]

Grattis Rune!

I had much the same experience, around shaves 7 and 8 it somehow clicked and I started making huge progress.

 

[Drybonz]

Two words to describe this shave: Smooth, great!

Just a VERY good shave, almost as good as yesterday's DE shave
A smooth almost DFS shave, no cuts and no burn at all, just a tiny little nick on my chin, a great confidence lift from Sunday!

Awesome, Zephyr! You are inspiring me!

What would you say was the difference? What elements of this particular shave made things work so well for you?

 

[Zephyr]

Awesome, Zephyr! You are inspiring me!

What would you say was the difference? What elements of this particular shave made things work so well for you?

Thanks!

First of all I used Vulfix Sandalwood cream, which makes a great slick lather, but what made the big difference I think is that I think I found the right angle, focused on the pressure and that I used shorter strokes and faster strokes than before. To have a little speed on the blade when attacking the whiskers made the blade cut much smoother.

 

[Zephyr]

Tried to copy yesterdays shave as much as possible, except that I used Speick SC today.
It more or less worked out, just as close and smooth, and no burn, but I got a couple of small nicks, didn't notice until I put on the alcohol based AS!

 

[Zephyr]

Another pretty great shave, untill I got to the chin, I don't know what happened, but for some kind of reason I got distracted and put the blade in a 90 degree to the place where the lower lip goes over to the chin, didn't feel a thing, just saw the edge dissapear about 2mm into my skin.
Finished the shave with a little more caution, smooth and nice except of the cut, and when I put on Tabac AS, NO sting at all (kept away from the cut)

 

[Luc]

Another pretty great shave, untill I got to the chin, I don't know what happened, but for some kind of reason I got distracted and put the blade in a 90 degree to the place where the lower lip goes over to the chin, didn't feel a thing, just saw the edge dissapear about 2mm into my skin.
Finished the shave with a little more caution, smooth and nice except of the cut, and when I put on Tabac AS, NO sting at all (kept away from the cut)

Not too serious I hope?

Always try to keep the pressure at a minimum when you do those tricky areas...

 

[Zephyr]

Not too serious I hope?

Always try to keep the pressure at a minimum when you do those tricky areas...

Nah, just a small clean cut, about 5-6 mm wide and 2-3mm deep, it has already closed up so it's almost invisible, just a thin pink line. Nothing worse than that I'm back again tomorrow, hopefully I get my new straight aswell.

Didn't have any pressure at all, it was just the weight of the blade, it just sunk into the skin when it touched the skin, says a lot of how sharp it actually is and how careful one should be.

 

[Drybonz]

Nah, just a small clean cut, about 5-6 mm wide and 2-3mm deep, it has already closed up so it's almost invisible, just a thin pink line. Nothing worse than that I'm back again tomorrow, hopefully I get my new straight aswell.

I cut myself during my second straight shave, above my lip. Just as you described... it didn't hurt at all, but it did bleed a good bit.

They seem to heal pretty quick... it was gone in a couple days, if that makes you feel any better.

*edit* Also, what is the new straight razor you are getting?

 

[Montecristo #2]

It's been a busy week, so I was pretty excited about todays shave with a three days growth, haven't had a beard that long in months.

Todays setup:

Got this beautiful brush today, made by fellow member Gamma!
New straight aswell, 5/8 Hamburg Ring.


Now the important part, the shave!

As I said I was pretty excited about todays shave, attacking three days growth, but I think I might have hit a magic spot today.
I decreased the angle a little compared from my earlier shaves, I also paid a lot attention not to put any pressure on the blade and did a two pass WTG, had to do a little touch up on the underside of left jawbone, no nicks, no cuts, no burn, just a very smooth and close shave, I'm a really happy man right now

That's a classy SOD!

 

[Zephyr]

Also, what is the new straight razor you are getting?

A 11/16 Nabob

That's a classy SOD!

Thanks!

Love the scent of "1805", and the brush is just wonderful!

 

[Zephyr]

Got some new stuff today:

SRD 3" Red Latigo/canvas strop, Tuckmar 3/4, Krauss 3/4, New Scales for the Krauss, and a Nabob 11/16 that arrived on friday.

Gave the Tuckmar a shot today, and had THE best straight shave by now, a really smooth DFS with no burn or irritation.

Here's what I used today:

I really think that the Vulfix Sandalwood is underestimated, it makes a really slick and creamy lather, sothens the beard really well, and smells great!

 

[Wid]

Nice looking gear, congrats on a great shave.