Shaving

[Kissfan113]

Has anyone attempted to shave with a straight razor. I am attempting to learn the fine lost art of doing it the old fashioned way. I have a hen and rooster straight razor, which i finally have sharp enough to shave with, an old stoneware cup with a soap cake and boar bristle brush, I am learning better control of the blade, however i am not all that good yet, lots of cuts, proabably many more to go before i develop the skill to do a good shave without mangling myself. lol, I really think the quality of the shave is better, much closer seeming than my electric or gillette razors cut. The soap is a really pleasant smell and the feel of the brush is soothing. I just thought to ask, nothing more than a thought really, maybe someone out there has a dew tips for me though.

Kevin

 

[biggieou]

I have always wanted to learn how, but have never had the time, nor the razor etc, or the balls to cut myself up.

 

[loncray]

I gotta go with Biggie on this one - the possibility of gashing myself open keeps me from going the straight razor route. That said, a haircut I had at Ft. Bragg with a straight razor once while on TDY there is to this day the best haircut I ever had. I have no idea how he did it, but it was great.

 

[lmills]

so..... in other words, if you plan to come to the fall brawl dyno event you will be easy to find. Just look for the guy with all the blots of TP stuck to the razor nicks.



Actually the barber I use always uses a straight razor to do his clean up shavings around your neck when he is finished giving you a haircut.

 

[biggieou]

Actually the barber I use always uses a straight razor to do his clean up shavings around your neck when he is finished giving you a haircut.

The lady that cuts my hair does the same thing, it feels sooo good too. The warm lather, and then the blade feels like its cutting skin, but its not.

 

[Kissfan113]

right now i am having some issues with my folks as far as justifying the trip to kauffmans for fall brawl :-{} #@$%! but i am still working on them, I really hope to make it, just look for the red and silver truck with stacks and a big redneck sticker in the back glass.

 

[RT66DOC]

Ok, gents, here's the latest scoop on shaving.

WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART & NWS:



http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

 

[RustyJC]

I couldn't make the link work (maybe my firewall), but as I recall hearing years ago, the students at barber schools would practice lathering up and shaving a balloon. It would tell you pretty quick when you nicked it, and there was much less blood involved.



Rusty

 

[RT66DOC]

Just clicked the link again and it works from here. Probably your firewall. Not surprised. :-laf

 

[lmills]

worked for me also.

 

[Dl5treez]

Straight razor tip-----GO SLOW.



It was scary the first couple times but now it's natural, like using a Mach 3.



Get a hot, hot, hot, hot, HOT damp towel--as hot as you can stand, and put in on your face for a few minutes before you lather up.



I put the blade in hot water as well before using it... ... . I got nicked up the first couple three times but the pay off is worth it---she likes it.

 

[Mike Ellis]

My wife's grandpa was a barber, and for years he did my haircuts. He was a little bitty old guy with lots of nervous energy, always rushing and jerking around, and when he would grab that straight razor and head for the chair my heart would always pick up the beat a little bit but he never cut me once. And when he would shave, he did it FAST - that razor just flicking around like a snake's tongue. He told me that they practiced on balloons at barber school, just like Rusty said.



Did I mention I always treated his granddaughter really, really nice? And on top of that, her daddy was a butcher! I always kept a real close eye on those two guys.



When her grandpa would give me a haircut, he did a couple of things that really made me go aaaaaaahhh. One was, before he cut your hair, he would haul out this ancient vibrating gizmo that looked like a quarter-sheet handheld sander. It had a sort of curved rubber pad that fit the contour of your head, and he would run that rascal over the head and face. Then he would do the haircut and shave, followed by a hot towel and a sprinkling of bay rum. OUTSTANDING, simply outstanding. You'd walk out feeling like a million bucks.



After he died, it took me years to find another barber shop that comes anywhere close to that old-time feel.

 

[loncray]

YES! That's what that haircut at Ft. Bragg felt like. It felt great while he did it, felt great and looked great afterwards. Old black guy, like so many of the great military barbers - I've never gotten one as good, before or since.

 

[Hohn]

Ha! I'm glad I'm not the only one that's dabbled with the straight razor.



I used to have a straight razor, a sharpening strop, a mug, cake soap and all that. It was tedious, but incredible with the results.



Unfortunately, I soon discovered that the secret to a great shave is NOT the blade-- it's the in the prep. The reason a straight razor shave works so well is because of all the prep that is done.



I started doing the same prep with an off-the-shelf Sensor Excel or Mach 3 razor, and got the SAME great results at much less hassle. I loaned my straight razor to someone who used it to cut paper and ruined it. I never got back into the strop and straight razor.



So, here's how to get a GREAT shave:

1) Wash your face. The best shave prep wash I've found to far is a Neutrogena scrub. Something with pumice or granules like that is a good idea (it exfoliates), and it MUST rinse clean. You want a face that's been scrubbed and rinsed clean with no residue.



2) AFTER you've rinsed your face, prep it by soaking your face with the hottest water you can stand. It takes some time for this to take effect. 20-30 seconds won't cut it. It takes at least two minutes of having a hot cloth/towel on your face to get the effect. What this does is opens the pores on your face, and brings the blood circulation to the surface (your face will turn red). As this happens, the facial hair will straighten and stick out.



3a) Whip up your shaving prep in a mug. Any shave cream will work-- shave soap (in cake form), traditional Foamy stuff (like Barbasol), gels like Edge, and also the new types of shave slimes (King of Shaves from Wal-Mart). Then apply to your face with a nice boar bristle brush.



3b) There's also shaving OILS on the market that will work quite well. If you have a tendency towards acne (like me), then they may make you break out. (But they are really good if you have dry skin, and you can get away with them if you have oily skin as long as you wash your face AGAIN after using them).



David A. Somerset's, The Total Shaving Solution and other oils are VERy good quality, and a small bottle will last forever. A shot glass size bottle will last a year or more.



4) Shave your face, going WITH the grain. Yes, it will be closer if you go against the grain (at first), but shave WITH the grain for a couple weeks (your face adjusts), and you will have as close a shave, with much less irritation. Your razors will stay sharp longer, as well.



5) Rinse your face with COLD COLD water. This will close the pores and retract the hairs.



6) Apply a post-shave treatment that has NO ALCOHOL. Use some kind of moisturizing lotion that has sunscreen in it. I use Neutrogena with SPF20-- good at soothing without drying.





Try the above shave technique for a month-- you will like the results!!!

 

[RT66DOC]

What Hohn said - prep is the secret. Best way I found is to shave in the shower. Got a cheapo mirror setup years ago that attaches to the pipe that comes out of the wall then the shower head screws on to it. Allows water to trickle thru the mirror so it doesn't fog. That plus Sensor Excel and Edge gel = baby's butt.

 

[bighammer]

I have always hated shaving. My new (almost completed) home I'm building has a 12" x 12" heated mirror in the wall of the shower for shaving. I'm hoping it will make it easier faster and less messy. We'll see.....