#1
Most people starting out with straights (including me, a year ago) take the plunge with a day's growth or more. Let me propose a different way to get started: use your usual DE or SE safety razor for your accustomed 2, 3, or 4 passes, then switch to the straight for touch-up. Why? Touch-up is low-stakes; so what if it doesn't work? It's also less challenging; a straight is less likely to catch and bite during touch-up than it is on a first or second pass. Finally, and related to the last point, your prep (ironically) is at its most effective when the shave is over, and a good experience with a straight requires good prep.

That's my thought. What do you think?

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Viseguy
#2

Member
Northern Arizona
I have often made that suggestion to beginners who are not initially finding a comfort zone with the straight. It has been helpful from the feedback I've gotten.

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Dan
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
#3

Member
Nashville, TN
I like this idea, especially the part about using the straight once the prep reaches its full effectiveness. The only caveat I would have needed is regarding my chin. This always needs touching up for me and was the hardest part of learning to use a straight, which I'm still doing.

Another idea I like is starting with only the cheeks below the sideburns, progressing to do one pass with a straight with the remainder with a safety razor.

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#4

That Bald Guy with the Big Beard
Bishop, CA
"Touchups" are something I abandoned altogether when I started using a straight. Primarily because it required a hand to feel around for the missed spots, which, for me, are always on the back of my head, and necessitated an elimination of the mirror, which just increased the risk of cutting a finger, trying to blindly feel for missed areas, and get them with a straight.

Obviously, these issues don't occur as readily when shaving the face...

I've always recommended starting out with a pass on each cheek, where the grain is easy North to South, and the plane is relatively flat and easy to stretch.

Of course...that's tough for me to state definitively, because I have never shaved my whole face with a straight...just my cheeks...

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-Chris~Head Shaver~
#5
(05-05-2017, 03:58 PM)Pete123 Wrote: I like this idea, especially the part about using the straight once the prep reaches its full effectiveness.  The only caveat I would have needed is regarding my chin.  This always needs touching up for me and was the hardest part of learning to use a straight, which I'm still doing.

Another idea I like is starting with only the cheeks below the sideburns, progressing to do one pass with a straight with the remainder with a safety razor.
I also find the chin more challenging than any other area, and getting it right takes more time with a straight than with a safety razor. But then you have that nice feeling of accomplishment.  Happy2
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Viseguy
#6
(05-05-2017, 06:58 PM)BadDad Wrote: ... I've always recommended starting out with a pass on each cheek, where the grain is easy North to South, and the plane is relatively flat and easy to stretch. ...
This is certainly sensible advice. Not being particularly sensible myself, I did three complete passes my first time, with impressive blood loss. Still, I was hooked...  Smile

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Viseguy
#7

Member
Nashville, TN
[/quote]
But then you have that nice feeling of accomplishment.  Happy2
[/quote]

Viseguy's comment goes to the heart of one of the main reasons I like shaving with a straight. I like the fact that it takes skill and focus to do a good job. I started with a safety razor, which takes skill and focus. I got a solid handle on that and am working on my skills with a straight.

Also, I'm very ADHD. One of the things I like about classic shaving is that you have to focus or you pay the price.

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