Thread: Dont leave it too long between shaves.

Hi All, Over in in merry old england we dont really get harsh winters, but because i work outdoors each year on the last day of september i stop shaving, this year i think it was a bad decision,

I was only 3 months into learning to shave with a straight, i was on the whole doing well, my attempts at face scraping were now less bloody than the somme and my face had ceased to look like it had done a couple of rounds with mr kruger.

I could shave have a smooth result with only the odd nick here and there, and my face was happy with this.

Then came winter or what passes for it over here, 4 damp dark dingy grey months of none weather later, i was told to go and shave or move in with the dog.

So I shaved, thinking i'll be fine, let me tell you i was not, i prepped, lathered, stropped and shaved my way to a face that is in tatters and is really not talking to me at all.

My skin had gone soft ive got razor burn that would give the surface of the sun a run for its money in how hot it is.

So a plea to all other newbies, dont leave it long between shaves, it has two major drawbacks, it upsets your wife and upsets your face, the first i can live with the second i cant.
chin chin, just of to the ice draw for a chill session.

Hmmm, Ya I imagine shaving that much off in one go is a major problem! Maybe use scissors to mow it down a tad first? Frankly I'm not sure what they did in the olden days with that situation.

But, for me and many at least longer hairs *can* be better. Not as long as you describe, but for me I shave every two days, not every single. I can shave daily, but the pre-prep is much more work. As I've been told it has to do with more hair absorbs more water and thus shaves far easier when the larger hair surface becomes swelled with liquid. Then again I prefer after a hot shower to begin with. Glad your keeping with it though. Perhaps we should make some sort of 'Bro Code' for straight saving. Just to keep us all in and in line. Heh heh heh.

Keep it up, and spreading the word.

-Mark

Sounds like it could be a sharpness issue as well. I can cut old growth with no problem...

Hmm, I'd imagine it would just have to do with adequate preparation and a nice sharp razor. I've seen a few videos of folks taking off a full beard in one go.

It's a good possibility that the edge of the blade started to deteriorate during the downtime if it was not stored with oil on it.

In a moment of foolishness once, I shaved off my goatee. It was none too short at the time. It was quick and easy to come off. I call it foolishness, because I look pretty stupid without it. Come to think of it I look pretty stupid at the best of times, but you know what I mean.
Anyway, it's back again now, and here to stay.

Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

In a moment of foolishness once, I shaved off my goatee. It was none too short at the time. It was quick and easy to come off. I call it foolishness, because I look pretty stupid without it. Come to think of it I look pretty stupid at the best of times, but you know what I mean.
Anyway, it's back again now, and here to stay.

Mick

I did the same in preparation for my recent gibblet-ectomy (my gallbladder and I got divorced. I won) and several months worth of goatee/van dyke just peeled off my face with little or no effort at all. I did have a little burn under the nose (had trouble getting the angle right so it was my fault not the blade's) but not enough to make the eyes water. Since then it's grown back since according to the wife I, apparently, look better with part of my face obscured.

Originally Posted by MickRussell

I did the same in preparation for my recent gibblet-ectomy (my gallbladder and I got divorced. I won) and several months worth of goatee/van dyke just peeled off my face with little or no effort at all. I did have a little burn under the nose (had trouble getting the angle right so it was my fault not the blade's) but not enough to make the eyes water. Since then it's grown back since according to the wife I, apparently, look better with part of my face obscured.

This'll have to do for the new 'Like' button...

Considering, back in the old days barbers used straight razors to trim the hair during haircuts and the razors seemed to cut right through that hair just fine I would say your problem was more with the razor or maybe you got rusty with your technique.

Bears prep is the key when shaving off a lot of growth. You have to really massage the lather into the beard and make sure it doesn't dry out. I'll probably get flamed for this but this is one of the rare occasions where canned goo can out perform traditional soaps and creams. As metioned the blade should be nice and sharp and you need to pay careful attention to your technique, i.e. no pressure and go for beard reduction not beard removal.

Originally Posted by Theseus

Bears prep is the key when shaving off a lot of growth. You have to really massage the lather into the beard and make sure it doesn't dry out. I'll probably get flamed for this but this is one of the rare occasions where canned goo can out perform traditional soaps and creams. As metioned the blade should be nice and sharp and you need to pay careful attention to your technique, i.e. no pressure and go for beard reduction not beard removal.

Bears prep?

If the canned goo is outperforming your traditional soap and cream lather in the not-drying-out category, you're doing it wrong