The importance of technique!

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The title says it all, but technique is easy to overlook/lose. After 12 months absence from DE shaving upon resuming I have been dismayed to be suffering from poor shaves and quite a lot of irritation. Didn't stop to really think about it until tonight when I spent time in front of the mirror re mapping my face. I discovered that I was not shaving the way I had when I perfected a good shave. Daft though it sounds as soon as I saw this I remembered exactly how I used to shave. I then had a 3 pass shave which is the best shave I have ever had. Hopefully some of our newer members reading this may pause and realise that it is important not to think shaving is easy. Take time to see how your whiskers grow in different areas of your face, and perfect your technique by shaving accordingly. I still can't believe that I just plowed ahead into shaving again without even thinking doh!
 
On the contrary I believe shaving is easy but to make a daily rather boring chore more interesting I have decided to shave forum style ie as if an artform :)
Yes it is easy once you have mastered technique and as you say it could become boring and you could slip back into the five minute shave and out the door so to make it an artform or as I like to look at it a relaxing daily ritual where I can take my time and really enjoy the experience keeps it from ever becoming a daily chore . P.
 
I am sure I never shall. I hated shaving with cartridges razors and grew a beard for many many years. It was only when I started learning DE shaving that I turned it into a relaxing ritual. I had everything right and was just about to start exploring different soaps/ pre and post shave oils and balms when I had the 12 month break.
 
Yes it is easy once you have mastered technique and as you say it could become boring and you could slip back into the five minute shave and out the door so to make it an artform or as I like to look at it a relaxing daily ritual where I can take my time and really enjoy the experience keeps it from ever becoming a daily chore . P.

Yes, same approach here.

I don't have a rotation of soaps and razors as such but I use different soaps every time, I decide on the day what soap I fancy and what razor and blade.

Technique is obviously something very important but something that I don't think about much now and if I'm shaving with a mild ish razor/s for a while the technique can get a bit sloppy so it's good for me to shave with something I respect, like the Muhle R41 to get me back on track.

I can shave with a straigh razor for a few days but I need to take a break after a while, nothing bores me more than stropping a straight razor BUT I always enjoy a straight razor shave after a break and I get the best shaves too :)
 
Yes, same approach here.

I don't have a rotation of soaps and razors as such but I use different soaps every time, I decide on the day what soap I fancy and what razor and blade.

Technique is obviously something very important but something that I don't think about much now and if I'm shaving with a mild ish razor/s for a while the technique can get a bit sloppy so it's good for me to shave with something I respect, like the Muhle R41 to get me back on track.

I can shave with a straigh razor for a few days but I need to take a break after a while, nothing bores me more than stropping a straight razor BUT I always enjoy a straight razor shave after a break and I get the best shaves too :)
I too enjoy the challange of using a straight razor and when my shoulder mobility problems alow me to use them I do. Like you I don't have a strict rotation of shaving gear but will never use the same stuff two days running, this helps keep things interesting . Shaving with razors that need respect as you say keeps you on track and I enjoy the extra challange of using something that could bite if I was to let myself get sloppy with my tecnique. there is nothing more satisfying than a perfect shave, well there is but we are talking about shaving here! :) P.
 
Two and a bit years in and I'd gotten really sloppy as well, aggressive razors are actually quite forgiving of poor technique... They cut no matter what!

I came at it from the opposite end of the spectrum with the acquisition of a Feather Popular which is extremely mild - If your angle and pressure are not spot on it simply won't shave you. It took me a week to master it but I ended up getting the best DE shaves I've ever had, and now get better results with all razors thanks to what the Feather taught me :)
 
Two and a bit years in and I'd gotten really sloppy as well, aggressive razors are actually quite forgiving of poor technique... They cut no matter what!

I came at it from the opposite end of the spectrum with the acquisition of a Feather Popular which is extremely mild - If your angle and pressure are not spot on it simply won't shave you. It took me a week to master it but I ended up getting the best DE shaves I've ever had, and now get better results with all razors thanks to what the Feather taught me :)
As long as an aggressive razor plus poor / sloppy tecnique only cuts your whiskers and not your face you would be getting away lightly.
I've cut my skin after a momentary lapse of concentration or just plain sloppy shaving but I don't think I'm alone, mistakes happen to the best of us. :) P.
 
As long as an aggressive razor plus poor / sloppy tecnique only cuts your whiskers and not your face you would be getting away lightly.
I've cut my skin after a momentary lapse of concentration or just plain sloppy shaving but I don't think I'm alone, mistakes happen to the best of us. :) P.

Maybe I wasnt as sloppy as I thought :eek::p

Only ever cut myself once with a DE, ironically it was with a Gillette Tech!
 
My guess is that many or maybe most forum members stick to the hobby style of shaving for a year or two and then move on, not sure though where they are heading, electric? five blades in one disposable plus goo in a can? stubble and trimmer? full beard? or more likely a simplified version of the forum shave ie still wet shaving but happy with one razor, one soap, one brush...
 
My guess is that many or maybe most forum members stick to the hobby style of shaving for a year or two and then move on, not sure though where they are heading, electric? five blades in one disposable plus goo in a can? stubble and trimmer? full beard? or more likely a simplified version of the forum shave ie still wet shaving but happy with one razor, one soap, one brush...
Never will I give up shaving how I'm shaving now, this is no flash in the pan hobby, this is now a way of life :) P.
 
My guess is that many or maybe most forum members stick to the hobby style of shaving for a year or two and then move on, not sure though where they are heading, electric? five blades in one disposable plus goo in a can? stubble and trimmer? full beard? or more likely a simplified version of the forum shave ie still wet shaving but happy with one razor, one soap, one brush...
I've been shaving for 2 and half years and I don't see myself ever touching an electric razor again. In an emergency I might use a cartridge razor but that's it.
I think I know where you are coming from, I lost the enthusiasm to try just about anything that was fashionable with forum members. I stopped buying razors over a year ago, brushes about 6 months ago and it's not because of a self imposed ban, I simply don't have the enthusiasm to shave with the latest razor in the market. 18 months ago I used to hope the next razor would give me the perfect shave then I realised that I already had those razors, I just needed to fine tune my technique :)

It's not like I have a choice to make, I have to shave and I enjoy doing it with a DE or SR :)
 
I've been shaving for 2 and half years and I don't see myself ever touching an electric razor again. In an emergency I might use a cartridge razor but that's it.
I think I know where you are coming from, I lost the enthusiasm to try just about anything that was fashionable with forum members. I stopped buying razors over a year ago, brushes about 6 months ago and it's not because of a self imposed ban, I simply don't have the enthusiasm to shave with the latest razor in the market. 18 months ago I used to hope the next razor would give me the perfect shave then I realised that I already had those razors, I just needed to fine tune my technique :)

It's not like I have a choice to make, I have to shave and I enjoy doing it with a DE or SR :)
Exactly, unless you grow a beard you need to shave so why wouldn't you want to make it as enjoyable as possible, life and shaving is what you make of it :) P.
 
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