Thread: Dealing with frustration

Well, I'm about a week into shaving every day with the straight (WTG only) and I've been pretty patient with the process. Today, however, was the first time that I've come to the face a wave of frustration and disappointment. For the third time this week I've cut myself in just about the same spot (right below my right sideburn). The first two times it was the initial touch of the blade, but not today...and on top of that all of a sudden an new nick appeared on my strop. I was really trying to be careful, too, and there it was.
It's the first time that I began to question this endeavor. I know this will pass, and I have to live with my frustration in order to move on past it, but this forum has been so helpful and supportive, I thought by posting this , it will help me move on. <Sigh>

Having said this, I wish all who celebrate, a Happy Easter.

Nathan

Nicks usually happen if you apply too much pressure. This post might help: Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki

As far as your strop is concerned, take a look here: Strop treatment and repair - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Happy Easter! don't let it get you down. I had been shaving for over 6 months when I got my tony miller strop, had no problems with the cheapy starter strop. got the nice one, nicked it right off the bat, I was ****ED at myself! got too carried away I guess. but I haven't done it in a while. You'll get past it.

Red

When I was a teenager I went to work tying reinforcing steel on construction sites. When we tied beams and columns we had to sometimes stick our hands down into the member to tie some of the intersections. The sharp wires of the previously tied intersections would cut into the forearms like a razor if you weren't careful. The first month my forearms were a scarred bloody mess. It wasn't long before I never cut myself on a piece of tie wire.

It became intuitive. I just subconsciously avoided the tied wire stubs when I reached in as before. I think the same thing happens with shaving with a straight.,,,, i.e. the intuitive care in using one develops. Read my sig below for how I have pretty much avoided nicks and cuts. Still works for me and at least one other forum member that I know of.

It's true about practice and intuition. When I first began shaving with a straight razor, about 8-9 months now, I would always get cut in the same places. Even when I really tried to not get cut in those places (i.e. corners of my mouth and bottom of my neck) I would still get cut! But with more practice, I just seem to get those areas down without thinking about it. It's like a lot of things that take a lot of practice to get right, but once you do it just seems to come naturally.

I know EXACTLY how frustrating it can be, so you're far from alone here. Just keep it up and it will pay off eventually.

And Happy Easter!

Forget about cutting your self. I never worried about it, I haven't actually CUT my self many times, but I have had quite a few nicks. In the last week, this has become a less and less common occurance, but naturally as you push the envelope and try new things well - **** happens right?

Are you comfortable using the razor? It might be worth trying a few XTG or ATG passes in the areas you're most comfortable - you might find you self doing the WTG pass naturally, and worry about it less, because you have new things to try.

It's been said here before, that the harder you try or the more important the event you're attending the more you cut your self and the longer it takes to stop bleeding - it's a real catch 22.

Good luck, keep enjoying it.

Time and practice, practice, practice will solve those issues. Watch some more shaving videos and watch the guys routines, how they hold the razor, etc. Jockey's has some good videos, Lynn has a good video in the wiki. Also, concentrate on what you are doing that is causing the initial cuts to begin with. Once you get past all of that, things will get so much easier and enjoyable. It takes time. I'm still months into straight shaving and shave very well, but I still make dumb mistakes from time to time. I still find myself lifting the toe of the blade during stropping etc. My point is we all have our shortcomings while learning but you WILL get there. Just enjoy shaving. Don't worry about BBS shaves because that's not going to happen anytime soon for you. That comes with mastering your face, the curves, blade angles etc. Keep at it and just have a great time doing it.!

Nathan, thanks for sharing -- stick with it! You can fix
your strop, and your nicks will heal, but straight razor
shaving is a skill and process that lasts a lifetime.
Don't sweat the small stuff (in the beginning or ever),
just relax and enjoy the process.



- Scott

take it easy dude, from yet another newb, the road is long, and the hill is steep, but the view from the top is worth it. I'm still very new to it all too, but I can tell you that it will come, another week, and you'll see how you've improved. one shave at a time man!

Hang in their man, it will get better. There are times when I have nicked myself and have to either avoid that spot entirely or at least be very gentle on the nicked spot the next day. I have found that if the nick came with a wtg pass, the second shave most likely would open the wound with a wtg pass. These things happen. Sometimes I will lather and rub free of lather the nick from yesterday so that I don't accidentally open the wound.

Good luck! and keep up the good work.

Happy Shaving