[thebigspendur]

I wish I could take credit for this but unfortunately I can’t. At one time or another these have popped up as warnings to all new shavers so I’m just corralling them together with some commentary. I’ll call them the axioms of shaving and if anyone has others to add we should incorporate them into one post and make it a sticky. So here goes:

Axiom 1-Don’t be afraid of the razor. If you’re afraid of the razor you will never master it, it will master you. No different than learning to shoot a gun. If you’re afraid of it you’ll never shoot straight.

Axiom 2-If you think your going to cut yourself you will. This kind of goes with number one. You have to have confidence in your abilities to use the instrument. If you don’t its bad karma and something bad will happen.

Axiom 3-If you’re in a hurry or can’t concentrate use another means to shave. Straight shaving takes full concentration. If you have a lot on your mind or are in a hurry or have to talk to someone while shaving don’t do it. Personally the only times I’ve really cut myself was when I violated this rule.

Axiom 4-Sharp exposed straight blades never cause harm to anyone. That’s kind of like loaded firearms never harm anyone only unloaded ones cause harm. You have to always know where the blade is and where all parts of your anatomy are in relationship to the blade at all times. And never carry or walk around with an open straight. And I think it was Rich who said “don’t shave naked”

Axiom 5-If a little honing goes a long way a lot of honing must go further. The only thing a lot of honing will do is wear down your blade. The trick is to expose the blade to as little contact with the hone as possible to get the maximum result. Remember, each time the razor slides down the hone your leaving metal behind.

Axiom 6-Spending more money on razors and paraphernalia does not guarantee better shaves. Your shaves only become better as your mastery of the skill increases. Spending more money may increase your satisfaction and may make you feel better but as far as better shaves go...

So I know there are others so lets see what you guys can come up with!

[Joe Chandler]

Axiom 6 is absolutely true, although it's a lot of fun to accumulate new, different, and more razors. They're beautiful instruments, and as a knifemaker myself, find myself endlessly fascinated by things about them...the grinds, the bevels, the handles, the pins, the embellishments, etc. Confidence in your abilities and experience absolutely make all the difference in the world, though. An experienced shaver with a sharp, run-of-the-mill razor, is going to have a better shave than a newbie with a laser-sharp adamantium (comic-book geek...indestructible metal ) bladed Maestro with a gold inlayed titanium handle, honed by Hephaestus himself. I'm still learning It's fun to accumulate and collect, but the shave's the thing. Experience and treachery will overcome youth and skill almost every time.

All of them are true, and wise. Axiom 6 is my favorite, though.

[JLStorm]

Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns AND my razors combined! <where is that bumper sticker when you need it?>

[LX_Emergency]

possible numer 7?

#7 The hone doesn't do damage to your razor. You do damage to your razor when honing wrong.

maybe 8

#8 It's just a stone..... don't be afraid of it.

[AFDavis11]

If you don't know what a sharp razor feels like on your face you probably won't recognize what one feels like on a hone.

The hone is for the demise of your whiskers, the strop is for the comfort of your face. Don't neglect your skill with either.

One extra minute of prep will pay for itself all day.

Learning the difference between a scything motion and a slicing motion is usually a very painful process.

[FiReSTaRT]

9) Pick the right gear. Chipped or bad-quality blades will ensure injuries and discomfort. Say NO to Pakistan

[PapaBull]

• If your straight razor doesn't give you the most comfortable shave of anything you've ever used, either you've got a cheap/poor razor, it's poorly honed, or you don't know how to shave.
  
• Honing isn't rocket science. It's just shaping metal into a nice polished shape that cuts well.
  
• You can only shave with one razor at a time. But you can enjoy looking at, fiddling with, trading and owning as many as you can buy.
  
• If you worry about wearing your blade away to nothing by over honing it with your fine barber hones, use those hones to hone out a small nick in the blade and you may end up with a different perspective after a few weeks.
  
• Some of the best shavers have plain black handles and plain undecorated blades.
  
• If you cut yourself bad enough to leave a faint scar, chances are it was because you were careless with a spike point razor.
  
• If you had to shave with a Pakistani razor every day, you'd be trying to find a way to meet Allah as quickly as possible, too.
  
• Friends give you wedges, not wedgies.
  
• The more you know, the more you know how much there is to learn.
  
• If half the barbers say you must rest a razor for a day or two after shaving and half the barbers say you don't, then we know that half the barber's are wrong about something as simple as that. Accept their expert opinion on anything more complex at your own risk.
  

[wvbias]

Don't expect too much too quick when first starting
out with a straight. Close shaves come with experience.

More razors won't buy happiness, but there's no harm
in trying to prove this theory wrong. I am currently resisting
the urge too buy another. Bill will be the first too know if I
do.


Terry

[RichZ]

How about this for an axiom. " Shut your pie-hole and shave already"

[FiReSTaRT]

Originally Posted by RichZ

How about this for an axiom. " Shut your pie-hole and shave already"

I listened to that one.. Unfortunately I only had the Pakistani at the time and I learned the meaning of wanting to meet Allah. Now I'm looking into microderm abrasion and scar removal lol.

[RichZ]

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I listened to that one.. Unfortunately I only had the Pakistani at the time and I learned the meaning of wanting to meet Allah. Now I'm looking into microderm abrasion and scar removal lol.

You too?? Only I can't blame a Paki razor just bad form.....

[FiReSTaRT]

I can blame bad form for the two nicks I got today. Got rushed near the end (i know i know) and wasn't paying attention. Fortunately one was very minor and the other one was over an old scar, I got when i was 10, got into a scrap and got hit with a rusty bar lol. (rhyme unintentional) Have you looked into that Neutrogena microderm abrasion kit?

[Lynn]

This is a great thread! Thanks BigSpender for starting it. I am making it a sticky for a while if you guys don't mind. Lynn

[FiReSTaRT]

Thanks for exposing my ignorance Lynn Actually it's good to have here for quick reference.

[RichZ]

Yes this should be pretty good for that

[Gregg]

Well said! Your axiom #3 is sticks in my mind, EVERY time I rush or let me attention wander I cut myself.

[xman]

I actually had a lightning fast shave again last night in contradiction to Axiom #3. I should point out that it was a great edge on my W&B that did it and there was only one little nick that had largely disappeared by morning. That was a 10 minute shave. I wasn't planning to go particularly fast, and I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere except downstairs for tea with my wife before it got cold.

X

[russellnyc]

Great guidelines!

My two cents: If the shave isn't going well and the razor isn't cutting your stubble well and easily, stop shaving and finish with another razor/shaving method. Going over a stubborn spot your face 10 times with a dull razor won't make your face smooth or your razor sharp, it will just make your face hurt and prevent you from shaving tomorrow.

[72miura]

I am a Buddhist and keeping your mind foucsed on the task at hand is a huge concept of Buddhism.
Be in the act of the shave, use your entire focus on your shave and your shave will be more enjoyable, you day will start better and your mind will be clearer.

I sound like a goddamn sage..lol

[EAD]

Great thread