So I had my first wet shaving kit delivery this morning and I am keen to get started and get rid of my Gillette disposables. Reading wet shaving articles all over the place I see a lot of emphasis placed on using short strokes... and I'm not quite sure why. I have always used looong strokes e.g. bottom of my short sideburns all the way down to my jaw line (some times past it) or from just in front of my ear all the way to the edge of my lip (across the grain) in in one long, smooth stroke. I then rinse the blade and go again with the next long stroke. Are short strokes REALLY that important (so long as the razor isn't getting clogged up)? What are your views?
I'm no expert, and I may be wrong, but the way I understand it, if you keep the strokes short, you have more control over the angle of the razor. If you were to use long strokes, you have more of a tendency to move your wrist, and therefore change the blade angle. I think...
Short strokes to me are most important where your face curves the most, because that's the area it's most difficult to maintain the correct angle. I do long strokes on my cheeks and don't have problem.
I use long strokes top of cheeks to jaw line then short for everything else. 1 to 1/2 inches then rinse razor and reset.
*Nods happily* You nailed it, from my point of view. Easy does it, pay attention to geometry, and Bob's yer uncle! :signs107
dont know why but my best shaves are when I slow down and use short strokes. I could be just the nature of one blade. you dont have that second blade following and cutting, you dont have safety wires on the blade like those cartridges. who knows. but as I remember correctly with a cartridge if you do long strokes thats when you get the razor burn.
for me long or short doesnt matter, but i always go slow. Its best to take your time and enjoy what your doing. That way even if you do take a long stroke you can still control the angle and any movement of the razor
This is prime fodder for the out of context thread. :laugh042 And, for the record, I like to vary speed and length of the stroke, depending upon what bit I'm shaving.
1st Pass: Regular strokes (top to jawline), and long upward strokes from collar bone to under jawline. 2nd Pass: Quick, short strokes and sometime 'Buffing' stroke technique 3rd Pass: 'Buffing' stroke technique mixed with 'J-curve' stroke technique. Remember, DE shaving is about GRADUALLY reducing your beard stubble. Many times you'll miss too much with long strokes, although this is the best stroke to use for the first pass. When doing a neck-shave on a client at work, I use quick, short, but very light strokes, to eliminate the need for more than one pass. I don't use DE's on clients, but rather a modified single-edge straight. I use Feather replaceable blades, as they have a manufactured guard over the edge so no chance of nicks.
Short Strokes Is The Key. Agree with Groom Room. Its about gradually reducing facial hair. On Mantic's videos, you will hear the phrase "Beard Reduction" used. DE Shaving is about taking your time and getting it right. I personally think of it as a short order cook frying a burger (not that I don't like a good burger from a fry cook, mind you) versus an executive chef making that perfect steak just the way you like it. Short strokes may seem more time-consuming, but the way I see it, the longer the stroke you take, the more stubble and soap/cream/gunk is going to build up on your razor, reducing the effectiveness of each stroke. I shave my face twice using short strokes, one time with the grain, and the next across the grain on my face, some "gliding" on my neck, and with the grain again on my upper lip, lower lip, chin, and the area immediately surrounding those. I get between a DFS (Damn Fine Shave) and a BBS (Baby Bottom Smooth) shave everytime. Most of the time the shave being closer to the BBS side. Hope this helps.
As a "newbie" I thought short strokes didn't really help. Then I noticed when I took my time and used short strokes there was no blood loss. So I am a convert - short strokes are for me. Paul
With a Mach 3 (etc) one can take long strokes because the cartridge articulates; so if you hold the handle at the more-or-less correct angle, the cartridge will always lie at the correct angle. A safety razor (obviously) does not articulate, and the shaver must keep changing the angle as he shaves the curved areas of the face. Short strokes makes this easier to accomplish and the movements smoother and more natural.
I think physically it's not about whether it's short or long. The irritation can be due to both normal and tangential load applied on face. To minimize normal load reducing the angle of shave is needed. To minimise tangential load one needs to keep face wet and speed of stroke low. That's my understanding of it..
Combo Strokes here with disposables. Mostly short strokes unless I'm out on the flat areas, Cheeks, jaw line to collar bone, forehead, etc. Okay; so not the forehead. Depending on how long the whiskers are too. The only time I get razor burn is when my face or lather gets a little dry from me putzing around in the corners and wrinkles. I watch for this and a dip of the razor or the tip of the brush into the water makes for a DFS to BBS. NO pressure, let the blade do the work. YMMV.
I love doing the whole side of my face in one stroke, the neck I do long strokes but cant do one half in one go. Just round the chin I do short strokes and upper lip. The important thing is enjoying your shaves. I'd like to see a cart do the whole side of the face in one stroke ! Big cart ! Some say the the first inch of a straight is what gets used. I payed for the whole edge and I like to use it all.
