Straight Razor Golf?!

[ClemsonTigerz]

So, I was bored and had a phone in my hand- so my random “nothing box” which was my brain in the moment strayed towards straight razor stuff-

I came across this diagram which I had never seen nor heard mentioned in any of the forums.

It appears to be the diagram used by barbers to accomplish a 14-stroke shave. Ever see the old black and white movies where someone is in the chair, getting a shave & the barber is flicking his wrist and quickly moving along- and whamo- the shave is finished? After seeing such a shave, I thought, no way- that’s Hollywood- but now?

So I memorized the diagram and gave myself the challenge of the 14-stroke shave. I began thinking of it in terms of golf. How many strokes over 14 would I need to complete the shave? Not that it’s a contest or anything, but rather a way to try to give myself the shave a barber would’ve done according to this diagram.

Anyone else see this or try it? I thought this was interesting and figured I’d share. Smooth shaves & happy honing!

-C

 

[lloydw]

I remember seeing images like yours - not sure how similar the detail was. I see some strokes on that face that i know will not agree with my face/neck or hair growth.

It looks pretty complicated to me - i guess it may be a good starting point for a barbers early education but I would hope they quickly learn to read hair growth and adjust their technique accordingly - aligning to the person in their chair.

 

[Eastcoast30]

Looks like, "paint by the numbers".

 

[JPO]

So, I was bored and had a phone in my hand- so my random “nothing box” which was my brain in the moment strayed towards straight razor stuff-

I came across this diagram which I had never seen nor heard mentioned in any of the forums.

It appears to be the diagram used by barbers to accomplish a 14-stroke shave. Ever see the old black and white movies where someone is in the chair, getting a shave & the barber is flicking his wrist and quickly moving along- and whamo- the shave is finished? After seeing such a shave, I thought, no way- that’s Hollywood- but now?

So I memorized the diagram and gave myself the challenge of the 14-stroke shave. I began thinking of it in terms of golf. How many strokes over 14 would I need to complete the shave? Not that it’s a contest or anything, but rather a way to try to give myself the shave a barber would’ve done according to this diagram.

Anyone else see this or try it? I thought this was interesting and figured I’d share. Smooth shaves & happy honing!

-CView attachment 1625474

The upper lip direction seems strange to me.

 

[Steve56]

I was looking at the old Robeson booklet, and they advised not to shave ATG to avoid irritation.This is probably good advice to their customers who are using a carborundum hone and maybe a CrOx strop. I think that aviiding ATG in those days was pretty normal, but might have altered the recommended pass directions. If you have a truly fine edge (and soap) there’s every reason to go ATG.

 

[J B Addis]

Purely apocryphal, but I once read (where, I do not recall) an anecdote by a Japanese in which he said that his grandfather told him that the old fashioned test of skill for a kamisori shaver was to be able to, when the omote was placed down on the face for the first time, complete the shave without lifting it from the face once.

 

[Steve56]

Your own face or someone else’s face?

 

[J B Addis]

Your own face or someone else’s face?

I don't recall for sure. I think it may have been one's own face, which seems difficult but potentially doable, but I'm not certain.

 

[ClemsonTigerz]

So I’ve learned that this is the 14-stroke method a student barber must learn in order to pass the state board exam for shaving.