The 'gillette slide'

[Ruck]

Was watching a few of Mantic's videos again, came across the advanced techniques clip. I decided to give the gillette slide maneuver a shot.



I love it.


It's become my go-to stroke for the 2nd pass, sliding ear--> chin as I work north/south. It feels far better than separate standard North/south, East/west passes, and gets me to DFS better than any other way. On the last few shaves I've found I can skip the ATG stroke if I want to be totally irritation free and still be close and clean.

It's amazing what little changes to technique/pattern can do.

Anybody else use it as a tried and true, or do more people use in a novelty/occasional way?

 

[Silk]

I haven't had the guts to try it yet, but one day... BTW, I'm assuming you're doing this with a DE, and not with a straight razor?

 

[Ruck]

I haven't had the guts to try it yet, but one day... BTW, I'm assuming you're doing this with a DE, and not with a straight razor?

Absolutely. do people actually do that with a straight!? I suppose it's just as possible, but I don't know how one would stand close enough to the sink to try it with giant brass balls clanking against the cabinet.

 

[thirdeye]

When I shave with a DE I use the slide all the time for pass one and two and finish the third off with the J-hook....simply awesome.

I'm thinking this would not be a smart move with a str8.....

 

[Blue_2]

It actually works with a straight, but it's an advanced technique and doesnt have as long of a slide.

I like it and tend to use it in the first pass.

 

[Luc]

It actually works with a straight, but it's an advanced technique and doesnt have as long of a slide.

I like it and tend to use it in the first pass.

+1

I have to do that on the right side of my neck otherwise I don't get a smooth BBS shave.

I like to call it the Sheffield Slide

I also do the equivalent of J-Hooking with the straight using the pivot as the turning point.

I do both on a daily basis.

 

[thirdeye]

+1

I have to do that on the right side of my neck otherwise I don't get a smooth BBS shave.

I like to call it the Sheffield Slide

I also do the equivalent of J-Hooking with the straight using the pivot as the turning point.

I do both on a daily basis.

I also do what would be the equivalent the the J-Hook but I'll pass on the slide.

 

[jtrops]

I've been using it on some passes for years. I learned it a while back as a slicing stroke, and I was under the impression that it had been done with a straight for years before a safety razor was around. I'll see if I can dig up some historical references.

Edit:

On the internet archive I found a barbering manual that was published in 1906 that describes it like this:

"Always begin the shave on the right hand side, draw the razor with a slanting stroke, as shown in cut. The razor must be handled in such a manner as to allow it to saw across the beard instead of pulling straight. This motion is what makes shaving an art."

I know I've seen diagrams that were earlier that show clearly the slicing stroke.

 

[TheFlyingFrenchman]

Definitely used with a straight. Two slides across my cheeks is a good way to reduce a lot of stubble. Then I just have to clean up using regular N-S & E-W and vice versa passes.

 

[Big Kev]

I've been using it on some passes for years. I learned it a while back as a slicing stroke, and I was under the impression that it had been done with a straight for years before a safety razor was around. I'll see if I can dig up some historical references.

Edit:

On the internet archive I found a barbering manual that was published in 1906 that describes it like this:

"Always begin the shave on the right hand side, draw the razor with a slanting stroke, as shown in cut. The razor must be handled in such a manner as to allow it to saw across the beard instead of pulling straight. This motion is what makes shaving an art."

I know I've seen diagrams that were earlier that show clearly the slicing stroke.

That would make since. A blade works best moving in 2 directions. Think about cutting vegetables, I was taught to use a downward and forward movement with the knife to make the cleanest easiest cut. So it would make since to use a straight with the same idea.

I have not tried the slide yet but I might have to work it into my routine. I do use the j hoke though and I get great results from it.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I have done it with a straight, but I always thought it was "cheating", and also a bit reckless since it increases the potential for a nasty slice. So I never recommended it nor even told anybody I ever did it. Now, I see it is okay and even taught to professional barbers? Okay, I'm out of the closet. On the slicing stroke, not anything else. Not that there is anything else... stupid title...

 

[Gustav]

+1

I have to do that on the right side of my neck otherwise I don't get a smooth BBS shave.

I like to call it the Sheffield Slide

I also do the equivalent of J-Hooking with the straight using the pivot as the turning point.

I do both on a daily basis.

Funily enough I tried this on yesterdays shave after remembering something Martin Nienberg from RasurPur said in his videos. You can accomplish a much less dangerous variant of it by tilting your razor so that it is slightly askew, and holding it thus when you do your stroke. This also results in a slicing motion.

 

[Luc]

The slide works quite well with a straight. You just need to go slowly but never strop. No pressure, it works wonder! I tried without it and I can't get a smooth right side of the neck without it!

 

[mparker762]

do people actually do that with a straight!?

Gillette just copied it into his DE manuals - the basis for the Gillette slide is the standard straight razor stroke, as described in barber's textbooks from the 1800's. For safety reasons it should be done with the toe leading. From the comments in this thread I wonder if this is less well-known than it was a few years ago, are the newish guys (< 2 yrs expr) using a straight-on shaving motion? Back when I started the sliding stroke was the standard shaving stroke, and was extremely useful for getting a good shave out of the relatively coarse finishing hones (usually 8k norton) that were in common use back then. Maybe the ready availability of the high grit shaptons and the popularity of chrome oxide and submicron diamond abrasives have improved the edges enough to make that sliding stroke unnecessary, in much the same way that teflon coatings made it unnecessary for cartridge shavers.

 

[richmondesi]

I use the slide quite regularly

 

[Ruck]

New rule: no gillette slide on the first shave with your newborn in the house. Caught myself daydreaming a bit tonight and BAM, it bit me. More forward than down = paper cut from hell.

 

[jtrops]

Absolutely. do people actually do that with a straight!? I suppose it's just as possible, but I don't know how one would stand close enough to the sink to try it with giant brass balls clanking against the cabinet.

New rule: no gillette slide on the first shave with your newborn in the house. Caught myself daydreaming a bit tonight and BAM, it bit me. More forward than down = paper cut from hell.

So, was this DE or Straight? I just need to know if the newborn rule applies to all razors.

 

[Ruck]

DE; I'm not man enough (or skilled, yet) for a straight razor

 

[jtrops]

DE; I'm not man enough (or skilled, yet) for a straight razor

I'm not sure that there is a level of manliness that makes a straight razor the go to method. The skills, while related, are really different from a DE. I would say that if you are interested in a straight you should try it. It's a bit more of a learning curve, but as long as the motivation is there you'll be fine. It's not as scary to shave with a straight, as it is to think about doing it having never done it. It seems like a lot of people start with a straight just on the cheeks, and the rest with a DE/cartridge. That would be a good way to go about it as the cheeks are the easiest pass.