Shaving superstitions

Does anyone else have any shaving superstitions?

This crossed my mind this morning as a I loaded my blade and without thinking about it consciously I made sure that the side of the blade labelled "3 | 4" (rather than "1 | 2") was uppermost. There is no good reason for this, but I did it none-the-less.

I heard one a while back that went something like this. Noob shavers bleed so much (or was it that it hurts?) because the skin is tender. As time goes on the skin develops scar tissue and shaving goes better because of that.

I don't think I have any active superstitions (at least ones of which I'm aware), but occasionally while I'm shaving I'll think about Robert on TV's Everybody Loves Raymond touching his chin with his spoon before putting it in his mouth. I may have some "tics" like that without knowing it.

I don't know if this is a superstition, but before I load up a fresh blade I strope each edge on my hand ~ both sides ~ 10 times ~ no more, no less.

Don't know if it helps, but it doesn't hurt!

Superstitions...no.

(07-02-2012, 06:01 AM)Persius Wrote: Does anyone else have any shaving superstitions?

I think this has a lot more to do with my OCPD...

I always layout a flannel (wash cloth) on the counter top next to the sink, then layout everything I will use for that day's shave on the flannel, every item is placed exactly in the same position each and every shave.

My wife thinks I'm a total fruit cake, shakes her head and laughs as she walks away, leaving me in peace...

How about rubbing a soap puck on your face to cure lathering problems?? Sheesh, who in their right mind would ever try such a stupid thing?

I did think of one superstition, my wife says a prayer before opening the credit card bill.

I'm too superstitious to shave with anything that's on fire.

(No, no superstitions for me, and very little ritual. More like an order of operations.)

I'm more OCD than superstitious when it comes to my shave, though even that isn't always true when a situation doesn't allow for it.

(07-02-2012, 06:01 AM)Persius Wrote: Does anyone else have any shaving superstitions?

Not me,and my routine's never been very rigid,I mix it up a lot,helps me stumble upon new tricks.

I palm strop (or use the Valet AutoStrop strop) on my SE blades; 7 times on each side before & after each shave. I also use the SE blade with the GEM side up on odd # shaves & the STAINLESS side up on even # shaves. So yes, I'm a blade flipper but with SEs only.

*i do not have any superstitions that i know of, but maybe habits.
Tim, does the stropping not dull the DE baldes?

(07-02-2012, 08:34 AM)penmanship Wrote: I don't know if this is a superstition, but before I load up a fresh blade I strope each edge on my hand ~ both sides ~ 10 times ~ no more, no less.

Don't know if it helps, but it doesn't hurt!