First Straight Razor: Won't cut my hair (yes, another post like this)

Haha.

I know this is extremely common, but I cannot perfume the shave ready test because I have a beard. I use my razors to shave my head daily.

Anyways, I picked up a straight razor from a PIF and had it professionally honed by Glen (gssixgun). Even from the first shave, I struggled for it to cut hair. I have a very strong background with aggressive DE and SE razors so I have a general understand of how a blade feels and sounds when hair is being cut. I know how the technique differs as well.

Any tips for stropping? I keep the spine flat and do the X motion; could it be the razor being dull? Sorry for the obnoxious post. I know that this subject has been covered countless times but I would like some personal feedback on the matter.

Well I dont think gssixgun would deliver less than a perfect edge given his experience and reputation. Stropping incorrectly can certainly dull an edge quickly. I used a paddle strop for a month as I was constantly rolling my edges. The only thing I would recommend is watching some stropping videos and see if your technique dulled it. Dont feel bad if it was. As many make the same mistakes. Sorry if I cant be more helpful.

Yea I think I applied too much pressure.

I guess I'll stick with double edge for now even though I invested a lot of money to learn SR shaving :(.

I really can't afford anymore. Super bummer.

I would hone it for you for postage. Im not putting myself in the same class as gssixgun, just looking to help you out here. I remember thr first days it was not easy. Pm me if you are interested. Btw I have honed about 300 razors so you wont be disappointed.

Thanks a lot man. What's the cheapest way to ship?

Appreciate the classy gesture!

Usps. Under 6 bucks with tracking rountrip. Bubble wrap or in a box is recommended. I will return it tue same way you sent it. Pm for address. If yiu dont want tracking its a little less.

youtube video's really helped me with shaving with a straight. I have a 2.5" strop and a 3" strop. I use to keep my strops pulled fairly drawn tight. After slowing down to see what was happening I noticed the whole edge was not in contact while stropping, just the heel and toe
(cupped strop? maybe). Now I leave a little slack in the strop, using little to no pressure. I found that the complete edge was in contact by doing this with the strop using an X stroke. The result my edge improved.

Strop tight until you get the flip down. After I hone it I will strop it, so lather and shave. You can use the strop on a flat surface also.

Before I would have the razor honed, I would give it a few more tries. You can always have it re-honed. The biggest problem new people have usually is blaming the razor when learning good technique is normally the problem.

Have fun.

Yes, that's the problem with giving advice to rookies. Often times it's technique that's the problem not the razor. If that is the case you will be honing and honing because the edge will be compromised again and again until you get it right.

I used to shave right off the 8k until my paddle strop came! But I guess we all start somewhere and if we are looking for a fast shave, you wont get it until you have a few things down pat. Stropping and technique makes a big difference. I almost packed it in many times early on.

You know,

All my work is guaranteed, all you have to do is send me an e-mail, simple as that gssixgun@gemstarcustoms.com

But if this was your first attempt then I would give it 1 week and a few tries, if it still doesn't shave then just get hold of me...

Starting Straight Shaving, with Head Shaving is a steep hill to climb..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Before I would have the razor honed, I would give it a few more tries. You can always have it re-honed. The biggest problem new people have usually is blaming the razor when learning good technique is normally the problem.

Have fun.

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What Lynn said! Once you get the technique down you will know if and when you actually have an actual edge problem. I will be very obvious to you. You'll see...just don't give up!

WP34

Thanks for the encouragement. I was definitely too rough with the stropping by applying too much pressure. Frustrating when you know it's your fault.

Is there anyway to salvage the edge on my own? Lots of light stropping? What exactly is rolling the edge? Lifting the spine off a bench strop?

I can tell ill be good at shaving my head with an SR; maintenance is another story.

It really depends on how hard you pushed the edge...

You could try 100 laps on the strop then try a section of shaving again.. The hardest part here is the angle you have to use. Jimbo here on SRP has a good head shaving vid on Youtube under "JimboSRP" :) but you have to understand that he is an experienced SR user... A High angle can tear up an edge pretty darn quick, and it is easy to do...

The return address is on the inside flap of the box I sent you, get the razor to me if it doesn't work by the end of the week and we will start again.. Plus it gives me a chance to see what you have done to the edge, which can tell me quite a bit about whether it is the stropping or the shaving...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bmilcs

Haha.

I know this is extremely common, but I cannot perfume the shave ready test because I have a beard. I use my razors to shave my head daily.

Anyways, I picked up a straight razor from a PIF and had it professionally honed by Glen (gssixgun). Even from the first shave, I struggled for it to cut hair. I have a very strong background with aggressive DE and SE razors so I have a general understand of how a blade feels and sounds when hair is being cut. I know how the technique differs as well.

Any tips for stropping? I keep the spine flat and do the X motion; could it be the razor being dull? Sorry for the obnoxious post. I know that this subject has been covered countless times but I would like some personal feedback on the matter.

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Your post is NOT in any way obnoxious. I understand, Glen understands, and everyone who learned to use a straight understands what a confusing experience it is for a beginner because we have all been there, done that. I remember memorizing a YouTube shaver's strokes and getting a bad shave when I was starting out.

There is a recent trend over here in posts I have read where I believe too much blame has been placed on bad stropping. Yes you can dull, or roll the edge, but unless you really did something pretty radical with it I think you can safely assume that you didn't ruin the edge.

There are a lot of variables that can make a perfectly honed razor shave poorly such as the wrong angle and too much pressure against your face. What is hard for the beginner is that he has to think too much about what he's doing while shaving. In the process you distract yourself and make mistakes. You'll find out that in time you'll get in front of the mirror and the hands will automatically do the work. That's when straight shaving becomes pleasurable.

My best teacher was studying YouTube videos of others shaving, stropping, and honing. Choose a favorite shaver, stropper, and honer. The more you watch them the more you'll notice. Little things like the lather, the blade angle, and the movements across the face are things you will pick up. You might not be able to duplicate the movements of the shaver at first, but later you'll find that you can.

Most of all, realize that you're doing all right. You're working through a learning curve and I promise you that in time it will all make sense.

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Originally Posted by Trimmy72

youtube video's really helped me with shaving with a straight. I have a 2.5" strop and a 3" strop. I use to keep my strops pulled fairly drawn tight. After slowing down to see what was happening I noticed the whole edge was not in contact while stropping, just the heel and toe
(cupped strop? maybe). Now I leave a little slack in the strop, using little to no pressure. I found that the complete edge was in contact by doing this with the strop using an X stroke. The result my edge improved.

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I notice the same thing. If I pull my 3" strop taught and lay the razor on it, there's very slight gap under the middle of the razor. So I either have to loosen up a bit or do an X stroke even on the 3". I have a <2" strop that while you must do X strokes, seems easier to control and makes sure all of the edge contacts.
But yes, I also "ruined" edges at first due to poor stropping.

The problem is that I hear the razor and it sounds/feels just right as it's going over my head. It's not removing the hair though. I am watching my angle to the best of my ability and feel like it should be cutting but isn't. =\ 30 degrees or 2 spines worth is the accurate angle yes?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyalCake

I notice the same thing. If I pull my 3" strop taught and lay the razor on it, there's very slight gap under the middle of the razor. So I either have to loosen up a bit or do an X stroke even on the 3". I have a <2" strop that while you must do X strokes, seems easier to control and makes sure all of the edge contacts.
But yes, I also "ruined" edges at first due to poor stropping.

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I am using a bench strop from Glen and I thought the same thing; that the blade wasn't in full contact with the strop because it is dead flat.

I've been using a brush and quality soaps such as MWF, Mike's, Mystic Waters, Barrister and Mann and Tabac so I know I have the prep down pat. I have zero trouble with the DE's.

I really appreciate all the feedback though. You guys are great. I haven't visited this forum much at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

There are a lot of variables that can make a perfectly honed razor shave poorly such as the wrong angle and too much pressure against your face. What is hard for the beginner is that he has to think too much about what he's doing while shaving. In the process you distract yourself and make mistakes. You'll find out that in time you'll get in front of the mirror and the hands will automatically do the work.

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Very true. More than once I've found myself concentrating so much on grip and sight lines that angles got left out and the next thing I see in the middle of a pass is an angle that's too steep. It's happening less and less and I consider it all part of the learning curve.

Man, I finally had it! A freshly honed, nice straight. Completed 3/4 of my first pass on two days growth on my head and it became too dull to go any further. I thoroughly prepped and let lather sit on my whiskers for a solid 10 min or so while I shaved my face with a DE.

Rinsed off, re lathered and shaved. I've read that people have issues with rapidly dulling straights and headshaves. My hair was super soft and was mowed down with ease after having to swap to my DE.

Chalk it up to poor performance on my end? I don't see how. It felt super smooth and efficient in the beginning. The top of my head was BBS after one pass but then I started to tug in the back - started WTG too. Any thoughts appreciated!!

Thanks a lot Glen. You're the man.

I really wanna get this straight business working! It felt so nice using a rigid solid blade to shave. What am I doing wrong? Do I have the hair of Iron Man?

Was this the Sheffield or the Hess????

The Hess! What so you think?

I would say angle,, and or stretching the skin taut,,,

If the edge presses into the skin it changes the shaving angle and dulls the edge pretty quick,, In general head hair is thinner then face hair but there is more of it..

I would try a face shave with the fresh Sheffield and see how you do


The actual shave test


http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html

See how that goes

Ah. The skin is pretty taut on your head so I imagine it was the angle. It's nothing that a stropping won't fix right?

stropping should fix it,,,