Thread: HHT Levels?

It's somewhat controversial because there are two camps:

(A) those who think that there is enough variability in hairs that two different hairs can show different interactions with the same blade, therefore HHT is not transferable between different hairs. I.e. me telling you how my choice of hair interacts with my razor is not going to tell you anything about how your choice of hair interacts with your razor (or my razor for that matter)

(B) Those who think that 'hair is hair' and me telling you how my choice of hair interacts with my razor means that you could reproduce the exact same behavior with your choice of hair, and therefore judge the same edge the way I judged it. (Or may be they mean a weaker transferability that if my hair interacts in a certain way with my razor, then if you make your hair interact the same way with my razor or another razor you will have very similar shaving experience.)

My body grows at least 5 different types of hair, and they interact differently with the same razor edge, so I fall in camp A and think my HHT result is completely meaningless to you because you do not have access to the same hair I am using, or if your hair happens to behave with the one I'm using it's a pure coincidence.

Of course, few years ago the biggest hurdle to people was to realize that HHT is not a yes/no test, but rather a nuanced test where one observes how a strand of hair interacts with the edge of a razor. So, attaching numbers to HHT is a progress in the sense that now people know to look for something meaningful, but as far as I am concerned there is no a priori transferability between people.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

So I didn't really know where to post this so I figured the beginner area is as good a place as any. I don't really get into the HHT to much and really I only do it because it is fun or I am showing it to someone. I have been reading though in some posts that people will say that they honed their razor on whatever rock and then did the HHT and got a "HHT 4" or "passed level 3 HHT" or something like that.

As far as I have understood it, the HHT was when you took a hair brought it down to the blade and if it cut the hair then voila your blade or hair passes the test. I didn't know there were levels or variations. So what am I not getting here?

The HHT "levels" were originally invented (I think) in jest and was just supposed to be a bit of fun. Somewhere along the line it took on a life of its own and guys started to take it seriously.

In other words, don't worry about it

At this point in time the HHT thing is bullshit JMO

Alright I wasn't sure. I would have to say that I too fall into camp A. I really dont use any tests but the shave test and thumb pad test. I never really paid to much mind to when people would put numbers to the HHT but I only saw it sporadically and then I started to see it more and more and was confused.

Never been able to get my hair to pop even when the blade is professionally honed. It still shaves perfectly and comfortably so I don't bother with this test.

I use the HHT! Right off the 1k. If I approach a hair (the entire length of the blade) and it falls down, I continue until it flies to oblivion. That is when I move on. HHT to me, anyway!

HHT is a factoid,nothing more,nothing less,as has been said millions of times on this site,HOW DO'S the blade shave? The final test, the end all be all

Originally Posted by gssixgun

When I do an HHT it is always an HHT 9.5 or I don't shave with the razor...

Mine goes to 11

Seriously though. There really are levels of HHT, and there really is a serious group of individuals that use it to gauge their sharpening abilities (and, yes, they are careful to calibrate their tests by using a single source for hair and maintain humidity etc).

Now to the point, they (the guys I know) use this to gauge sharpness, and as far as I know it is done with knives and not razors.

Attempting to use HHT to gauge shave quality is like thinking a pulling tractor would be good for farming....it's really two separate concepts.

If you want to play with blades and hones, and get serious about it as a hobby, at some point you may choose to dabble in trying to get a blade to cleave a hair by just touching it with seemingly zero pressure. It's a hobby...please do not make the mistake of trying to plow a field with a "tractor" with 7 blown nitro-burning engines. Similarly, don't confuse HHT5 with shave ready, it would probably do the job, but may be not as well as something that might not even rank HHT2 if anyone bothered to try.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

HHT is a factoid,nothing more,nothing less,as has been said millions of times on this site,HOW DO'S the blade shave? The final test, the end all be all

Yes, fact(oid)! If someone can use it to guage progress, a useful tool. I do.
Agreed, success of a fine shave is the final test.
Gee, Pixel.

All I know is I'm quickly resembling an Olympic swimmer after these once hairy arms have been subjected to countless HHTs.