hanging hair test??

Is this a valid test:

Hair on arm, pass razor throught/over the hair (not on or near the skin).

You can hear it popping, and a lot of hair is cut.

My razor does this, but I cannot match the mach-3 shave with my straight :-(

uuug.

Comments welcome.

Cheers, jody

IME technique is near as important as the razor being shave ready. When I was learning it took quite awhile before my straight razor shaves equaled all other shaving methods. Eventually surpassed all other methods. I've been at it daily for years and I still find my shaves get slightly better as my technique continues to improve. Keep on keepin' on.

You are describing the AHT(arm hair test), but it is just an indication of progress not shave ready. It sounds like you have the bevel set though. To maximize the utility of all tests they have to be calibrated, to calibrated the HHT you have to use a known shave ready edge.

Read the following Library pages to get a better handle on useful tests.

Sharpness tests explained
Hanging Hair Test, from trick to probing method

Don't worry you will get there.

Jonathan

I echo what Jimmy said. When I first started, I had a pair of razors honed by Lynn, yet I could not come close to the results of a DE shave. It was not that the razors weren't sharp, but my technique was lacking. Now after months of practice, my straights feel incredibly sharp, and I can equal the DE shaves if I'm in a hurry, or if I take 20 minutes, I can far exceed the DEs. Stick with it and the results will be worth it.

HHT are annoying. A razor can shave great and not pass it.

Hey jjsrp- I sent you a pm. I see you live in tampa, maybe we can meet up?

For new shavers angle and pressure will be the cause. Check your angle and don't shave just wipe the lather off. Get these right and your shaves will improve.

I agree with the previous posts. It's how the razor preforms on your face that's important. And developing good technique takes time, usually six months to a year before you start getting smooths shaves. You learn to swim by swimming just like you learn to shave by shaving.

I see one problem that I have - I shave better with my left hand than my right hand. The against the grain pass brings this out the best.

One small part of my face came out pretty good.
The same part on the other side did not come out close.

I guess I will keep going until I figure it out.
Jody

Yeah, that's a valid enough test though as someone else stated you do need to know what it means for you and your shaves. That only comes with time.

Just to reiterate (because it is important), it's going to take time. I think one of the things that made Mach 3s and their ilk so popular is that they are like driving an automatic car - just stamp on the accelerator and off you go. Straights are more like a manual - there's a bit more complexity to it but once you master it there are payoffs in terms of flexibility and nuance and control.

Good luck,

James.

I had just recently had my very first SR shave and it was the closest/best shave I have ever had in my life.

Prior to the shave, it did NOT pass the HHT. I even got the hair by my fingers and swung it quickly towards the blade and it just moved to the side.

I agree, only by trying to shave with a razor can you tell.