Thread: Second shave still painful

I did my second shave this AM. I still think I'm doing something wrong. It feels like i'm scraping the whiskers off my face. I stropped my razor on linen about 40 times and then on the leather about 60. I shaved and it hurt. I can't help but believe I haven't gotten the razor sharp enough. I bought it from a reputable dealer shave ready. After this morning I stropped it 50/120. I am going to try again tomorrow, but would appreciate any advice. On the positive, I didn't cut myself at all.
Thanks
Mark

If it's not a dull razor, it could be incorrect stropping, too steep of an angle or to much pressure or not enough prep. I would start with the spine just about on the skin and work up from there and see if it improves any. Also try a hot towel for a few mins pre shave

What brand of razor is it?

It's difficult to give advice on this to rookies because it can be many things. Maybe the razor isn't sharp, maybe the stropping made it dull, maybe your technique needs honing, maybe your prep isn't right. You have to examine all of these things one by one and rule them out one by one until you get to the root of the problem.

thebigspendur nailed it. Incorrect stropping would be my bet especially if done on a hanging strop. Does it "pop" arm hairs?

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

What brand of razor is it?

It's a gold dollar, but I bought it from a pretty reputable dealer on another forum who hones them before he sends them out. I realize it's a cheap razor but I didn't want to spend a couple hundred bucks to try it out.

Originally Posted by rmagnus

thebigspendur nailed it. Incorrect stropping would be my bet especially if done on a hanging strop. Does it "pop" arm hairs?

Magnus, it shaves my arm hair very easily. No sticking at all, but that's after I did all of the stropping this morning after my bad experience.

Western Montana ???? Where ???

I am over in Sandpoint, ID and I know a thing or two about Straight Razors

when I started my biggest problem was angle you would think I was scraping a hog. painful every shave. once I laid the razor down and brought back up to about 30 degrees the pain was gone . Oh and gssixgun knows more than a thing or two he has helped not only me but many others. just a thought.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Western Montana ???? Where ???

I am over in Sandpoint, ID and I know a thing or two about Straight Razors

I'm in Missoula.