Thread: Comfortable but not so close first shave

If it was honed by a reputable pro then it's just as shooter says, practice practice practice... You will get there with a little patience but there will be a learning curve so be realistic and don't expect perfect results right off the bat. If it was that easy, everyone would do it.

Getting that strop in should help as well if you get practiced up with it and use good technique. Remember that slow and smooth is the ticket, not that speed stroping everyone sees on TV.

Enjoy and have fun... ;-)

Thanks for all of the great information guys! I bought the razor in the classifieds from a seller whose sold quite a few razors (100% seller rating), it was listed as shave ready so I assume that it would be sharp enough. I'll get my strop soon and see if there's any improvement (wasn't aware I needed to strop after a shave, I always heard to strop before shaving). I'll keep working on it and keep you updated! Also, I'm in the louisville, ky area. I'll update my info. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Badwolf

wasn't aware I needed to strop after a shave, I always heard to strop before shaving

If it makes you feel any better; I've been doing this for just short of three months now, and I've gotten into the habit of stropping before and after shaving. I figure that it can't hurt to clean up the edge before setting it back in the cup.

You're heading in the right direction. As said above, about 30 shaves and you'll start getting it. After a year, it really comes together and then, well you might not believe it, but it continues to get better.

Granted my progress was slowed by wearing 3/4 beard some and also dinking around with multiple razors and learning to hone all at the same time.

on stropping: you must strop _between_ shaves to repair the damage shaving does to the edge. It matters not if you do this stropping after or before. I do both I do 10-20 "drying" strokes afterward and then do my ~40/80 after i lather up, before i shave, which give the whiskers a little soak time.

Reading up about it gives you something to do while waiting on the darn whiskers to get long enough to lop them off again! Take your time.

Thanks! I'm thinking I may have been a bit conservative trying not to cut myself and may not have taken the appropriate angle. Looking at some videos, I think I could do a better job of stretching the skin too. Also my hair is very tough, so I guess I'm at a disadvantage to begin with. I'll have to keep my norelco charged until I get the hang if it

Yep, don't be ashamed of pulling out the Norelco as you transition to a full straight shave. It took me about three months to move all the way to a straight.

Focus on keeping your pressure light, light, light! Aim only to scrape away the lather, and if your razor is truly shaving sharp, the barbs will follow the lather off as if by magic. If you aim to cut the tough hairs, you'll risk excessive pressure and all its attendant woes--rash, burn, weepers (not to mention wailers, chest-beaters, and gnashers of teeth).

The advice above to have at least a second razor is right on. Get another known shave-ready blade and only bring it out once a month, to remind you how a shave-ready blade should feel. The edge degrades such a little bit at a time that a new user won't really notice day to day. That reserve (I like to think of it as a reference) edge will seem like the first time you got glasses--if you ever did.

Good luck. Sounds like you're on the right track, comfort trumps close most of my days.

Thank you Roughkype! I never thought of it that way and now will definitely be getting a second blade in the future. Would be great to have a second while sending the first off to be honed as well. I'll keep practicing (once my hair re-grows) and if I still can't get it working, I'll send it off to be honed, then start fresh like recommended above!