Thread: Comfortable but not so close first shave

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!

So I've come to the unfortunate conclusion that my razor is not shave ready. After a few shaves (including stropping in between) I have improved my technique and I have gotten a little bit closer each time. However, I notice that each pass I hear the blade scraping the hairs on my face instead of cutting through, and today when I tried multiple angles at shaving my mustache (the most sensitive area of my face) it kept catching and pulling and was too painful to keep trying. Any tips on where I should send it? I doubt there's any local places that offer honing in the Louisville area, though I may call a local barber and ask who hones their blades...

I sent a couple of my razors to Larry Andreasen at Whipped Dog shaving. Did a fine job and a quick turn around.

Best of luck!!

-Dave