Comfortable but not so close first shave

So I received my brush and a tub of Taylor's today (still waiting on my strop). I had been practice shaving all week with a butter knife so I decided to go ahead and try this out today. My first impressions are great--when I started out shaving years ago I used disposable BICs which were really painful while shaving.. Electrics were better, but couldn't get longer hairs, so I had to trim with the attachment and then finish with the shaving head--still very uncomfortable and time consuming (Norelco 3D).

I noticed right away that straight razor shaving was much less painful and irritating to my skin. I did well on both the right and left cheeks, and then I started on my neck (not because of impatience but because I used a bit too much TOBS and didnt want to waste it) I used both hands on the razor while shaving. I only managed to nick myself once (which is actually less than using the BIC and electric) and was really proud of that. My main goal was not to rip my face off and I accomplished that, however my shave wasn't super close as I have an even amount of stubble on my neck (the face was closer but still not perfect). I'm mostly sure that my razor is shave ready, as it passed the thumb test, and I'm 100% that my technique needs to improve. Anyone have any advice as to how I might get closer? Do I need multiple passes?

Without KNOWING your razor is shave ready (honed by someone that really knows how to do it) you are at a disadvantage no matter what kind of advice you get. HHT , thumb pad, are all terms used by guys that know what that feels like in all directions and even at that it is nothing compared to the actual shave test. You should use one hand on the razor and one stretching the skin. For now any other advice would be a mute point IMO. You should send your razor out to a pro so you have a base line to start with. Maybe after you get your strop and do some practice laps. That is the other learning curve that will take an edge to dull in an instant.

Added advice:
Owning 2 razors will keep you with 1 good shaver all the time.

Sounds like you are on the right track. How do you know your razor is shave ready, was it honed by someone who is a veteran straight shaver? I don't mean to insult but you haven't been at this enough to know how to judge a edge by any test. What edge you did have will now be gone as you haven't stropped the razor after using it.

How do you get a better shave, simple: Practice. It all seems to come together with about 30 shaves. Starting out shaving with the grain is a good choice so that you learn to handle the razor over your face. Most all of us use multiple passes, but don't rush it.

Best bit of advice I could give you is to find a veteran shaver nearby and ask them to be a mentor to you. A couple hours with a mentor can put you weeks & maybe even months ahead of a person trying to do it solo. Add a location to your member information. If you are anywhere near the Paris, TX/Hugo, OK area I would love to help you out and even put a proper edge on your razor.

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!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badwolf

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

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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!

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