Thread: Is my razor dull?

For now I only shave WTG, but just can't get one spot on my cheek. So I decided to go ATG on that spot (I know that it is not very recommended for a beginner, but I wanted to try it). I laid the razor completely flat on the face and shaved. It shaved well but I felt every whisker and it was painful... Can it be the sign of a dull razor?

Probably not, my guess,,,if your WTG was fine, then the blade did not dull just because you went in a different direction. From the way you explained it, probably was your technique. Some places on the face are harder than others to smooth out. Maybe stretching a different way might help.

BTW, I only shave WTG, so sometimes it takes a little more effort to get the smoothness.
Don't sweat it,,,it will come to you.

Could also be your lather. I add water to my lather for the ATG pass (if I do one, generally I just go WTG). I find the added slickness is handy for an ATG pass. Also, for an ATG pass i use very short strokes...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Could also be your lather. I add water to my lather for the ATG pass (if I do one, generally I just go WTG). I find the added slickness is handy for an ATG pass. Also, for an ATG pass i use very short strokes...

Sounds like great advice I am going to try that tomorrow.

Roger

Hirlau, I do not think that I killed the razor just with WTG.. Maybe my stropping is poor, or maybe it came not truly shave ready. Vendor repined it but the pin was loose when I got it, maybe he did a not very decent job in honing too..

carlmaloschneider I will try that today. Thanks!

For now I just can't get good shave with WTG and I do not know is it just because my bad shaving technique or other reasons. Hope everything will get better in the future

I think what Hiralu is saying is if your wtg pass was ok a single follow up atg pass won't have dulled the blade. Stretching and a light touch are important for the atg pass. If you are consistently missing 1 spot on your cheek you need to address your stretching and how you shave that area. Try coming from a different angle or stretching from a different direction. Good luck

Originally Posted by eddy79

I think what Hiralu is saying is if your wtg pass was ok a single follow up atg pass won't have dulled the blade. Stretching and a light touch are important for the atg pass. If you are consistently missing 1 spot on your cheek you need to address your stretching and how you shave that area. Try coming from a different angle or stretching from a different direction. Good luck

Thanks I am going to try this also.

Roger

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Could also be your lather. I add water to my lather for the ATG pass (if I do one, generally I just go WTG). I find the added slickness is handy for an ATG pass. Also, for an ATG pass i use very short strokes...

I'm with Carl on this one in a sense. When I am shaving I progressively water down my lather. I go WTG using my lather as I mixed it, then XTG with another dash of water to make it just a bit "milkier" and, if I am doing a third pass, I water it down additionally to go ATG. By time I am doing my ATG pass, I try to have it as watered down as possible without making it runny. For me, that extra lubrication from the water works, or so I think... Ultimately, you need to gather all the ideas that you can (as you are doing here) and then don't be afraid to experiment just because it isn't written somewhere. On that note, keep everything else the same in your routine while experimenting. If you change multiple things at the same time, you won't be able to narrow down the factor that is making the shave more or less pleasant. Enjoy and do good...

Skin stretching does more than you would think. My angle was flat enough. That's what helped me the most.

Originally Posted by Aurimas

I laid the razor completely flat on the face and shaved. It shaved well but I felt every whisker and it was painful... Can it be the sign of a dull razor?

I read all posts and noticed noone seemed to notice the statement of the razor being completely flat. No angle on the blade could have been the reason since edge may not have a good contact with the skin.
Just my 2cents.