First Refresh with Nanaiwa 12k

Hello again,

In the last couple of weeks, my shaves have been getting progressively worse after a period of them becoming much better with technique and stropping changes suggested by members. I've had a good amount of tugging, irritation, and areas where the razor seems to simply not be cutting. I don't think I've had a correlating change with technique since my efforts to improve, either.

Based on what I've read here, I surmised that the irritation and issues might be from me using pressure to compensate for a dull razor. I think this is largely due to stropping errors as well as using a cheap razor (Gold Dollar).

I decided to take a chance and pick up the Naniwa 12k since I live 30mins from SRD. I did a refresh according to Lynn's video on YouTube. I did 10 X strokes on the Naniwa 12k, followed by 10 on CrOx, followed by 50 round trips on my leather strop. The results were fantastic. The razor glided over my skin just as I've been reading it should. Hairs were cut clean, and it took no effort to avoid using pressure.

I still plan to upgrade to a Whipped Dog razor soon, but all of this has been a good learning experience. This razor was $20 shipped on EBay from a user that got good reviews on here, was honed and shave ready, and allowed me to make a lot of mistakes for not a lot of money. I was also not afraid to try refreshing on the 12k since I didn't pay much for the razor to begin with.

Andy

Beginner Update:

After my Naniwa refresh, I had a near perfect shave. However, my next shave was pretty bad. I spent an hour or two reading threads on here related to stropping technique. I realized that I wasn't putting ENOUGH pressure on the strop. I was too tentative. From what I read, many experienced shavers stress no pressure to help the beginners avoid rolling the edge. I think I went to the opposite end of the spectrum and was hardly allowing the edge to make contact.

By dialing up the pressure a very minute amount, I saw a large improvement in the keenness of my edge. I hope this can help someone else!

Andy

Sounds like your getting it. Your shared experience will help others. Describing pressure and knowing how much is light and how much is too light is something you just have to learn as you go. Knowing what to look for helps.

There is no doubt that it takes some time to learn this. I've been doing this a month and a half and I learn A LOT every day I shave. I'd guess that I'll still be learning for a long time to come. The upside is that shaving has become fun, though.

I used to really hate shaving. With the cartridge razor: it hurt, it left dozens of ingrown hairs, and I dreaded every minute. I'm to the point now that my shaves are as smooth as my cartridge shaves, and still getting smoother every day! I have minimal ingrown hairs and the few I have decrease as I get more experience.

I've read a few posts from fellow newbies recently that seem discouraged. The moral of my story is stick with it! Have fun and ask for advice. You'll be sure to love it once you start seeing improvement. I have some bad days, too, but it's very rewarding when I figure out what I've been doing wrong.

Andy

I like your attitude.

With this attitude and accepting that there may be occasional throw-backs you will find that your shaves will improve week by week, month by month.

Good luck and enjoy the path.



B.

Yep most of the discouragement comes from expecting greats shaves right out the gate, it takes Time to have anything worth having, that and starting out with crap equipment , so your attitude is great and stick with it , a few months from now , you,ll really like the shaves your getting then. Tc

Stropping is key to good maintenance, make sure to clean you razor well post shaving and use a linen or nylon strop to keep you leather clean.

And don’t be afraid to do more laps, 100 is not excessive and should not take more than a couple of minutes, just keep the spine on the strop.