Thread: First shave with SR after Shavette

Having a good lather that provides cushion and glide is critical too.

thank you for the repalys

More pressure is never the answer, and if the person who honed it knows what they're doing, it's not the razor. That leaves your parts in the process in question: face prep, lather, angle from the face, grip and angle/direction of stroke. Not stropping a newly honed blade was correct, because that takes your stropping out of the mix.

Try again in a day or two with more attention to the lather and your technique. Watch and listen to the videos of Lynn and others shaving. You'll find the answer.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

More pressure is never the answer, and if the person who honed it knows what they're doing, it's not the razor. That leaves your parts in the process in question: face prep, lather, angle from the face, grip and angle/direction of stroke. Not stropping a newly honed blade was correct, because that takes your stropping out of the mix.

Try again in a day or two with more attention to the lather and your technique. Watch and listen to the videos of Lynn and others shaving. You'll find the answer.

Great, Thanks!

Next time I shave do you recommend that I strop the razor?

What angle should i try for a 6/8

I ll watch again Lynn´s videos

Again thanks

With practice you will be able to match your Shavette results with your straight razor. As straight razors are not as sharp as shavettes, you will need to learn how to finesse the most out of your straight. It takes time. I think it is worth the effort, you're less likely to cut yourself with a straight, the straight is gentler on the skin (for me), giving a more comfortable overall shave - and let's face it - a straight razor just looks cooler.

But, you'll need patience, these benefits will not come overnight. There's lots of good information here to help you find techniques that will work for you in trying to get the most from your straight razor. Try to enjoy the journey.

I haven't used a shavette but know you can get away with a much greater variable in angle without issues. For a straight about 1 spine width between the skin and inside edge of the razors spine is about right. Angle, stroke direction and stretching will play a huge part of successful straight use.

I use both. Shavette mainly for travel but also for my head because shaving my head dulls the SR too fast for me. You can get away with a wider range of angle with the shavette so you may not have really learned the correct angle yet. I prefer the SR over the shavette and can get just as close of a shave with the SR and the SR is more comfortable. If you have been getting good results with the shavette, work on the angle of the SR. Eventually you will be able to feel and hear the angle on the SR.

Today I shaved again with the SR, second time.

I stropped, 20 time linen side and 50 times leather side. Nice and easy.

I can notice that the SR is much less aggressive to my skin than the Shavette. I was careful with my angle.

The shave was not as close as the one with the Shavette but better than the first time. As a matter of fact I did a fourth pass with the shavett in order to get a smooth shave.

Maybe the SR is not sharp enough and my technique is certainly not there.

I am reassured to read that with proper technique I can expect SR shave as closed as the ones with the shavette.

Thanks again for the replays.

Originally Posted by TaipeiJake

As straight razors are not as sharp as shavettes.

If a straight razor is not as sharp as a shavette it is not properly honed, stropped or used. It may also have subpar, steel or heat treat.
Only reasons I can think of.

Hello Everybody;

Right now I am stropping 100 passes and doing the hanging hair test (thin hair). I have done it 3 times and it now cut the hair 1 time out of 3 in the air. I will probably use chrome oxide on balsa wood to get the blade close to the shavette.

Tomorrow I ll shave again and lets see.

Do you think that I am overdoing it or this is the right way to do it?

Thanks