Thread: Razor Losing sharpness half way through shave

Hello All, I am new to str8 razor shaving and to this forum. Had a quick question for anyone to answer. I purchased a Dovo razor from Straight razor designs about 4 months ago.Have been using my strop and have ran it over some Cro Ox once already. Razor seems very sharp when I first start my shave but then seems to lose its edge about half way through my shave and starts to pull. Is this something that seems to happen when its time for a good honing or maybe even due to not quite an experienced technique? Just seems strange how it starts out very sharp then kind of dulls out after a few passes. Thanks John

From what you say it sounds like your due for a refresh on stone. 1 razor for 4 months is right in the time frame for refresh though. I don't use pastes and maybe more time with the crox would do it. Euclid440 is my paste expert and he may be along soon with a more definite answer.
The starting sharp and losing it after a few passes makes me think more stropping but you been doing fine for months so ???

Yes a new shaver with four months use could very well need a touch up. Has there been any other change like soap or lathering? When lather used to dry up on my it would definitely change the feel of the shave.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Yes a new shaver with four months use could very well need a touch up. Has there been any other change like soap or lathering? When lather used to dry up on my it would definitely change the feel of the shave.

Yep, I would guess that it's the soap, drying out as the shave progresses.

First look straight down on the edge with magnification, if you see reflection while tilting the blade back and forth, the edge is damaged. Looking from the side will tell you the extent of the damage. If deep, it will need to be refreshed on a hone.

Typically new stroppers damage the edge while stropping, buy stropping with too much pressure, lifting the spine or flipping while the blade is moving forward. Doing any of the above with a pasted strop will increase any damage.

When you have an issue, looking at the edge will always tell you what is going on and what will be needed to repair it.

If the damage to the edge is lite, a pasted strop may revive it, but pressure will only cause more damage. A refresh is probably you best bet. As your stropping skill improves, so too will your edges and the length of time between a visits to the hones.

It sounds very much like the lather is drying out. I have plenty of first hand experience with this, being new myself.

From the statement that it begins to pull half way through the shave; plus the fact that you didn't mention the shave getting worse from the start of each shave, as these four months progress, logic dictates that you haven't fouled the edge much with poor stropping & shave-angle technique.

Tip 1: Pick up a little bottle of glycerin from the pharmacy (or pharmacy section at Wal-Mart). Add a drop every so often while you are building your lather. I use 3-6 drops.

Tip 2: Its hard to make a lather with that "whipped meringue" look, and it have too much water. It will either fall & become a bit of a puddle in your lather dish. Or it will try to run/dribble down your neck. Too much water can lead to a not slick froth. If you think you've got too much water, just keep whipping it to fix this.

Tip 3: Lather in Sections! Apply lather to the area about to be shaved only. This will help greatly with your current issue, without changing anything else.

My VDH unscented is a very thirsty soap. Once loaded on the brush, I have to add probably no less than 2 tablespoons of water to my dish while I build the lather.

Just my .02. More seasoned shavers will be along.

Thanks everyone for the tips.... I use a Castle Forbes lime extract cream...... I am pretty good at building a nice constancy in my mug.... Looks like whipped cream and will form nice peaks in the bowl... I have to think that since I coat my whole face in one shot before I start the shave it is indeed drying out. I will try small sections as suggested above. Thanks again to everyone 4 the help... John

4 months with 1 crox touch up is pretty good. I would say you are definitely due another round of crox or as a beginner maybe a touch up on the hones. Using the crox more frequently will mean you can take your razor longer between honing. Many use a couple laps every 7 to 10 shaves to keep the blade shave ready

Awesome information! you never know what you'll learn by reading through these threads.

I'd bet on the lather drying out in addition to perhaps an edge in need of a refreshing. The edge part depends on how it shaves for the first 1/2 of your face.

For me, when I'm not 'in the groove' with a shave, it's usually that I skimped on the prep/lather part of the process.