Too much stroppin & too sharp?

[ZiCheng]

I just had my... I think about 8th or 9th shave or so, and had the worst razor burn yet. Most of the shaved area tingles, whereas before it was more localized. I wonder if I made the razor too sharp by over stropping it? I stropped 50 passes on the Tony Miller combination strop (It's small, about half the size of a hanging strop). Before I would do about 30-40 passes. The razor also 'rests' for about four days between shaves. I think my stropping technique is improving, but I wonder if I should take it easy on the stropping now. The razor shaves very well, no pulling, and though I cut myself twice, once was when I wasn't shaving, and didn't realize the razor was so close to my face, and it sank it at a 90 degree angle (very small cut though), and another time I think it was just lack of concentration, so it's the razor's problem. What do you think?

[xman]

Unless you're stropping on a pasted paddle it's highly unlikely that you've over honed the edge. A plain leather strop only aligns the edge, unless you're stropping like a madman and then it's questionable as to whether it's even possible. It's more likely that you're using too much pressure and/or need to adjust your shaving angle a little. Try that and strop a little less next time to see how it may change the shave.

X

[JoshEarl]

ZiCheng,

I don't think too much stropping is the problem. It sounds to me like the edge might be starting to fade a bit. Sometimes razors start to pull when they need refreshing, and sometimes they get rough but still shave OK.

Do you have anything to refresh the blade? A pasted paddle strop from Tony is probably your best bet.

Josh

[JoshEarl]

I should add that MORE stropping can help smooth out an edge that's a little rough. You might try doing a couple of hundred laps and see if that brings it back into alignment.

Josh

[Tony Miller]

I think he is using one of my pasted paddles. My concern would be whether the pasted sides are already being used in which case overhoning is a real possibility.
I don't think one could do it alone on a plain leather surface though.

Tony

[ZiCheng]

Yes Tony, I am using one of your pasted combination, but I have not used any of the pasted sides. I am using the latigo side only.

Josh, I may try to shave it more if I have more problems, but I suspect that it is my shaving angle, as Xman said. I think I've used this razor less than 10 times since I got it from you, and my beard area is small, so I suspect that it is still plenty sharp. I use very little pressure when stropping, just enough so the blade stays on the strop and too keep the movement of the blade controlled.

Thanks for those suggestions, I will work on shaving angle, and then, mabye stropping more, and then, maybe stropping on the pasted sides if the blade is dull. Thanks.

ZiCheng

[Creel]

I hope this isn’t the blind leading the blind as I am quite new, but from my mistakes, I offer this:

It may not be your stropping but your pre and post shave efforts.

Key things to consider regarding razor burn for newbs and quick resolutions to consider:

• Rushing pre shave process =Spend more minutes conditioning and hydrating beard less minutes washing off natural oils

• ATG shaves =Shave with the grain til your technique improves

• Over shaving =re lather before multiple passes over shaved area

• Shaving too early while skin is puffy and fluid filled and not taught=wait 20 mins after you get up.

• sweat is acidic and can irritate freshly shaved skin=shave after workout not before

• long strokes cause more friction and friction causes razor burn=shorten stokes at first

• Xman’s heavy hand (His posts pack a punch) =Ease up on your pressure strokes.

• Alcohol or inappropriate apres shave product , drying or irritating your freshly shaved face=explore a post shave product that suits you.

Once you start considering all the things that might make you burn you may isolate that which does make you burn.