Very Uncomfortable with Heavy Growth

I have only shaved with my newly acquired straight razor 3 times. The first time I did 1 cheek, the 2nd time I did both cheeks, and the 3rd time I did 2 passes on both cheeks. This 3rd time I had about 5 days of growth and it was very uncomfortable to shave using the straight (no problem with my DE). I focused a lot on angle (about 1-2 spine widths away from my face), short strokes, and it was very uncomfortable to shave with. My prep is good (I shave after I shower), lather was great, so I'm not exactly sure what the problem was. The 2nd pass was A LOT better, very comfortable, 1 thing is for sure a straight takes off a lot of growth fast, so the 2nd pass was more of a cleanup pass. At the end of the shave not much irritation at all, maybe a tiny bit.

I guess I can just chalk it up to inexperience? Not sure how well my straight was honed b/c it has been fairly uncomfortable all 3 times. I also feel like a bought a cheap strop and it doesn't feel consistent across the whole strop.

It could be your technique or it could be that the razor was not honed to shave readiness. Where did you get it? Did you have a pro hone it before you used it? If your stropping technique is not up to snuff, you could have dulled the edge even if it was sharp from the beginning.

To eliminate variables, get it honed by a pro, then shave with it without stropping. Then you'll know whether it's your technique or the razor, since the razor will be shave ready.

It should be cutting hair just as easy, if not easier, than your DE. If not then it needs to be honed or at least refreshed CrOx strop. It is easy to mess up a blade while you are learning to strop.

It was well over a month before I got a comfortable shave,,, a close shave months after that. Don't give up on the straight, just work it in with your DE. I would send it out to one of the honers listed in the classified section,,, while waiting to get it back, work on preshave, lathering, consider a good used vintage from the classified section that will come shave ready, then you have two straights, one to use when the other goes out to be refreshed.

Let the journey be a pleasant one, don't rush it,,,

There is a learning curve for sure. Your location is rather vague. You may want to try to find someone for one on one if it is possible. Some of us live too far away for that to be sensible, but it is a good way to go if you can.

Shaving a multiple day growth is one of the things that I find the Straight does better than any other shaving system.
If the edge is on and the technique is "experienced" the straight just does not care how long the beard is.
As Hirlau and others mention it takes time for this to come together as there are so many skills to master at once.

As long as you take your time and your edge is shave ready in 25 shaves you will wonder why this seemed so hard. Couple of months and this will be part of the muscle memory.

For me, after the edge it was learning how to stretch the skin that made it come together.

Hang in there, look for a mentor and check out the great Wiki for videos.

Smooth shaving...

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Originally Posted by Justino14

This 3rd time I had about 5 days of growth and it was very uncomfortable to shave using the straight (no problem with my DE).

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With less than very good edges, that would be the general result for most any straight razor. A very fine tuned shave ready razor would be more proficient at cutting through a 5 day growth and be more comfortable but would certainly have more resistance than a narrow DE blade.

With the double edge you have the whole edge, generally, in contact with the skin which supports the edge and therefore assists in the proficiency of the the cutting edge against the whisker helping in a clean, easy, cut.

With the straight at approximately 3 inches in length you seldom have the whole edge in direct contact with the skin. Certainly at a 5 day growth, part of the straight is in contact with the skin, but other parts are not. With the contours of the face that means that part of the blade is usually contacting whiskers above the surface of the skin (tree topping). If it's the fine tuned shave ready edge it will cut proficiently, but you will still feel some resistance compared to shaving a one day growth.

If the edge is just so-so or worse, then you're going to experience tugging, pulling, and a very uncomfortable shave that probably has some, or a lot of razor burn or irritation.

Shaving a stubble or longer beard requires, not only some good prep and technique, but a very good edge....to be comfortable.

Hope this helps!! :D

Best Regards,

Howard :)

3shaves in it could be everything, your a long way from having learned to shave or strop, but to eliminate the biggest variable send your razor out for honing, if you don't know where or who did it chances are it ain't ready, if you,will read up on being a new shaver its one of the most talked about advise , get it hi ed and learn to strop and shave with a known razor that is ready. Tc

Experiment more with the blade angle. I have come to the conclusion that many confuse the reality of the 1 to 2 spine width distance from the cheek. Try shaving with the spine even closer to the skin and see if that helps.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to get to professional honed by someone that is reputable and see how it goes from there. I tried refreshing with CrOx but it didn't seem to help. Poor stropping may have worsened it like many suggested, the strop I have just doesn't feel right, I am going to get a board strop as I feel it would be easier for now.

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Originally Posted by Justino14

Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to get to professional honed by someone that is reputable and see how it goes from there. I tried refreshing with CrOx but it didn't seem to help. Poor stropping may have worsened it like many suggested, the strop I have just doesn't feel right, I am going to get a board strop as I feel it would be easier for now.

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I read one suggestion that a hanging strop could be placed flat on a counter top when you're learning so you can concentrate on the stroke and flip. Maybe you could try that before purchasing a paddle. Probably need to really go light though since there won't be any give on the counter.

Your in Canada, you must know Bob.

Joking aside, where in Canada?

Aside from a sharp blade, I will say that some of my lighter and thinner grinds do have a bit of a struggle on the first pass with a 4-day beard.
Second pass onward, all is normal.
IMO, as I go past 2 days, hairs which would usually be low and thinner have popped way up (after allowing the growth) and have come on up with thicker shafts just like their fast-growing brethren. In that regard, I am certain there is indeed more there to shave.
An adjustment to beard prep, technique, or (heaven forbid!) a heavier razor seems to help me considerably or radically.
You seem to be up on short strokes, but I wonder if the shower is not enough prep for a heavy beard in your case?
Try some warm lather with a hot towel over it for a few trips.
This really helps me a lot in this situation. YMMV

'Learning every day' Me too, just learned that my beard is made up of fast and slow growing brethren!
Which knife slices a carrot in half with less effort assuming both are 'razor sharp?'
a.) A heavy thick knife
b.) A thin knife (not too flexible)

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Originally Posted by WW243

'Learning every day' Me too, just learned that my beard is made up of fast and slow growing brethren!
Which knife slices a carrot in half with less effort assuming both are 'razor sharp?'
a.) A heavy thick knife
b.) A thin knife (not too flexible)

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Yes. You must consider that both are equally sharp.
But now, boil the carrot for a while and try! :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by Raol

Your in Canada, you must know Bob.

Joking aside, where in Canada?

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Within an hour of Toronto.

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Originally Posted by Justino14

Within an hour of Toronto.

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As mentioned, you cannot underestimate the value of pre shave preparation.
There are lots of guys in and around your area that would gladly offer assistance.
Keep in mind there are the occasional "shave workshops" that are very informative to say the least.

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Originally Posted by Justino14

Within an hour of Toronto.

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...........then you do know Bob;)