Thread: getting that close shave

I'd like to say that migrating to a SR is like going from automatic transmission to manual. But in fact, its even more drastic than that. Everything is suddenly in play where in the past it was all established for you. The good part of that is that we can now control all of those elements ourselves. The bad news is that we have to control all of those elements ourselves. As others have said and promised, it will take time. Accept less than stellar shaves for now and try to make one small improvement with every shave. It will come together slowly. But you will piece it all together.

OK so my blade wasn't really the sharpest despite the fact it 2 as meant to be shave ready it really wasn't sharp enough shave. I had to strop the living crap out of it... debating weather to get it professionally honed somewhere here in the uk

Originally Posted by danielpalfrey

OK so my blade wasn't really the sharpest despite the fact it 2 as meant to be shave ready it really wasn't sharp enough shave. I had to strop the living crap out of it... debating weather to get it professionally honed somewhere here in the uk

If its not really shave ready, you don't have much choice. Either you get it sharp or forget the whole business. Find someone relatively close you in the vendor services area and get it done.

I honed my own razors for a year plus. I thought I was doing pretty good... Actually I wasn't doing too bad. But my eyes were opened when I got a professional hone on a couple. Kinda spoiled it for me... But I'm back in the saddle and now know what to shoot for. Make sure your professional tells you the regimen used. Then you can decide if you want to follow that regimen in the future; though most will choose to forge their own way.

Just been on Google and looks like I'll need to send it off. Can't find any locals to do it that's a crud I really like this straight compared to the shavete

I just found one but they will not work on my brand.... that socks lol

Originally Posted by danielpalfrey

Just been on Google and looks like I'll need to send it off. Can't find any locals to do it that's a crud I really like this straight compared to the shavete

So send it out. You'll have it back in a couple weeks or whatever. Then you'll be able to get up and running.

A sharp blade, a good angle on the blade with next to no pressure, skin stretching and a good lather go far towards getting a good shave. To get all that working together takes more time than most would think. I mean look at a few months worth of practice.

You will not be removing all the stubble in one pass. That is why there are 3 different passes. Quite a few beginners, I think, approach shaving with a straight razor with too high expectations of how easy it will be to learn how to shave with a straight razor and how much stubble is removed with just one pass.

If this is your first straight razor and you are stropping the living daylights out of it you may be doing more harm than good. Improper stropping will dull a shave ready razor very quickly. Acquiring a stropping technique is another learning curve to climb.

You say the place you contacted refused to hone your brand of straight razor. The usual reason for a refusal like that is that the brand has a reputation of being not very good. Good you tell us the brand of your razor?

Bob

It's a creative edge. I am thinking of getting a better brand and getting that honed. I have a hone here so I can practise on the cheap blade

Originally Posted by danielpalfrey

What should I try to get that close shave?

Cheers

Dan

more practice.

Assuming you have watched a few videos and done some reading so that you have an idea of what good technique should look like.