Thread: getting that close shave

Ok, I have been using a shavette with feather blades for a month and couldn't get a close shave, I also couldn't stop slicing my face to pieces so I upgraded to a nice little creative edge straight edge (shave ready)

gave this a nice long strop and then went for a shave (only the neck side burns and cheeks) still cant get that close shave though, on the plus I didn't get a single cut.

What should I try to get that close shave?

Cheers

Dan

Get some experience. Nobody gets that close shave at the beginning. Myself, I got no satisfaction for the first 2 months or so, shaving 4 times a week. The cut and nick issues you'll resolve pretty quick, but getting a satisfactory shave won't come for a month or two. But six months in you'll be very, very happy with your progress.

thanks for the advice. Is it just experience? or is the angle of the blade what dictates the closeness of the shave? just so I know what to work on

Angle has a little to do with it. The more obtuse an angle the closer the shave but with that comes skin irritation and nicks. 1-2 spine widths is sort of the rule of thumb. Skin stretching and pressure have more, in my opinion. More stretching less pressure. Also, are you doing just a with the grain pass? If so try across the grain after your with the grain pass.

Angle of blade and pressure both affect the closeness of the shave, but much more they affect the comfort of the shave. I try to keep the spine close (not touching) to the skin. This works well for the second pass, but on the first pass, in the thick stubble on my chin, the blade will lift off my face. (That's with my own honed razors. I have a couple honed by professionals that just about melt the stubble off.) That is why we do multiple passes.

Light pressure, taut (stretched) skin, slick lather, sharp blade; your CCS is just around the corner. Your DFS is a little farther away...

Ok, silly question CCS? DFS?

I have been going with the grain. I havent gone across or against yet, still trying to figure out how to hold the bad boy for that.

Close Comfortable Shave, Damn Fine Shave. Don't want to reopen the one hand / two hand debate, but (my opinion only) getting comfortable with the razor in either hand makes the XTG (cross grain) and ATG (against grain) passes easier. Start brushing your teeth with your off hand. In 2 weeks you'll be surprised at the coordination you develop. That coordination will carry over to your shaving.

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.