Thread: First + Second Shave Failure

I've loved the idea of a straight razor ever since I started shaving. They were always so expensive that I just continued to pay out the nose for cartridges.

For Christmas my wonderful wife brought me a brand new straight razor and a honing kit. I read a few instructions online and tried to shave for the first time. I did not hone, as I had read that most new razors come pre-honed.

Once I started to shave, the razor essentially didn't cut anything. No matter what angle I tried, and how much pressure I applied I only got a few hairs pulled out (or so it felt).

I assumed that the razor wasn't honed. So I spent the day learning about honing and watching youtubes. I honed on my whetstone for around 70 passes in each direction. Stroped, and tried shaving again.

Second shave felt exactly like the first.

I'm rather disappointed, and I'm sure it is something I'm doing wrong. My face can handle a good amount of pain, but regardless of angles or pressure that blade is not cutting.

My razor: Dovo Solingen
Whetstone: weiwei #8000
Cream: The body shop for men maca root shave cream

honing:
keep stone wet with water
place the blade flat on the stone
slide blade toward sharp side, ensuring that all parts of the edge are touching stone
turn blade over
slide toward the sharp side
repeat a lot
strop on linen then leather

Shave:
start with the hair, flat against my face
increase the blade angle trying to feel anything like the barber's shave I had a couple days ago
once that failed, I repeated the process AGAINST the grain and still no real cutting action.

HELP

You should send your razor to be honed by a professional. Check the SRP classifieds under member services. Learning to use a straight razor is challenging enough without trying to learn to hone at the same time. This is one of the best shaving instructional videos out there.

https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=

Please do not attempt to hone the razor yourself. Do you have a factory edge on the blade or has it been professionally honed? If it has the original factory edge I would suggest you look for a pro honer in the SRP classifieds under member services. If it came from a vendor who hones razors before they leave the shop I suggest you contact them. I also recommend you do some homework here on SRP and any straight edge razor shaving videos you can find online directed towards beginners. These three points do not cover everything but they will get you started in the right direction. Success with straights is not usually an immediate thing, most of us suffer through a learning curve. We have to learn the blade, our face, prep technique and the skill itself. Don't worry, you are not the first to wonder but we will get you through this.

It sounds like a sharpness issue, unless the vendor has honing policy, I would sent it out to get a pro honing. Also see if you can find some one on one help locally, that's usually a great thing for a beginner to do.

Here's some New York users
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...astvisit&pp=50

Thanks; i'll give the video a go

So I watched the video and it showed me that my shaving technique doesn't appear to be wrong (at least to the first approximation). So my razor must be dull.

Can someone recommend a good video on honing?

You've never done any of this before. Where did the razor come from? While there are a lot of things that could be the problem, you have to rule out edge first. And you can't do that if you're trying to hone yourself with no prior experience.

A honing video won't help. Figuring our if you've honed correctly is 10% look on loupe, 90% feel. And since you haven't learned to shave properly with a shave ready edge, you won't know what you're looking for.

Send it out. Or seek a meet up with a mentor in your area. Most are willing to teach you, and that is invaluable. Where in NY are you?

My stock line: "Learning how to shave with a Straight Razor from the web is like learning how to tune and play the (insert musical instrument here) by correspondence course"

It takes time and practice with a perfect edge - we are suggesting that you give yourself a chance to experience that magic if nothing more than to give youself a reference point.

What has worked for many of us:

Learn how to strop & shave (starting with pro-honed edges)
Learn how to refresh an edge (Crox and/or a finisher)
Learn how to hone with a 4/8K up
Learn how to hone 1/4/8/+
Restoration - (chips, frowns, uneven wear, warps etc.)

Finding a Mentor and/or attending a meet will save you time and frustration...

Good luck and smooth shaving...

I would echo all the others in getting a pro honing. Also cheap stones like this are often not as higher grit as suggested and not much good for razors.

Start with a honing and do lots of reading in the library and forums. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Originally Posted by JustinScott

Can someone recommend a good video on honing?

I could , but honestly that is not what you need. Once again I suggest you get it honed by a pro if it is a factory edge. In the meantime study the art of straight shaving. If there are any of us near you please do what you can to meet with them, with their experience they can honestly evaluate your blade as well as your technique.