first kamisori shave, rough :)

So I haven't shaved with a straight in at least 10 years and today I tried out my new iwasaki. Stropped it on linen then kangaroo. thats it. It wasn't exactly pleasant. Got a few minor cuts. But overall, not that bad. I have feeling this razor should be much sharper, and smoother. I could not get a really close shave somehow. And I went against the grain the best I could. Need to practice more I guess. Also the shin is a problem/training area. I figured I need to do less scraping and more cutting. I could also feel every single strand getting cut as opposed to my mach 3, and that leads me to believe its not sharp enough. Probably need to spend like 10times more on hot water and lathering too. I Iive another day though. iwasaki 10 - my face 0.

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Originally Posted by jigane

So I haven't shaved with a straight in at least 10 years. snip...Probably need to spend like 10times more on hot water and lathering too. I Iive another day though. iwasaki 10 - my face 0.

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Send it out for a professional honing! They do not arrive sharp! The older they are the more the sharpest edge goes away. It takes about one poor stroke on a hone to ruin the edge; so get a pro to do the honing! They do not hone like a western straight!
Just my take on the subject of Japanese razors I have.
~Richard

Was it new and pre honed or just second hand. A properly honed kamisori is ridiculously sharp and I wouldn't expect to much tugging. If unused to stropping that may also be part of the issue as well as technique and prep.

As Richard suggested get it pro honed and give it another go. Good luck

I honed mine on my coticule today before work. Its much better now. But still I guess it could be a bit sharper. No cuts, and no pulling of hair. I still had difficulties around my chin so I left it to my mach 3. I was running out of time. I found out I need to work on skin stretching. Thats where I'm seriously lacking. Overall I like the kamisori, it feels much more natural to operate to me than a regular straight.