Thread: Problem with slickness

New to straight razor shaving. For my shave today I just did my cheeks with a SR and the rest with a DE. I noticed that when I felt my skin after using my straight, it felt like there was absolutely no slickness on my face, but when I used my DE there was some. I usually rinse my SR blade and than wipe it with a towel, is that necessary to do or can I merely just rinse and go straight back to the face? With my DE I obviously just rinse it. I tried using a wetter lather as per suggestions, maybe it wasn't wet enough. The shave was slightly rough/uncomfortable, I think my angle was fine.

Everybody goes through the part of learning pressure and angle. If this was your first few strokes hang on. It will get better. As for drying the blade you only have to do that when you put it away. And then make sure it's really dry, everywhere. You'll get it, but not for the first few shaves. You could read around and see what the others went through but I'm telling you, it's to soon to judge yourself :<0)

Start with the blade against your face and tilt up until you feel it cutting hair. That will be your angle. You just want enough pressure to take the soap off. Be care and pay attention.

The learning curve is a long one. It may not be as steep because you've been dealing with manipulating a DE's angle to get a shave, but it's still most likely going to be an uphill learning curve. When I first started out, I doubted everything, the sharpness of the razor, my lather, my stropping...it was none of those...it was my technique. The lather and stropping aren't rocket science, but the pressure and angle take a while to get dialed in. Assuming you got your razor honed by someone reputable, it should have the capability to provide a smooth, effective shave...you just have to find your technique for getting it out of the blade. Granted each razor is different and comfort is subjective, but in my experience, a razor honed sharp by someone reputable will get you to an effective shave. I've never felt my face after a DE as opposed to a straight, so I can't comment on that one. I just rince the hair and lather off my blade when it gets full then go back to the face.

What soap did you use?

Originally Posted by mainaman

What soap did you use?

CRSW. Usually one of my better performers for DE shaving.

My blade was honed by someone reputable here in Canada so it's most likely my technique.

Originally Posted by Justino14

CRSW. Usually one of my better performers for DE shaving.

My blade was honed by someone reputable here in Canada so it's most likely my technique.

What brush are you sing with the soap?

how long was your shave.. i can understand that a shave for about a our did dry your lather.
you get most of the time a good shave after a shave or 30, there are Some guys by 5 or 10 but hold on on 30. it will get better hold on with this.

Just rinse the blade, but be sure you don't knock the edge on the side of the sink or faucet and you'll be fine. Every shave will be better than the last one. It just takes a while to get your face mapped properly and figure out a stroke pattern that works best for your face and beard. Like others have said, make sure it's absolutely dry before you put it away. Don't forget to dry the inside of the scales with some toilet tissue too. It's easy for a droplet of water to hide in there.

There are many variables. Right now I would think it might be your technique, as already stated, could be your soap. I am most curious as to where in Canada you are. There are quite a few Canadians here. Help may or may not be close by. Some places in Canada are a little hard to get to. When you rinse your razor under the tap there is a risk of dinging the blade, so some choose to simply wipe the blade off on a folded towel. I am a blade rinser, and never wipe it off until I'm all finished up.