Thread: How can something be so complicated and simple at the same time?

So I'm about a half dozen shaves into straight razor shaving and while I was able to finish a two pass shave this morning with only the straight razor, I have to say the learning curve has been much harder than I expected. As of right now I am still struggling with three aspects of my shaving: 1) producing a good consistent lather that will last two shaves without getting too wet or dry, 2) stropping, and 3) maintaining a descent glide on my chin. I've read a ton of forum posts, watched videos, etc. but so far these three tasks seem the most elusive to master.

1) Lather - I first started with some AOS cream that was given to me a while back and have since moved to a soap, MdC, that was given as a gift in this endeavor. But truth be told I can tell I'm having the same problems with both, even though the MdC is way better. My problem is that I don't seem to be building a lather that will last through the duration of my slow shaves. I get plenty of soft peaks, but when I apply it to my face and start shaving, usually by the time I get to my chin or neck the lather seems to be too dry. When I try to add more water it just kind of breaks down the lather and I don't have enough glide. Again it seems so simple in the videos and pictures, but I have to say it's hard to know if you have built a good lather without having ever felt what a good lather should be.

2) Stropping - after the initial hiccups that I am sure we've all had when starting out with SE razors, I feel that I have the grip and movements down. What I don't know is if I am applying too much or too little pressure. Sometimes on my back-strop it makes a sound that is more... scratchy? I don't know if I can describe the sound but it is a higher pitch and more hollow if that makes sense. I can't tell if that is the right sound my strop should make, or if it should be much more muted. Again the videos help, but it is really hard to get a good feel for what a good strop technique should be.

3) Chin shaving - I'm sure this is somewhat related to both my lather problem and my technique, but by the time I get to this section I really do struggle with consistent strokes. It seems like my razor tends to get "caught up" in my stubble much more often as I initiate strokes in this area. To be honest, I have really only been tackling this area for the past 2-3 shaves and I still haven't found the best grip for tackling this area, but I can honestly say most of the videos out there make it look way too easy when they hit these areas!

For the chin, I have found that many have benefited from shaving with the heel region of the blade. There is less resisting torque at that end of the blade and you should have better control that way.

what Ron said about the heel of the razor, but don't forget you said it---your only in a couple of shaves. you may be 100 shaves or so before you start to get mediocre at this. if you don't have that kind of patience then I cant help you. the time learning will pay big dividends, cause after a few months you will wake up and have a smooth clean shave without any hiccups Tc

For the lather it sounds like you are not loading enough soap onto the brush before you start to make your lather and then not adding enough water so it is thin to start with. That will make it dry out quicker and when you so add the water it will break down. It is hard to get the right soap to water ratio correct without practice. You may want to practice lathering without actually shaving to experiment in getting it right. We were all slow when starting out so that leaves plenty of time for the lather to dry out on your face. Try lathering just the part of your face you will do right away and then lather the next part you want to do and so on. Eventually you will be able to stop doing that when your shaving technique improves and you get a little faster at it. Never try rushing a shave though as that leads quickly to trouble involving the red stuff. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and speed will come on its own.

It is easy for beginners to dull a blade through improper stropping. That coupled with your blade getting "caught up" when doing your chin whiskers might indicate your blade is a bit dull. The chin area has some of the stoutest whiskers on your face and any blade dullness will show itself there. A poor lather does not help either.

The chin area is hard to do because the whiskers are stout and the chin has many angles through which you have to constantly adjust the blade angle as you go to keep the same angle going. If you are not already doing so, try putting your tongue over your lower teeth behind your lip to stretch that part of the chin and flatten some of the angles.

Yes, you are absolutely right that something the looks as simple as shaving with a straight razor is more involved that it looks. Give yourself about 3 months of shaving everyday to start having it all come together.

Bob

Regarding the lather drying - just refresh it as needed. There is no 'rule' saying that it can only be applied once per pass. Like everything in this game, you do what is needed to get the results you want. Also, speed will come with experience. Slow your stropping down and concentrate on maintaining contact with both the edge and the spine. Flip carefully and under control. If slow shaving means dry lather on your chin, then refresh before shaving that area, and - as always - mind your angle and pressure. It will all come together in due time.

The stropping as you described it sounds normal for a hollow ground razor.

Thanks that helps, I was beginning to wonder if I was stropping all wrong. I have been really careful about the flip, I was just nervous that I was perhaps placing too much or perhaps too little pressure on the blade on my back strop since it made a slightly higher pitch sound.

thanks for the comments and encouragement. I by no means expected to get the hang of straight razor shaving quickly, I am just amazed at how difficult it can be without good feedback, hence the post. Whenever you see someone in a video make lather it does seem really easy. Not that it's incredibly difficult, but there are a lot more variables at play than just load, whip, apply. Some days I think I have the recipe down, and then the next day I'm totally off. As for stropping you can only follow the videos and advice to the best of your ability, but sometimes I wonder if I am just cementing bad habits or improper technique. I really do appreciate the good advice and feedback.

You're 6 shaves into this. Relax. In fact, accept that you will be getting less than perfect shaves for a little while. It takes a little time and much more than six shaves. Try to work on one problem with each shave. I'd start with the lather. You'll need that today and every day thereafter. Make small adjustments and improvements but be patient and don't set the bar too high at first.

I'm six shaves in as well. I've been reading the side avidly and saw someone recommend using a butter knife to practice. I started doing this and it's worked well. Im starting to figure out the grips and angles without bleeding.