Thread: Razor Burn

Originally Posted by ernieflores

Thank you for your help. Still burning though. Ha ha.

That is what after shave balm is for.

Bob

I want to learn how to hone my own razors. If not I'm going back to safety razor.

Tried that. Just a complaint on my part.

Thx that's something to think about.

Originally Posted by ernieflores

I want to learn how to hone my own razors. If not I'm going back to safety razor.

All in due time my friend. As you are finding out the hard way is that learning how to Properly Strop, Make Lather and of course Shave have to be at least semi mastered first. Once you have those skill down Have At It With Honing. Actually after you get those skill down, learning how to maintain your razor using a high grit hone should come first. If you get that down then you should be able to maintain your razors for years.

Already many great thoughts shared. Shaving too often with poor technique, is razor shave ready, stropping issues, poor lathe. There are several variables. Most of which all come in time. Patience plays a large part. Lip and chin are trouble areas for myself too. I wear a beard most times but when I go neked I get a bit of razor burn on lip and chin.
Keep with it. Things get better.

Originally Posted by ernieflores

I want to learn how to hone my own razors. If not I'm going back to safety razor.

That is a whole other ball of wax with it's own, steep in my case, learning curve. Putting a shave ready edge on a straight razor is not exactly the same as sharpening a knife. There is lots of good info in the honing section of this forum. It is enjoyable and rewarding in the end.

Bob

In my experiance, i have spent almost a year learning to hone. Most of what i finsh on the stones are decent but at times i miss and it is not a good edge. What Roy is saying would be best. To learn to shave and strop first. That will only take you a few months. Honing can take much much longer to learn. Now some folks just pick it up and have no issue honing but they are special people as most folks it take much longer to get a great edge, sharp and comfortable.

If you find going back to a DE is what you need to do than so be it. Its your choice. Just remember that to shave, strop, hone and repair/restore straight razors properly is a long road.
When i picked up a DE fir the first time it took me 10 to 15 shaves to figure it out. Its nowhere near the same with a straight!

Good luck on what ever you choose.

I am trying and maybe trying too hard. But im thinking I am using a bad angle. But as far a honing I'm waiting till I get the shave and strop down. You are correct sir. Thanks for your comments.

Originally Posted by ernieflores

I am trying and maybe trying too hard. But im thinking I am using a bad angle. But as far a honing I'm waiting till I get the shave and strop down. You are correct sir. Thanks for your comments.

For an angle try using between 1 and 2 widths of the spine gap between the spine and you face. The more gap you have the more you are scraping the whiskers off not cutting them. That won't do much good if your edge is not OK though as was said earlier in the thread.

Bob