Thread: Brand New Razor, Worst Shave ever!

For Christmas I received my first straight razor (a Thiers-Issard 5/8 Carbon Blade).

The product packaging said it was ready to use out of the box...but I tried and it wouldn't cut my whiskers worth a damn!

So, I sent it off to www.classicshavings.com "professional straight razor sharpening service" and just received it back today.

I just gave it another try fresh from the sharpening service and while I could cut some whiskers, it felt like it was "snagging" and needing to be pushed through the hair (yanked out little by little). I read on your Stickies that Lynn Abrams (classicshaving.com honemiester) is a pro..but it's not cutting through my whiskers!

On the upside, I haven't cut myself a single time, on the downside that almost makes me think that the razor sharpening service maybe didn't get it sharp enough?

I've watched dozens of youtube shaving videos, and read every online "straight razor" tutortial google has on the first page!

I guess I need a personal opinion on what I could be doing wrong! My beard is pretty tough (but I trimmed it down to stubble with an electric buzzer before starting), but after my face was too sore from the tugging of my straight razor, I pulled out by Mach3 Turbo (the one that vibrates) and didn't feel a thing -- and it was even a razor cartridge 3-4 shaves old.

What gives?

Any insight would be helpful.

As a side note, I haven't yet stropped the razor. I was hoping it would come back from the sharpening service ready-to-use so I could find out if I like straight razor shaving before investing in even more gear (as if a $200 razor wasn't enough). Is basic stropping what's _absolutely_ ruining my shave, or is something else awry?

Thanks!

RN


p.s.s. I use a badger hair brush & Art of Shaving un-scented shaving cream, and Art of Shaving after-shave balm.

Thats a good question. I can tell you this happens a lot. Two possible candidates include you needing to strop and you needing to learn how to shave with a straight.

I would initially suggest stropping the razor, say on blue jeans, extensively, then perhaps on a flat leather belt, then try again, only on your cheeks.

In the mean time too you could read up in the archives because most likely this is predominently a learning curve issue.

Are the creams and brush new to you too?

I had similar issues when I did not strop enough when I started a month ago. I was using a paddle strop and now do 40-50 strokes every morning before I shave while I have the lather already on my face.

I also was using too steep an angle and too much of the blade in the areas where my beard was heaviest. A month and 5 razors later, I have three vintage razors that shave almost as well as I was able to do with a DE, but with less irritation andnever any pulling. They all shave well, but both the one that needed sharpened when I got it and the one professionally sharpened pulled the hairs heavily. Proper shave prep and better technique made the difference.

Stick with it, it gets better.

My first couple straight shaves were painful bloody messes. I now know it was a shave technique issue, not a sharpness issue. I think if you razor was honed by Lynn, you probably have a shave techinque issue. For me, I just kept at it (I kind got obsessed to figure out straight shaving) then little by little the shaves started getting better and better....

It doesn't really matter how much you read or how many videos you watch, you will never get that perfect shave first time. It could have been your prep or lack of, your angles when shaving and a whole multitude of other things.

Start with just the cheeks first until you get better, this way of shaving takes time to master as its a whole different level compared with DE or cartridge shavers.

Don't be discouraged though, all good things take time, and remember we have ALL been down the same path you have.

Wanna hear some horror stories, check out my shave journal in the shaving section.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Are the creams and brush new to you too?

No they aren't. I've been using good shaving cream and my badger hair brush for almost 2 years now, even with my cartridge shaving system.

I've been hunting a good shave for almost 5 years

As far as preparation, I made a batch of shaving cream and lathered up then took a steaming shower until the mirror was very foggy, then applied a fresh batch of shaving cream as I got out, dried off, and took to trying my new razor. Hopefully it's just technique and not lack of preparation.

Would any of you say that not stropping extensively before a shave greatly affects the outcome of your shave?

Thanks.

Thanks, I guess I'll work on my technique more. I tried a 15 degree up to say a 30 ish degree. too low of an angle meant no cutting, 30ish meant the tugging was pretty strong. I'll keep at it though.

-RN

Originally Posted by razornoobie

No they aren't. I've been using good shaving cream and my badger hair brush for almost 2 years now, even with my cartridge shaving system.

I've been hunting a good shave for almost 5 years

As far as preparation, I made a batch of shaving cream and lathered up then took a steaming shower until the mirror was very foggy, then applied a fresh batch of shaving cream as I got out, dried off, and took to trying my new razor. Hopefully it's just technique and not lack of preparation.

Would any of you say that not stropping extensively before a shave greatly affects the outcome of your shave?

Thanks.

Thanks, I guess I'll work on my technique more. I tried a 15 degree up to say a 30 ish degree. too low of an angle meant no cutting, 30ish meant the tugging was pretty strong. I'll keep at it though.

-RN

Absolutely it would!

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Start with just the cheeks first until you get better, this way of shaving takes time to master as its a whole different level compared with DE or cartridge shavers.

I'll drink to that. Keep in mind also that back when straights were the only method of shaving, men learned to use them in early to mid adolescence when their facial hair was thinner and easier to cut. Most of us learned to straight shave when we were adults with heavier, thicker growth which adds to the learning curve.

A couple of years ago I bought a new razor. It was a real pig to get sharp and I didn't like it, and ended up giving it away. Just a few days ago someone posted a picture of a razor that they'd just bought and it was identical; and it was a TI. I had owned, and then given away, a TI without even realizing it. But it was a pig. I don't think that they're good ones to learn to shave with.

Originally Posted by Timeo Danaos

A couple of years ago I bought a new razor. It was a real pig to get sharp and I didn't like it, and ended up giving it away. Just a few days ago someone posted a picture of a razor that they'd just bought and it was identical; and it was a TI. I had owned, and then given away, a TI without even realizing it. But it was a pig. I don't think that they're good ones to learn to shave with.

One of the razors I'm learning to shave with is a TI, but it has been honed by someone much more skilled than I. I like mine a lot.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

It doesn't really matter how much you read or how many videos you watch, you will never get that perfect shave first time.

Amen, brother. After watching Lynn's DVD I thought, "What's all the fuss about?" Then I shaved and learned what all the fuss was about. There's definitely a learning curve.