First few shaves... not so good

So I bought a thierrs Issard "super gnome" and over the past week I have been trying it out with some poor results. So far im on my third shave. Some places on my face have never been smoother but others have never been so rough. It seems as though no matter what I do I cant get a close shave. The razor seems to go right over the hairs when I go wtg and it feels like its ripping them out yet its not really doing anything when I go xtg or atg. First and second shave I didnt use a strop prior to starting b/c I didnt have one. I did as much reading as I could, watched a bunch of videos including Lynn Abrams DVD (who had also honed the razor) and now even after stropping it still shaves the same:shrug: . I will say that it has been getting a little better (and I mean very little) with each shave. Tonight although it was the best of the three, I got the worst razor burn I have ever had:( .

I hate to complain so much and be so long winded, I just thought I would include as much info as possible. None of this has discouraged me from continuing to shave w/ a straight, Im just hoping to get some pointers as to what the problem may be. Thanks!!!!

Maybe your using wrong type of razor? I dont Know what type of blade a Gnome is,Stiff blade,wedge,soft blade,flexible.Different kinds of blades for diff hair type.Wronge blade could be your problem.Elaborate on your hair type and blade.:thinking:

ok lets start with the basics. It sounds to me as if your razor is just dull but is lynn honed it that should not be the issue. next how many strokes are you stropping your razor. are you lifting the spine at all when you strop? this could roll the blade and cause the razor to dull. Also how are you prepping before the shave and what products are you using? give us a few more details and we would love to help you improve your shaving experience. You can also drop me a pm with question or we could discuss this in the chat. anyway help fill in the blanks and we will help if we can But keep in mind that it is not uncommon for your first few shaves to not go so well as you learn more and practice things will get better just hang in there.
Doc

The TI super gnome is a half hollow, usually 5/8, but can be 6/8... reasonably good razor, although not top of the line.
and honed by Lynn = sharp.
If you are getting smooth in areas, then you haven't rolled the edge yet.
I would say your prep or your technique is most likely the culpret.

For prep, make sure you shave after a hot shower, or use hot towels...
Use quality soap. You can get small sample size soaps from TGQ for like $3, and they are very good.
Try using a leave in hair conditioner or a preshave oil. And consider adding glycerine to your lather.

For technique, make sure you are using a very shallow angle, and not applying pressure. It's okay to make several passes to get the hairs, as long as you keep your face lubricated. When you make your strokes, do short clean strokes.
Someone here said to imagine you are landing a plane, and then taking off again (touch and go's) Your strokes should end with you sweeping or lifting the blade off your skin...
You can try refining the edge of your razor by stropping on a flat piece of newspaper... The easiest way to do this is to lay a paper open on the edge of a table, and use the open paper as a bench strop. It may take 100 passes or more to make much of a difference.

Jbone, I had the same problem a few weeks ago with a brand new, pre-honed DOVO as well. Horrible shaves, so I sent it back for re-honing, which I'm still awaiting to be shipped back to me.

Since then, I've been using my 2 disposable straights with unbelievable success. The blade is always sharp since you can change it whenever you need (I change after each pass to keep the shave close), and I've been getting some great BBS shaves. 2 WTG passes, 1 ATG. Terrific shaves.

I'm really contemplating selling the DOVO when it gets back to me, and sticking with my disposable straight! Good luck man

I also had the same problems when starting out. I also sent the razor out for rehoning because it did not feel shap. When it came back I was getting the same results. This was frustrating but it also told me that it must be my technique so I keep reading and trying different things. Well I am about 15-20 shave into it and I am getting great shaves now. Close shaves with almost no irratation so don't lose hope you will get it. Don't forget the basics and listen to these guys advice, they no what they are talking about.

Hi, well, I think we all had that problem when we stared out. I did.

Just keep reading, keep trying new things like angel of the razor, the way you hold it, soap( yes, not all are the same) and so one. You will find lots of good information here:)

I did! Thanks all for helping me!

Just take your time, work, and you will se

Good Luck

Cheers

Vegard_dino

Well you didn't say if it was your third shave with just the razor or third shave period so I'll assume the latter and if that the case I would say the fact you haven't sliced your face up at this point puts you ahead of the game. If after a month of shaves you still have problems then we can talk but until then its probably just a matter of experience and technique. If you are more experienced then its easier. Either you dulled the edge stopping or your using an improper angle or too much pressure.

I believe in stropping as well even though there is some question on this. I really don't have a clue what air cargo can do to a honed and stropped razor. This sounds more like either a technique problem or maybe both technique and soap or prep. The recommendation for starting slow with one area of the face until you get the feel of the razor and the right angle until you can start to attempt new places and angles continues. Remember 30 degrees or less usually.

Have fun,

Lynn

I'm a shaving newbie and I agree with the others that this is a learning curve issue. I had the exact same problem with the first few shaves, here are some of my suggestions for getting over that hump.

1) Preshave oil. I was surprised at how much this smoothed out my shaves. It seems to give a closer shave as well.

2) Get some really nice shaving cream and a large bowl for working up lather. I started with a small ramekin and when I switched to a larger bowl I was able to work up a much better lather. I also tried with soap but it didn't give me nearly as nice a shave.

3) Expect to make several passes. In problem areas, I sometimes have to make 3 or 4. I would suggest only doing a 3rd or 4th pass on areas that need it to avoid irritation in those that don't.

4) stretch out your skin and pay attention to your angle. Taut skin will lead to a closer shave and I find there is definitely a sweet spot to the angle. Too shallow and there is a ton of irritation and it doesn't seem to get as close. Too wide and your just scrapping off shaving cream.

5) practice makes perfect. For me, handling a razor was very unwieldy and it took many shaves (around a dozen or more) before I could do it effectively.

Hang in there, I think that once you finally get it, you'll be happy happy with the results. Oh, and get a strop and strop before EVERY shave, 15 laps on linen 60 on leather is what I do. Stropping has it's own learning curve before you can do it effectively so you should start practicing as soon as possible.

JBone. THe best advice I got in this wa
FOCUS ON TECHNIQUE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE SHAVE
Yes this helped me the best. Clean up with a disposable or whatever works.
Look at the vids. Focus on stretching and contorting..
Most any shave soap will be good. PREP is sooo VERY important. Hydrate the beard.
Good luck.
and STROP..
Learn to strop....
:)

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Originally Posted by dregan

1) Preshave oil. I was surprised at how much this smoothed out my shaves. It seems to give a closer shave as well.

4) stretch out your skin and pay attention to your angle. Taut skin will lead to a closer shave and I find there is definitely a sweet spot to the angle.

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Good stuff. Especially the preshave oil! The times I have used oil wielded dramatically better results.

Yo,
I read plenty of times about rookies having great first shaves and that sure is not how it went for me. Had my razor not been honed by Lynn I would have been sure that it was dull. It felt dull but I knew it must be my technique. I have been at it for about 3.5 months now and I can tell you that it does not come fast. I focus on one thing at a time. I have stopped caring about getting the closest shave I can for now. First I worried about the angle for several weeks of shaving. Once I got that down I worried about pressure for another couple weeks. After that I became engrossed with the direction my hair grows for the ideal cutting direction. Only now am I tying it all together into a good shave. Great? Not quite yet. I can still get much closer with the old mach 3 though the straight gives me no irritation at all. My only point is this: Read a lot from this site. All of the information is there. Focus on the angle. Don't go against the grain until everything else is adequate (3 months for me). Practice makes perfect, we will all get there some day...or die trying :gth

Agree with everything already stated. +++ on the shave technique and prep - so important!

I'd emphasize the advice on the stropping. Were it my razor, I'd strop the hell out of it. This doesn't mean hours of stropping, nor 100's of round trips, just some good solid stropping using good stropping form. First with a bit of pressure on a canvas, then more lightly on the leather side. You may need to alternate between the two (always ending with the leather side) until you razor is ultra keen. It really helps if you have a properly broke in strop.

If you haven't watched the stropping video I did, it's in a sticky in the Newbie section. You don't have to go as fast as I do (in fact I highly caution against it if you are a begginer), but in time you will be able to speed it up.

Not sure of all the dynamics involved (lot's of speculation here) but faster stropping certainly does seem to produce superior results.

Good luck,

Scott

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Originally Posted by yawdeuce

Yo,
I read plenty of times about rookies having great first shaves and that sure is not how it went for me. Had my razor not been honed by Lynn I would have been sure that it was dull. It felt dull but I knew it must be my technique. I have been at it for about 3.5 months now and I can tell you that it does not come fast. I focus on one thing at a time. I have stopped caring about getting the closest shave I can for now. First I worried about the angle for several weeks of shaving. Once I got that down I worried about pressure for another couple weeks. After that I became engrossed with the direction my hair grows for the ideal cutting direction. Only now am I tying it all together into a good shave. Great? Not quite yet. I can still get much closer with the old mach 3 though the straight gives me no irritation at all. My only point is this: Read a lot from this site. All of the information is there. Focus on the angle. Don't go against the grain until everything else is adequate (3 months for me). Practice makes perfect, we will all get there some day...or die trying :gth

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This is worthy of a QUOTE...
It's all here
Impatience is what will cause failure.
Well put.
Thank you yawdeuce

I went through the same problems when starting out. In the end, I am not sure where all my problems were... just mostly inexperience. I do know that I had a really crappy stropping technique and managed to completely destroy an edge that Lynn Abrams had put on a couple of my razors. However, I did not figure this out until I had destroyed an edge or two that I had put on a razor. It's all a learning process. One of the things that helped me was having a standard to compare my work to. You will hear folks saying to get a honemeister to hone your razor and use that as the standard. Unfortunately, I managed to dull those edges by rolling them due to improper stropping technique.
My real breakthrough came when I got a Feather Artist Club razor and used that as a fallback razor and a constant standard for comparison. While I still had frustration getting to the standard, I now had a constant standard for comparison of shave quality. Since then, I have come to really appreciate the Feather as a part of my regular rotation. In fact, I recently received a non-folding Feather to add to my collection.
Keep working at it. Good luck! The reward is in the journey...

Sorry I havent posted any updates to this (been busy).

First thanks for all the tips and insight.

I am now on shave #5 and things are looking up!! Last night was the best shave I had thus far. They seem to keep getting better. Ive been trying a few different techniques, including shave prep that have been helping. I think a big part of the problem was that I was not stropping enough. Although im not at the point of having a completely BBS shave yet, Im getting closer!:D

Oh and I almost forgot:

It seems like the lather I make sometimes "sets" and actually feels like a thick grease or putty. I really dont know how to describe it much better than that. Any tips???

sounds like you need more water also you might thy some glycerin Drop gssixgun a pm when it comes to lather hes the guy to talk to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vegard_dino

Hi, well, I think we all had that problem when we stared out. I did.

Just keep reading, keep trying new things like angel of the razor, the way you hold it, soap( yes, not all are the same) and so one.

Vegard_dino

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OMG. I know this is an old post. I was searching for something else and came across this. That's what I've been missing?! The Razor Angel! How come nobody told me about this. Where can you find one?

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Originally Posted by calamusink

OMG. I know this is an old post. I was searching for something else and came across this. That's what I've been missing?! The Razor Angel! How come nobody told me about this. Where can you find one?

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well...
fairies aren't brave enough to deal with razors, so we get an angel to help us get a good shave.:rofl2:

but yeah, i think the angle on face is uber-important. i can tell when i've gone past about a 35degree slope, i stab myself (3rd times the charm)