Thread: Resistance

Hey -
I just picked up straight razor shaving, so bear with me.

I shave after I shower, and put on a nice lather with my badger brush and williams soap. The problem I find when shaving is that when I shave with the grain, the blade kind of "resists" too much, like I feel it stop at every hair, and it makes a loud noise that people around me can hear.

Is my blade not sharp enough? Is my technique wrong? I try to keep the 30 degree angle, I'd say I'm pretty close to it - I've tried different angles and I have the problem no matter what.

I'm using a new DOVO 5/8 honed by Lynn.

What's up?

Thanks a lot!
- Jake

what's your technique? for me, short quick strokes work better for a WTG first pass that longer strokes

Hi Jake. Try a very long preparation in the shower: hot towel; lather with a boar bristle brush and bar soap; then shampoo the beard (shampoo with conditioner) followed by more hot towel applications.

If the shave isn't OK after that drop the angle a little. If that fails then your razor probably isn't sharp. Did you strop it? Correctly? An edge can be lost with improper stropping. Don't give up. It will all come together in time.

Monte

Originally Posted by umbepo

Hey -
I just picked up straight razor shaving, so bear with me.

I shave after I shower, and put on a nice lather with my badger brush and williams soap. The problem I find when shaving is that when I shave with the grain, the blade kind of "resists" too much, like I feel it stop at every hair, and it makes a loud noise that people around me can hear.

Is my blade not sharp enough? Is my technique wrong? I try to keep the 30 degree angle, I'd say I'm pretty close to it - I've tried different angles and I have the problem no matter what.

I'm using a new DOVO 5/8 honed by Lynn.

What's up?

Thanks a lot!
- Jake

Was this your first straight razor shave ? It will most likely take at least 6 shaves , before things will start feeling right . I would try using a very low blade angle , and short strokes .

I have that feeling around my chin alot. The hair I have there grows every which a way and is very stiff. I have resorted to shaving first with the grain then the second against. I know its common practice but sometimes needs to be restated.

Also, keep in mind that it takes time and practice to develop the feel or confidence in your stroke to properly move the blade through the whiskers. Keep trying and slowly expand your comfort zone. Don't expect "good" shaves for a couple of weeks.

Jordan

Not a lot for me to add to the good advice already given. But FYI all my razors make noise when they shave - the noise varies from a tinny scratching sound on full hollows to a duller scraping sound on wedgey-type blades. I wouldn't worry about the noise.

James.