Thread: newb, first few str8 shaves

My skin is getting irritated and I'm having trouble shaving the course hair off my chin. I am able to shave the sides of my face ok but the shave isn't as good as a DE shave yet. When I try to shave my chin it feels like the razor is scraping and pulling the hair off my face. I just don't think the razor is sharp enough. I do have sensitive skin and course hair, I have found that a sharp blade on a non-aggresive setting using a DE works best for my type of skin. I'm currently using a 5/8 Dovo Special Tortise str8, am I not stropping it enough? Do I need a full hollow ground singing blade razor (from what i have read they are the sharpest)? Or is that just how str8 razors shave? I am new and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Evan

Evan

I'm a newb too and have experienced similar problems. . . First off, I don't think it's the razor. Getting a new razor won't solve the problem. Did you get it professionally honed? If you did, then your stropping technique might be the issue - that was my issue. If you did not get it professionally honed that's your issue. Improperly stropping a razor will dull the edge instead of sharpening it. Aside from that you might want to make the angle of attack a little more shallow if you're getting scraping. . .

FWIW, I'm getting decent shaves with my straight but nowhere near as close as I can get with my DE razor. I think that just takes time and practice. For now, just shoot for presentable shaves with no irritation and blood

Originally Posted by drumana

Aside from that you might want to make the angle of attack a little more shallow if you're getting scraping. . .

I find that a too shallow angle is what pulls hair off my face. Raising the blade always prevents that for me

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I find that a too shallow angle is what pulls hair off my face. Raising the blade always prevents that for me

I have noticed that raising the blade does help with pulling the hair off my face. I don't think I'm stropping enough or I need a sharper razor. I need more experience.

I find that I need a really shallow angle for directly under my chin as well. The chin is a tricky area. Here are some tips:

1) Use pre-shave oil, it will drastically reduce the pulling and burning sensation.

2) Don't press hard, go slowly and do multiple passes, especially on the chin. Try going a different direction each pass. I usually start straight down, towards the chin on the 2nd pass and away from the chin on the 3rd

3) To get a closer shave pull your skin taut. Try to pull the skin from the bottom of your chin up onto the front of your chin so that you can get at it easier.

Originally Posted by dregan

I find that I need a really shallow angle for directly under my chin as well. The chin is a tricky area. Here are some tips:

1) Use pre-shave oil, it will drastically reduce the pulling and burning sensation.

2) Don't press hard, go slowly and do multiple passes, especially on the chin. Try going a different direction each pass. I usually start straight down, towards the chin on the 2nd pass and away from the chin on the 3rd

3) To get a closer shave pull your skin taut. Try to pull the skin from the bottom of your chin up onto the front of your chin so that you can get at it easier.

What kind of pre-shave oil do you use? I have never found it necessary to have to use pre-shave oil when proper pre shave prep is practiced.
Have you ever used Kyle's pre shave prep routine? The difference in wet shaving is like night and day, at least it was for me. Thanks for the tips I'll give them a try.

Originally Posted by drumana

Evan

I'm a newb too and have experienced similar problems. . . First off, I don't think it's the razor. Getting a new razor won't solve the problem. Did you get it professionally honed? If you did, then your stropping technique might be the issue - that was my issue. If you did not get it professionally honed that's your issue. Improperly stropping a razor will dull the edge instead of sharpening it. Aside from that you might want to make the angle of attack a little more shallow if you're getting scraping. . .

FWIW, I'm getting decent shaves with my straight but nowhere near as close as I can get with my DE razor. I think that just takes time and practice. For now, just shoot for presentable shaves with no irritation and blood

I did have the razor professionally honed by JoshEarl, I have watched alot of videos on stropping and I am using a Tony Miller starter strop. I have expereince in knife sharpening so I'm almost positive I haven't rolled the edge. I'll just have to keep practicing. As far as the angle goes, the razor won't cut through the hair on my chin unless I have a steep angle, should I just press really hard? It seems like that would irritate or scrape the skin just as bad. I'll try it and let you know how it works. What do you consider a presentable shave? I am only allowed to have 24hrs of facial hair on my face for my job.
Thanks again,
Evan

Originally Posted by man0427

I did have the razor professionally honed by JoshEarl, I have watched alot of videos on stropping and I am using a Tony Miller starter strop. I have expereince in knife sharpening so I'm almost positive I haven't rolled the edge. I'll just have to keep practicing. As far as the angle goes, the razor won't cut through the hair on my chin unless I have a steep angle, should I just press really hard? It seems like that would irritate or scrape the skin just as bad. I'll try it and let you know how it works. What do you consider a presentable shave? I am only allowed to have 24hrs of facial hair on my face for my job.
Thanks again,
Evan

I don't think I would press hard on it, just use the weight of the razor to do the work. Pressing could lead to a cleft in the chin or at least a scar. Otherwise, it could be your stropping and/or technique that is causing the problem. I'm sure some of the seniors around will jump in and help out.

Originally Posted by freebird

I don't think I would press hard on it, just use the weight of the razor to do the work. Pressing could lead to a cleft in the chin or at least a scar. Otherwise, it could be your stropping and/or technique that is causing the problem. I'm sure some of the seniors around will jump in and help out.

I was thinking that would happen I'm not going to try that after all.
Thanks

Originally Posted by man0427

I did have the razor professionally honed by JoshEarl, I have watched alot of videos on stropping and I am using a Tony Miller starter strop. I have expereince in knife sharpening so I'm almost positive I haven't rolled the edge. I'll just have to keep practicing. As far as the angle goes, the razor won't cut through the hair on my chin unless I have a steep angle, should I just press really hard? It seems like that would irritate or scrape the skin just as bad. I'll try it and let you know how it works. What do you consider a presentable shave? I am only allowed to have 24hrs of facial hair on my face for my job.
Thanks again,
Evan

Evan,

It sounds that you are doing things correctly. So long as you are not lifting the spine off the strop and are rolling it on the spine before changing directions, your stropping should be working. Perhaps you should try more strokes on the leather. There are those here who have said that they have used 100 strokes to help improve the polish on their razors' edges. Another cheap "fix" may be wrapping something flat and solid with newspaper and using that as a stropping medium. The ink on the newsprint is very mildly abrasive and can also enhance the polish on your razor's edge.

You shouldn't have to use a steep angle on your chin, nor should you have to use a lot of pressure. Have you tried sticking your tongue against the inside of your lower lip to increase the "stretch"? That's what I have discovered helps me get a decent shave on my chin - just don't move your tongue while in the middle of a stroke, it's almost as ill-advised as sliding the razor sideways.

Your DOVO Special should work just fine. As a matter of fact, I have that razor in 6/8 and it is among my favorites - although, I'm a razor whore and have many, many favorites. Regardless of my multiple razor affection disorder, the DOVO Special is in the regular rotation. I prefer a stiffer grind and don't believe that the "singing" full hollow blades offer any advantage for sharpness. Sharp is sharp. And if the razor shaves stubble from other areas easily and well, the chin issue may be just technique which needs some "honing" for that area.

When I started with the curse or blessing of the straight blade, my issue was the corners of my mouth where I have about 82 hairs that grow just where my lips stop and my mouth begins. I finally figured out how to shave away that pesky stubble. So I'm thinking that you will get the chin figured out with a bit of experimentation.

If you think that the razor's edge needs some attention, PM Joel to see if he would be willing to give it a touch up.

Regarding the 24 hours of stubble rule: just tell the face rangers that there is no hair on your face taller than 15 hours worth of growth. That ought to give you time after leaving work to go home and assault the chin one more time.

good luck, good shaving,