Thread: low end vs high end razors

It may be useful at this point to relate a little of my experience.
I found my grandfather's straight and had an overwhelming surge of nostalgia. So, it began... the journey.
I started searching and reading on the Internet and found this group. I tried to shave with my grandfather's razor and gave up after a couple of passes on the cheeks. I just did not have the honing technique at the time. I ordered a prehoned razor from Classic and a strop from Tony. I started out just doing the cheeks to get used to the razor but found myself using too much pressure and giving myself some real irritation. I was only doing a WTG and XTG pass. Every day the shaves on the cheeks got worse despite stropping. I had some bad thoughts about the honing job that Classic had provided. It was only 6 weeks or so later that I was to finally discover that I was not using a light enough touch on the strop and was in fact rolling the edge on my blade. Boy, was I frustrated during the 6 weeks before I discovered that my own technique was the problem.
I ordered a second razor that was a quarter hollow and had it honed too. At the same time, I sent out my first razor to get it rehoned. New discovery! My beard responded much better or my technique was much better suited to shaving with a quarter hollow vice a full hollow razor. I have since learned that my technique was the issue. Ah well, I was making progress. I was now able to navigate the razor over my whole face and I was not rolling the edge with my stropping. Shave was still not great and I still needed to clean up with a DE. But, I was determined! People did this for ages... it simply could not be that hard (ha, ha, ha).
Well, I have to tell you that after five months I finally got an almost acceptable shave but still needed to clean up areas on the neck with a DE. I think that most folks are hesitant to tell the stories about taking a while to get the hang of it and especially after reading some of the posts where some folks pick it up on the first shave. I have now been shaving for about 18 months and can get a BBS shave over the whole face but I still don't shave ATG except for on the cheeks from time to time.
It has been a long journey but it has been extremely worthwhile for me. There is a real satisfaction in being able to accomplish this art. I am still learning something new each time I shave about my technique and ways to improve it. I now shave with a variety of widths and grinds of razors. My favorites tend to be 6/8 or 7/8 with 1/4 or 1/2 hollow grind.
Hope this is useful in understanding that straight shaving is a learning experience that can vary for different people and not just something you decide to do one day.

If you are looking for a vintage razor that is in beautiful condition and will have some stunning scales on it you might want to check out Traveler. He sells blades with a full refund if not satisfied policy. In addition, he provides rehoning of the blades at any time you wish at no charge beyond the postage both ways. I purchased a razor from him that I absolutely love.