Thread: May have I cut myself BECAUSE the blade isnt sharp enough?

Ok so i'll admit my mistake, i bought a straight before doing all the research hoping to try to save a little money...only thing is now i think i need a new razor and hence the price of the first one will be totally lost.

So i bought a straight shavette (thinking it would be a good idea not to have to learn to hone and strop) but the blades seem too weak, too flexible and not sharp enough, i've had two OK shaves with it, but today it just seemed to be like a car running into a wall, the blade didn't want to cut. Now it could be my technique but i believe that i really shouldn't have to put pressure behind the blade to cut hair, and i refuse to because i plan on getting a decent straight and i know this could potentially recreate a Sweeny Todd suicide attempt scene. I had replaced the blade (figuring I'd probably destroyed the blade the first two days) before i started shaving but it seemed like i was getting a worse shave than previously. i had just got out of a hot shower, used Kent luxury shaving soap and a Kent brush but it just seemed to tear at my hair and hence instead of slicing myself i recieved a few tiny cuts which were more like pin pricks?

I've been thinking of buying a 1920-1935 straight that looks just the part, is sold form one of the users here and is "shave ready". Shame there isnt anything similar but a bit cheaper.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, am i looking for a new razor, new technique, or a new face?

Daniel

Dan,

I had the same problem when I started with my shavette (fromm). I didn't think that the blade was sharp at all and took it out to discard. But just for fun, I checked the naked blade before discarding and it was really sharp! That's when I started playing with my shave angle and found out that my angle was all wrong. Now I can get a really smooth shave with those "dull" blades. My shavette is light compared to the new str8 I just received, so I had to be careful not the dig it into my face.

Tim

I don't know anything about shavettes except what I've read here on SRP. I've never seen anyone seriously arguing that shavettes are dull though. If you buy a straight, it probably won't be any sharper than the shavette.

I think it's your technique - keep practicing your beard prep and your shaving. Without having to strap your blade, the shavette seems like a good way to start straight razor shaving

i think it may have something to do with my awkwardly designed facial hair and a very defined hollow on each side of my neck, I'll leave the shave alone tomorrow (although i enjoy it!!) and see if my skin is happier when i shave next...

thanks for the advice guys!

It takes a few shaves to start to get the hang of shaving with a straight. I think it's because there are several variables that need to come together at once, and there's really no true way to nail them down except by trial and error.

You've got to find an acceptable angle for the razorblade to set against your skin. Reading that 30 degrees works for some people doesn't help me, because I don't have the time, patience, or dexterity to shave with a straight and a protractor at the same time. You just have to feel for it.

How firmly you hold the blade is important, and the angle at which you draw the razor down your face with or against the grain of your hair growth

The speed and length of your stroke will make a difference

One of the most important shaving factors is how tightly to stretch your skin. I want my skin very tight around my chin and neck areas where possible. It makes for much better shaving. Otherwise I would be forced to choose between stubble or pain. But stretching allows the razor to glide smoothly across

There are more things you'll keep discovering I'm sure that help or take away from your shaves

Beard Prep is important too. It's not as difficult though, to me at least. Just get the whiskers soggy by whatever means necessary.

Hope this helps! These are simply things I have noticed in my own shaving and have seen confirmed by others here in this forum,

I also started off with a shavette. My biggest problem was pressure. The blades are plenty sharp, you just have to trust them and let the blade do the work. Once I stopped pressing the shave quality increased dramatically.

You can actually check the sharpness of the blade on your arm hairs. Try and shave a few off at 30 degree angle. If you can easily the blade is sharp enough, if not you have a dull blade. Shaving at the wrong angle may damage the edge and may have left you with a dull blade after 2 shaves.

Keep checking the B/S/T forum and you'll find a blade eventually that suits you and your wallet.

Shavette blades are sharper than most razors you'll ever come across. They're ridiculously sharp. I hear only the japanese Feather is sharper, and I dread thinking about it.

That being said, once you move from a Shavette to a real straight razor, be prepared to have to adjust your technique. As I have stated elsewhere, the only thing Shavettes have in common with regular straights is the grip.

Anyways, good luck, and don't give up!

Shavette sharper or as sharp as a regular straight? well if this is the case then its my baby soft skin and technique, i'm going to leave the skin for tomorrow and really enjoy my shave on sunday! Knowing that straights wont often be sharper than shavettes encourages me because it means i don't have to be so00o worried (i fear that my first straight will be like a light saber and i'll lose half my face). The thing i dont like about the shavette is the corners of the blades, i really like the idea of a rounded or spanish blade.

thank you all again, and if anyone else has any tips i'm more than open to suggestions!!

Mr McLean

yes, that's the consensus - the shavette blades are sharper than where most people like their straights.
i'm thinking that if it's your growth direction you should figure that out anyways.
of course your hair/skin combination may be one of the more problematic ones, but there are plenty of members who struggle with the same problem.
Sorry, no experience with shavette here....