I seem to be losing ground, advice appreciated

Hi, I'm new to straights, about two weeks along. I have a little over a year's experience as a DE shaver, and can pretty consistently get BBS shaves with a DE. I decided to take up straights because they seemed more of everything I like about DE shaving - the relaxation, the tradition, a new old skill, a superior shave. My first razor is a pre-honed 6/8 Dovo Special from Straight Razor Designs (along with Lynn's DVD and a good strop).

I've pretty much committed to learning how to shave with a straight, and stopped using anything else the happy day the Dovo arrived. My first straight shave was actually my best - two pass, near BBS, no nicks, minimal burn. I was shocked, and instantly hooked. But each day since, I seem to be getting a little worse results. I've been shaving at night so I'm not rushed and have time to learn. The past few shaves, the razor burn has been still present the next morning. Despite two or even three passes, my neck is almost like I haven't shaved at all, but with plenty of burn and pulling.

I was hoping my technique would improve slowly since my first shave, I was really nervous. But I seem to be going backwards. Maybe my stropping is really flawed, or something in my shaving technique is dulling my razor, not sure what. Maybe I was lucky the first shave and just need to back off, adjust my expectations, and settle in for bad shaves until I get the hang of this.

Is my experience common for new straight shavers, where it goes downhill for a while before it starts to improve? How long did it take you to start getting even decent shaves, without burn? Should I just stick with one WTG pass for now?

Thanks!

My first month was full of ups and downs. This is very common and you shouldn’t become discouraged. It just takes a lot of practice and patience. I suggest that you review Lynn’s DVD, particularly the sections where he shows proper stropping and shaving techniques.

It sounds to me like the razor is getting duller. Did you have the razor honed before you started using it? You may have to get it honed first, factory edges are seldom satisfactory. Of course you need a good strop. Lynn's DVD or the insttructions in the help files are a good starting point.

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Originally Posted by Kees

It sounds to me like the razor is getting duller. Did you have the razor honed before you started using it? You may have to get it honed first, factory edges are seldom satisfactory. Of course you need a good strop. Lynn's DVD or the insttructions in the help files are a good starting point.

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He has everything you suggested. The blade was prehoned by Don or Lynn...and he has Lynn's DVD

Well, it's not unusual to take quite some time to settle down and get good shaves. For me, somewhere between 3-6 months, maybe longer...

Quick question - did you strop before your first shave? Can you think of anything that is different between that first shave and the subsequent ones?

James.

The first months I only made two WTG passes - I wasn't very comfortable with the ATG pass -; I didn't have an absolute BBS shave, but it was clean and comfortable. During those first months I learnd to better know my face (the way my whiskers grow, the curves, the difficult parts...) Maybe this could work for you too: try only two passes WTG and pay attention to two things: the way your whiskers are growing and how to shave properly - meaning keep a good angle on your whole face... this is not as easy as it sounds... specially around the jawline.

Another point is that maybe your are putting too much pressure on your blade when shaving. The good point with the two WTG passes is that you can learn to put almost no pressure on the razor, making a beard reduction not a beard - and usually skin - destruction.

Maybe you can also try to tighten your skin a little more; with the no pressure point, you could be able to improve your technique and the knowledge of your face.

It worked for me, why not for you?

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

But each day since, I seem to be getting a little worse results. I've been shaving at night so I'm not rushed and have time to learn. The past few shaves, the razor burn has been still present the next morning. Despite two or even three passes, my neck is almost like I haven't shaved at all, but with plenty of burn and pulling.

I was hoping my technique would improve slowly since my first shave, I was really nervous. But I seem to be going backwards. Maybe my stropping is really flawed, or something in my shaving technique is dulling my razor, not sure what. Maybe I was lucky the first shave and just need to back off, adjust my expectations, and settle in for bad shaves until I get the hang of this.

Is my experience common for new straight shavers, where it goes downhill for a while before it starts to improve? How long did it take you to start getting even decent shaves, without burn? Should I just stick with one WTG pass for now?

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First of all welcome to straight razor shaving!

I have highlighted these parts of your post because I think they are related. It has been my experience that the comfort of my shave has been down to two things. Preparation and care. I suspect your first shave was that much better because you took better of each. If you have razor burn and are making 2 or three passes, stick to two passes WTG or if thats still too much keep it to 1 pass. Remember shaving involves taking care of your skin as much as removing the hair. Be slow and careful, give yourself a hot towel treatment to relax you and open the pores. Your skin will be much more grateful. Use a light touch and a good 30 degree angle. Shave every second day if needs be- I do. Some people shave less often than that. Its a learning curve, so dont be discouraged. Pull the skin tight as you go.

Dont lose heart. :tu

When I returned to straight razor shaving from an extended hiatus, I realized that with skill comes confidence and you absolutely NEED to be confident when you place that edge against your skin.

Shaving with other products has made us very careless in alot of ways.Successful shaving with a straight razor requires us to follow ALL the rules. 1) a shave ready razor 2)proper pre shave preparation 3) ABSOLUTE concentration on what you are doing,being cognizant of where the blade is in relation to your face at all times. That being said,although you must respect the razor-you CANNOT fear it. Once you have followed the required steps and when you FEEL what a properly honed,shave ready razor can do, your confidence will build rapidly. And for me confidence is what made me ENJOY the task at hand.

Frustration is normal,fear is normal-practice makes perfect. Don't lose the faith!:tu

PS: LYNN'S Shaving DVD is one of the best investments you can make.

Check that your stropping is adequate and correct!

I agree with making sure you are keeping the spine on the strop at all times and not getting "heavy handed" . I had a bit of trouble with the latter when I started. Most importantly, don't get discouraged. It took me a good 3 months and countless nicks, cuts, and subpar shaves to dial it in just right. I would focus on what you are doing well and try to expand the areas that are getting superltive shaves. Nowadays, I stretch my jawline skin upwards, leaving very little neck cleanup. Maybe a couple of inches. You'll find your method for success, just keep at it.

Wow, thank you all for your valuable replies! Very helpful forum to new guys like me.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, it's not unusual to take quite some time to settle down and get good shaves. For me, somewhere between 3-6 months, maybe longer...

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That's comforting, thanks. It took me about two months to get my first BBS when DE shaving, and about 6 months to be able to do it fairly consistently without irritation. I expect my learning curve for straight shaving may be longer, I don't have the best hand-eye coordination. I was hoping that DE shaving technique would provide me more reference points that would carry over, but straight shaving seems really different to me so far.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Quick question - did you strop before your first shave? Can you think of anything that is different between that first shave and the subsequent ones?

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Nope, I didn't strop before the first shave. I wanted to feel what a properly honed razor felt like out of the box. But I've have been stopping before each shave since, about 10 strokes on the linen and 20 on the leather. Last night I skipped the linen and just did 40 strokes on the leather. No difference.

Two things stuck out to me about the first shave. First, I was really nervous, and very careful. Lathered and shaved only a portion of my face at a time, took a while. The second thing was that I couldn't believe how good the first pass was. Even with a slant bar DE, I'd never gotten that good a first pass with a DE, I was really impressed with the straight.

So, maybe it's my stropping, or I've gotten more impatient in my shaving since that first great shave, and I'm forcing it.

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Originally Posted by sidneykidney

First of all welcome to straight razor shaving!

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by sidneykidney

...It has been my experience that the comfort of my shave has been down to two things. Preparation and care. I suspect your first shave was that much better because you took better of each. If you have razor burn and are making 2 or three passes, stick to two passes WTG or if thats still too much keep it to 1 pass. Remember shaving involves taking care of your skin as much as removing the hair.
...
Dont lose heart. :tu

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Thanks, I'm hanging with it. You have a point, I think it will be easier to isolate my problem if I go back to square one, and start with one careful WTG pass, until I can get that solid, then build on it from there.

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Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

When I returned to straight razor shaving from an extended hiatus, I realized that with skill comes confidence and you absolutely NEED to be confident when you place that edge against your skin.
...
Frustration is normal,fear is normal-practice makes perfect. Don't lose the faith!:tu

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Thanks. One thing I have learned in the past few weeks is that straight shaving seems to have a "tempo." The good strokes I've had have been longer, smoother, and "faster" than DE shaving, where I tend to use short, repetitive strokes. I still have fear of that big blade, and maybe that lack of smooth, light, confident stoke is contributing to the pulling, and multiple re-tries is causing irritation.

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Originally Posted by JMS

Check that your stropping is adequate and correct!

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Beyond my inexperienced straight technique, this is really sticking out to me. I'm being careful and using light strokes on the strop, but I'm not getting a feel for it yet. And it seems to me my razor isn't as sharp as it was two weeks ago. I'm keeping the blade flat and the strop taut, but I don't seem to get any "feel " from the stroke of the razor that's telling me when I'm doing it right. No real draw, all the strokes feel the same, from the first to the 40th.

Hey Tim, welcome to SRP! You'll get lots of great advice here, and if you stick around
and keep us up-to-date on your progress, you'll undoubtedly be getting great shaves
in no time.

Short, very light stokes are a good way to start. You have more control over the razor
over a shorter distance.

Good luck!

- Scott

I've been using a straight for about 1 1/2 years. I've had several ups and downs, as have others, so rough spots in learning are to be expected. I'm one of those people that is never completely satisfied with my performance, always striving to become better. I also seem to be very dense. Not a good combination. Keep working on technique and over the long run it will come together.