Newbie to Straight; Q; re Sharpness

Hi guys,

I need help with recognizing the sensation of sharpness of a straight blade. I'm a straight razor newbie. I just picked up a nice Tennis straight razor from a member. Nice razor. It was sharpened to shave ready when he sent it to me. I used it today to see what a shave ready blade feels like as a learning baseline for future sharpenings. After my prep (I'm normally a DE user and used my usual prep) and then put the blade to the side of my face to trim the sideburns. The blade seemed to stick, or catch or snag each hair and had a uneasy stroke down. As I moved down the blade was cutting the beard (actually just reducing). My question is if this catching sensation is normal, what to expect from a sharp blade or what? I adjusted my angle from the blade almost flat against the skin, to tilting the back up about back width to even two back widths. No matter where I start, it catches. Once it starts to move it's not so much of a catching feeling. It doesn't feel smooth, and I didn't cut myself or have any irritation either. Not close at all on the under chin. But it seems that's normal. Is this how it's supposed to feel when you get started? Can anyone else relate to what I'm saying? Answers, feedback or suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm not stopping mind you, just trying to know whats going on. thanks.

Lee

If it was truly shave ready then it probably is your technique. Blade angle and pressure are the keys (at least that has been my experience in the month I have used them). Perhaps using less than the 30 degrees to start with? By pressure I mean that you shouldn't press the razor into the skin. Rather the pressure in the direction of the movement. Don't get discouraged. It will come. Practice, practice, practice...

That sounds exactly like my first straight experience!

What I eventually learned by trial and error was that while the razor was sharp a combination of my stropping technique, lather that was too dry, and the wrong blade angle led to an uncomfortable shave.

I was lucky enough to find a barber that for the price of a haircut would give me stropping lessons and after he stropped my razor I took it home and found it was much better feel than when I stropped. With todays health codes I doubt if that's an option anymore but you might find one who will be willing to use your razor and strop.

As for beard prep just make it a point to go overboard the first few times. Give yourself a full 4 minute hot towel treatment and create an uberlather that is wet enough that it just barely doesn't drip off your face. I would also suggest you only lather and shave only a small area at a time to keep the soap from drying out. You might also experiment with a pre-shave oil or rubbing on some olive oil before lathering.

Once you do all that it's just a matter of working on the angle and that will come with practice. I found when I was starting out I was using too large of an angle.

Patience is probably key. If you are talking about the razor I think you are, I severely doubt it is not shave ready. Liberal amounts of stropping might help, but only if your stropping technique is actually good.

Any road, you may want to take a look at the edge detection tests in this SRP Wiki entry: Progessive Honing Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks to you both, AusTexShaver and BeBerlin. I agree that I think the razor is sharp, the problem is I'm not sharp enough yet; knowledge and technique. Thank you also for the link in Wiki. Patients, practice, perseverance. I have a good blade, that is sensitive to the surface of my face, and confidence is on the horizon. I think I'll add a little more time in prep too. Thanks again.