Thread: Tip for a more irritation-free shave.

Lynn,

I am beginning to do the same as you just mentioned in my learning curve of approximately 3 months. I think the best tip for irritation free shaves is to have a sharp shave ready blade. Just last night I had my best shave yet. I had been doing pyramidsk, conservative, agreesive, norton suggested, etc.... Under the 15x loop I was not seeing a change in the edge refinement. I stopped with the pyramid and went to the 8k norton. I did a set of 25 and looked at the edge, did another set of 25 and started to see a change. I ended up doing about 175 strokes at 8k and then stropped 30 on linen and 40 on the leather. It was the best shave yet, the edge is so much better.

I also put a few drops of glycerin on the hardsoap as I began to lather. The shorter stroke to mow down the stubble and then long cleanup passes as Lynn says works very well, and even better with a sharp razor! follow that with a cold wate rinse and the alum block as suggested above and I was very happy and not burn and only one small nick, fixed with the alum block.

So to me the most important tip is Start with a properly honed razor, don't try to learn to hone while you learn to shave. I am doing that and I would be better at the razor handling if it had been sharp all along.