Thread: "Shave Ready" ... Yeah, Right.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

My guess is you will get it down sooner then later and be getting HHT with your razors and BBS with your shaves.

Not to mention OMG and WTF from SWMBO (if you have one)

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Originally Posted by Cornelius

Agreed: the razor passing the HHT will not mean that it necessarily shaves well.

However, the razor not passing the HHT must mean that there is something not 100% right with it. Or if it doesnt like you and others suggest, then I fail to see the point of the test?

I never use this test to be honest. I've had razors that shave so well I don't even feel it shave, and none of them passed the test. I see it as a "look what I can do" performance rather than test. Even a lot of DE blades don't pass HHT, and there's no doubt as to how sickly sharp they are.

EDIT: I also see that you haven't actually shaved with the razor you got from a member here. What are you waiting for? Get after it! You seem like a very determined user, so I assume you've read about lather and how to make it. Just whip some up and try it. I shaved with a Zeepk in the beginning. It was the most horrible shave on earth, but it did work. I'm 100% certain your razor from any member here will do better.

Originally Posted by mlangstr

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WHAD?

Witch Hazel Acquisition Disorder???

I'm speechless!

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I never use this test to be honest. I've had razors that shave so well I don't even feel it shave, and none of them passed the test. I see it as a "look what I can do" performance rather than test. Even a lot of DE blades don't pass HHT, and there's no doubt as to how sickly sharp they are.

Do you know why that is?

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

EDIT: I also see that you haven't actually shaved with the razor you got from a member here. What are you waiting for? Get after it! You seem like a very determined user, so I assume you've read about lather and how to make it. Just whip some up and try it. I shaved with a Zeepk in the beginning. It was the most horrible shave on earth, but it did work. I'm 100% certain your razor from any member here will do better.

Yes, I'm very determined, but I'm also very cautious. Anything less than a perfect blade and edge sounds dangerous to use, a little like a poorly serviced gun or car: not really all that dangerous, but an unnecessary risk. I'm not clumsy, but a little afraid. Hopefully that will have me avoid any serious cuts. I'll try it tomorrow morning.

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we look forward to hearing how it goes with the shave. Don't worry so much about having the best possible edge in the world for your first shave. Yeah, that would be nice but a slightly lesser edge is by no means a bad shave. For my first shave I had no strop, I used some news paper. The shave was good, I didn't cut myself and it was a close shave. Now keep in mind I only did my cheeks which isn't a bad way to start for your first shave. I'd like to point out that my first razor was also honed by a member here and didn't pass the HHT until I stropped it, but it still shaved great before that strop.

Good luck!

I have no idea why that is, but to me, it doesn't really matter. Stick it to your arm hair- if it doesn't shave, it's not ready. That's the best test besides putting it to your face.

Not to dissuade you, but be prepared to get cut. No matter how careful you are, it's bound to happen. The good news is, any damage is typically not a big deal. Razors make clean cuts and they almost always heal nicely. I'd almost guarantee you that all the respected members here have cut themselves at least once, if not several times. By all means be careful and respect your blades, but don't be so worried that you're tense- you're more likely to cut yourself being tense. Let us know how your first shave goes It's always cool to know you've just shaved with a straight, even if it's not what you've expected it to be the first time around.

Originally Posted by Cornelius

... Anything less than a perfect blade and edge sounds dangerous to use, a little like a poorly serviced gun or car: not really all that dangerous, but an unnecessary risk. I'm not clumsy, but a little afraid. Hopefully that will have me avoid any serious cuts. I'll try it tomorrow morning.

Welcome Cornelius. Caution is a good thing, but don't let it get the best of you. My first str8 shave was with a sharp (definitely not shave ready) str8 before I heard about SRP. I had a horrible shave, lots of razor burn and a few cuts. I had no guidance and no idea what I was doing. I was probably more afraid of cutting off my ear than slicing my throat.

You are way more prepared than I was. I have no disfiguring scars from my first str8 forays. You'll be fine. Go slowly and just use your str8 on your cheeks until you have confidence in your technique. And most of all, enjoy your shave tomorrow.

Dave

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I have no idea why that is, but to me, it doesn't really matter. Stick it to your arm hair- if it doesn't shave, it's not ready. That's the best test besides putting it to your face.

Not to dissuade you, but be prepared to get cut. No matter how careful you are, it's bound to happen. The good news is, any damage is typically not a big deal. Razors make clean cuts and they almost always heal nicely. I'd almost guarantee you that all the respected members here have cut themselves at least once, if not several times. By all means be careful and respect your blades, but don't be so worried that you're tense- you're more likely to cut yourself being tense. Let us know how your first shave goes It's always cool to know you've just shaved with a straight, even if it's not what you've expected it to be the first time around.

"Cut" is such an ugly word I would say you're going to get "nicked" from time to time -Gotcha!. I think you really have to not be paying attention to really cut yourself - don't get me wrong, it happens, but I didn't get my first real cuts until I got "comfortable" with the razor.

Don't worry, be careful and pay attention. You won't do too much damage.

Ok, who wants to make the joke about taking a pic before hand so the plastic surgeon knows what he looked like...

Jordan

Fair enough

Pay attention, but don't go crazy over it. I've got three reminders on my face from when my attention wasn't quite all there. Two you can't really see, but one is a one inch scar right on my chin. My attention was elsewhere for a split second and my angle was in an entirely different place than I thought it was.

The two you can't see are from my first experiences with a spike. I was still a newbie, and that razor was quite possibly the sharpest piece of steel I've ever come in contact with. Whilst shaving my burns, I ever so lightly touched the spike right inside both my ears. I was so worried about not hacking up my burns that I forgot about that damn spike. And when I say light, I'm talking about any less pressure and it wouldn't have been touching. The moral of the story: sometimes super sharp ain't the best thing