Thread: Not having much luck

Something in my technique is wrong and I am not having much luck with the straights that I have. I am not getting cut anywhere but and I am taking off quite a bit, there is a lot of shavings in the sink but I do not get a particularly close shave. So clearly I am doing something wrong. I have a DVD on how to straight razor shave and still nto getting far enough. Both razors were pre-honed for me before they got to me, so that's not the problem. Sugestions would be great? I have several double edge shavers in the shave den so I have had to rely on those since I am unwilling to use one of those terrible cartridge razors.

This is very typical. It takes some getting used to handling the razor, then finding which way your beard grows and then how to approach it. Most of us use two passes some three passes to get the close shave. The first pass is with the grain (WTG), then the second is against the grain (ATG). The first pass reduces the beard the second finishes it off. One of the major points of shaving with a straight is to get the skin taught or supported for the whiskers to stand up and stay put while the razors cuts them. If you can position your non razor hand oppssite the direction of your razor this will help draw the skin taught. I usually recommend finding an old school barber and ask him how to shave your face. I have never met an old school barber that wouldn not show you a bunch of pointers and tips.

I KNOW your razors are sharp. Hang in there, it will come.

Takes time to get it but it is worth the effort. How is your preparation ? That can make a big difference. I wash my face with hot water twice before I lather. Sometimes I use a hot towel out of the microwave. The skin stretching and short strokes too. Here is a Wiki article I wrote on gradual stubble removal which might give you something to go with.

So what you are saying is that this is normal and I am on the right track, what I need to do is to keep up the fight and practice more and eventually I will get it right. Troubble is that I do not have all that much time in the morning getting ready for work and need to get the job done and get off, I guess the old double edge razors will have to suffice for that job where as I need to save the straights for when I have more time to practice with the blade.

Shave at night if that is an option! You can touch up in the morning with the DE if you need to!

On most nights that is an option, I love the idea of working with my two straights and getting an excellent shave out of them. They I will have something valuable to teach my four year old when the time comes in another ten years. His mother and his grandparents already think I am nuts, but I have never been one to mind them on this sort of thing. And the Mrs loves the results so she is a little hardpressed to argue with how I get those results.

i think i may have been in the same situation you are in at one point (as have most of us i believe) and for me the thing that really made the difference was paying more attention to the angle of the blade. there is a sweet spot and it is hard to describe but too much angle and it pulls and too little won't cut all the hair. for me i do a 2 pass shave and then touch ups. this is WTG, then ATG (except the upper lip) and then touch ups (sometimes even with a DE). but i think 2o big factors for someone just starting out is to really pay attention to the angle and to also realize that one pass won't get BBS so don't overdue the pressure.

but i am still learning and i have been shaving for abouta year and a half. i can get pretty good shaves but am always searching for the perfect routine. but i find that fun also.

i would say keep at it and check out all the videos on youtube to try to find the best technique for your beard. if i had a barber that would give straight shaves then i would be there in a second, but i don't.

good luck

I shave in the evenings too because I have to get out early in the morning. I much prefer to do that and take my time and take care doing it. It sounds like thats what you need to do as well. If you are having trouble the worst thing you could do is try to rush it.

Start doing it in the evenings and take particular care and attention to your preparation. Remember- hot shower to open the pores and soften the skin, Good lather, correctly stropped razor, pull the skin tight in a direction away from the way you are shaving. When you are done, rinse with hot water to cleanse the pores and then cold water to close them. Towel dry and moisturize.

Recipe for a great shave.



(did I miss anything?)

I have only shaved a few times now, but I get more comfortable with each time and am definitely getting a better shave than with mach 3. I can tell a huge difference with the razor angle from one pass to the next, but I think the thing that makes the most difference (for me) is how smooth my stroke is. If I try to go too slow or force the blade to cut with "brute force" I not only get a poor shave, but it doesn't feel right. If I use a light, smooth stroke and let the wonderfully sharp razor do the work it is totally the opposite. You can just tell when you get a good stroke, like hitting the sweet spot on a baseball bat or golf club. It feels effortless. That is what I try to reproduce with each stroke.

It takes practice, do so when your not in hurry. Practice at night when you have time and can concentrate. You try to rush with a straight razor and you'll have scars for life. If your in a hurry in the morning getting ready for work, use the DE.
I work 330pm - 1200am, which is great for me, I don't set an alarm and I have lots of time. I look forward to shaving everyday, like a little kid or something. I have quite a collection of razors, soaps, creams, etc..so it's fun. Make sure your prep is good, shower first if you can, or use the hot towel. I do 3 passes to get BBS. I have a heavy beard. If you can work some extra time in the morning that would be good. 5, 10 minutes tops should be more than enough....