Thread: Not Close Enough

I'm on shave #... about 10. Each shave has gotten progressively better. I think my stopping technique has improved thus keeping my razor nice and sharp. I've even gotten to where I don't have any razor burn after the shave. All that being said....

My shave is not nearly as close as I get with a multi-blade razor. While shaving I do not feel any pulling but all the hair does not get removed. Any ideas?

Thanks

Did you end up sharpening the razors yourself?

Do you go ATG? Or do you only do a WTG pass?

I cannot get a close shave without going ATG, as my whiskers like to lay flat like enemy commandoes sneaking up underneath barbed wire.

Aside from a sharp razor, beard prep with a properly prepared lather is highly important for a good close shave. A hot towel from the microwave (or hot tap water) will help if you have the time. You must sufficiently hydrate the hairs for a clean shave.

Also shaving technique is a big factor. Short diagonal strokes (guillotine style) as opposed to long strokes where the edge meets the hairs dead-on will help as well.

Many other factors are involved, but the above is a good start.


Scott

PS - One other thought: don't set your expectations too high. At least not in the beginning. That BBS shave is possible but it takes practice. I don't always go for that smooth-in-all directions shave. I think that is a little too obsessive. And often times more damage is done than worthwhile in the process. As long as it looks good, and feels good, that's usually good enough.

I have been shaving with a straight blade since July. The blade's sharpness, your prep and your technique all have an equal amount of importance.

Who honed your razor? I wouldn't do it myself yet, so I contacted someone on the site to hone it for me. nun2sharp did a GREAT job on my razor.

What steps do you take to prep to shave? I recommend a hot shower as the steam will soften your beard.

As far as technique.... I am still playing around with ideas. I recommend going WTG, XTG then ATG. I lather my chin area for another pass going inwards, the two stopping points would meet in the middle of my chin. I relather the chin for one more pass, going the opposite way; away from the center of the chin. Again, it is all trial and error.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Do you go ATG? Or do you only do a WTG pass?

I cannot get a close shave without going ATG, as my whiskers like to lay flat like enemy commandoes sneaking up underneath barbed wire.

Ha, you an the picture just described a fairly small portion of my right cheek just past my chin; the whiskers there lay so utterly flat against my cheek that no amount of prep or scrubbing with a lathered brush even come close to lifting them anywhere. To top it off, they grow horizontally toward my right ear. The only way I can get a smooth shave there is very carefully go ATG toward my chin. Even the sharpest razor resists there.

With a feather light touch and very short well lubricated strokes I can get the area almost BBS; Micro-stubble is still viewable in that area no matter what.

Here's my point; with a multi blade cartridge razor or an electric, getting the same closeness in that area results in hamburger like carnage and ingrown hair disaster. Another reason straights are superior to any other shaving method for my face.

Chris L

There is a lot more to shaving than just having a sharp razor. Make sure that other aspects are taken care of: proper reparation, angles, consistency of the lather, etc...

Al raz.

Shower (at the end of the shower I apply conditioner to my face)
Hot Towel
Pre-shave oil
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave WTG
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave ATG

I shave with a DOVO Bismark 6/8 pre-sharped from Classic Shaving. I purchased the starter kit from Art of Shaving which included: Cream, Pre-Shave Oil, Brush and Aftershave Balm.

Originally Posted by jessew35

Shower (at the end of the shower I apply conditioner to my face)
Hot Towel
Pre-shave oil
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave WTG
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave ATG

How long does it take you to shave?!

Originally Posted by jessew35

Shower (at the end of the shower I apply conditioner to my face)
Hot Towel
Pre-shave oil
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave WTG
Hot Towel
Warm Lather
Shave ATG

I shave with a DOVO Bismark 6/8 pre-sharped from Classic Shaving. I purchased the starter kit from Art of Shaving which included: Cream, Pre-Shave Oil, Brush and Aftershave Balm.

Thats about five more hot towels than I give myself if I'm going to be shaving straight after my shower.

In my experience, pre-shave oil can also interfere with proper stretching keeping a shave from being as close as possible, but I can't imaging there is any left two hot towels later. I also think the oil can act against the lather kind of matting the hairs down rather than helping them stand straight.

The only other thing I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned is the brand and type of soap. I have some soaps that allow me a closer shave than others. Some seem to provide so much cushion that they don't allow me to get as close as I know I can with other types of lather.