Hitting a wall....

Uggh... This is going to be mostly venting..so umm yeah.

I have been straight shaving for 3 weeks now and my shaves actually seem to be getting worse. I do not think my technique is worse though....

I got my self on my chin this morning, but it was more just me not paying attention to the weird fold i get in the center of my chin.

I just shaved about 15 minutes ago though because i'm going out for dinner tonight and i actually got a few small nics and i can feel razor burn.

This is the first time i have ever had razor burn with the straight.

I noticed some leather had accumulated some on the spin of the razor after stropping 100 times today... this is a new one for me.

I'm starting to wonder if i need to send the razor out to be honed again due to improper stropping early on.

Going to go scan the classifieds for a cheap shave ready to compare against :)

Sorry to throw yet another newb rant out there...i feel better though :)

Speaking from my own shaving experience my technique continued to improve well past three weeks. At three weeks of straight shaving I had only just been using the straight by itself to complete the shave. I would venture to say that at just over a year my technique is still improving. I'm not "there" yet.

I have noticed that when a razor that was shaving smoothly begins to become harsh a touch up is in order. I think getting a second razor in shave ready condition is a good idea. You might also pick up some Chrom Ox from ChrisL in the classifieds. That and some balsa and you might possibly smooth that edge out. There is a thread on chrom ox and balsa recently.

first thing that came to mind was that you weren't stropping enough (as that was my problem a while back) but 100 laps should be lots so it may be the stropping technique. i'm no expert but i have never had leather accumulate on the spine from my strop. have you used anything on the strop? you shouldn't need to and if anything a very small bit of neat foot oil and some good palm rubbing is it.

getting another shave ready razor is a great idea, you have something to compare to plus you have a great excuse to buy another razor.

another variable is what are you using for cream? i have found that my skin is sensitive and it does make a big difference. now if you haven't changed this since the beginning then it obviously won't apply.

I think that you are experiencing something rather common. Many people report that their shaves worsen somehow after they start shaving with the straight. Besides overconfidence and the fact that you may have exfoliated your skin some in the previous shaves making it a bit more sensitive, most of these problems have their root in the stropping technique. From your comment: "I noticed some leather had accumulated some on the spin of the razor after stropping 100 times today...", I gather that stropping may be part of the problem. There is a very good thread going on the subject (see link below). Perhaps monitoring your stropping technique, may lead to better shaves:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ustration.html

In addition to the links that I included in my post in that thread, I will suggest checking out the stropping videos in the general section or watching Lynn's dvd. The wiki also has a section on stropping, here is one:

Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Theory of stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Tthe chin is very hard, even for experienced people. Try to go in steps and not set your expectations too high initially, there are a lot of threads about "incremental" shaving ;-). This is: tart in your cheeks, using only one pass with the grain with short strokes, and when you develop confidence, extend the area and do more passes. Also, pay attention to the angle you are using, it is very hard to change it a bit and change the entire shaving dynamics. Good luck and definitely let us know how it goes.

Al raz.

when you strop are your balde AND spine touching the strop? and are you rolling the razor on its spine ? imprpoer angle while stropping can dull your edge in a hurry :gl:

I've only had leather on my spine once and that was when I dinged my Dorko..I had to take a very carefull look at the edge to notice the reflection was a bit different.

Getting a second razor is always a good idea.. maybe even a third, fourth or more... I've got six now:D

Good luck!

Thanks everyone.

Yeah, this is the first time i have had leather build up on the spine. i dont know if i was applying pressure or what.

as lather goes... I usually use either Tabac soap or Proraso cream, sometimes both.

I usually do 60 laps on the leather, but i have been doing extra because the blade just has not felt as sharp to me.

Slartibartfast, you're futher along than me so I can't speak so much about technique. However, I dinged my Wapi the 2nd time and had to return it for a touch up. It was then I found the vaule in a second blade. I picked up a cheap sahve ready Double Arrow from KenRup. Its not as smooth as my Wapi was, but it works just fine while my other one is getting a tune up. So, I've learned early on that back-up is a good idea.

Let us know how it goes...I want to learn as much as I can from others on this road.

+1 for stropping technique. Its very important. I found after about a month in I was getting razor burn, where before I didn't. It seems to be pretty common. So I made sure I was paying very close attention to my stropping technique, and I noticed an improvement on my shaves immediately.

Thanks again everyone. Going to try and hit up radioshack after work and grab one of the $12 microscopes to get up close and personal with the straight.


/I have read that these are starting to dissapear from the shack? anyone(other than online) sell them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Thanks again everyone. Going to try and hit up radioshack after work and grab one of the $12 microscopes to get up close and personal with the straight.


/I have read that these are starting to dissapear from the shack? anyone(other than online) sell them?

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Just ordered a razor from the classifieds : "Barber's Pet",N 421, Simmons HDWE.Co., USA. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Tried looking at my current razor under the microscope, wasnt sure what i was seeing.

I did a little bit of stropping earlier to night and ended up with tiny specks of leather on the blade, not on the edge though.

This is something I have never looked for.

But I have sanded the face of a strop and noticed the dust doesn't just wipe away; any chance it is something like that? If not, then any changes in appearance of the strop's face?

I wouldn't sweat the leather fragments on the blade, if they show on the edge you have a problem though: It could be signs of nicks or a rolled edge.

I have a Simmons Hardware razor (only one!!:eek:) and it shaves like a sonofabitch, so you should have a good point of reference, assuming it's honed/stropped properly.

I too have had the same frustrations, Slart. I've also noticed the tiny sprinkles on the spine, even as I've tried to slow down and take more care with my stropping - keeping the spine on & taking it slow, etc. as Raz pointed out in the other post. Could this be part of the "breaking in" of a new strop?

Like you I'm still so green - about 2 wks in - and at this point I'm also having good days & bad. Hard to tell if I'm even developing "my own" technique tey as I'm still trying to figure out the best XTG & ATG cuts.

I also find that three passes & shaving too often (with all the soaping & washing) is really drying my face out. I think I'm going to just shoot for every other day until my skin (and hopefully my technique) catches up. Martin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Just ordered a razor from the classifieds : "Barber's Pet",N 421, Simmons HDWE.Co., USA. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Tried looking at my current razor under the microscope, wasnt sure what i was seeing.

I did a little bit of stropping earlier to night and ended up with tiny specks of leather on the blade, not on the edge though.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Czechmart

I too have had the same frustrations, Slart. I've also noticed the tiny sprinkles on the spine, even as I've tried to slow down and take more care with my stropping - keeping the spine on & taking it slow, etc. as Raz pointed out in the other post. Could this be part of the "breaking in" of a new strop?

Like you I'm still so green - about 2 wks in - and at this point I'm also having good days & bad. Hard to tell if I'm even developing "my own" technique tey as I'm still trying to figure out the best XTG & ATG cuts.

I also find that three passes & shaving too often (with all the soaping & washing) is really drying my face out. I think I'm going to just shoot for every other day until my skin (and hopefully my technique) catches up. Martin

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I use non-alcohol thayers witch hazel followed by either Nivea ASB or Bigelow blue ASB. Sometimes i will even follow that up with lotion(only one kind of lotion i can use on my face).

Can anyone reccommend any other razors that are good? This razor is going to take a little time to get to my doorstep and i'm too impatient to wait that long :) Current razor is out of action for a while

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Can anyone reccommend any other razors that are good? This razor is going to take a little time to get to my doorstep and i'm too impatient to wait that long :) Current razor is out of action for a while

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Look through the razor clubs section for a few great makers.

Pretty much anything made in the US will be good, as will most blades from Sheffield or Solingen... or France... or Sweden. :hmmm:

I sometimes get a buildup of oil from the strop on the spine. Are you sure that isn't what you are seeing? Just a thought.:shrug: