Thread: Is it too difficult?

Here is something I posted on another forum in response to someone that felt that straight shaving was difficult, perhaps too difficult to bother with:

I thought you guys might like it, since we've almost all been there.

I would theorize that the process is actually pretty easy. Suprisingly so. The big problem is that we're all stuck decribing the process in text and video and tactile feel is probably essential.

Honing is something that you shouldn't worry about because you'll probably never buy a used razor off ebay. You should get a "shave-ready" or honed razor from somewhere and then all you're doing is "updating" the edge. Its simple. Easy. 6-10 light strokes on a barber hone, 8K stone, .5 paste; or perhaps 20 passes on a 12K stone. No pressure, light even strokes, equal on both sides and your done for a few months. This assumes that the blade was not honed with tape.

Stropping requires simply holding the strop out tight enough that it doesn't sag and not using too much pressure. Follow any stropping you do with a few very, very light passes. About 30 passes with a touch of pressure to draw out the edge, followed by a few passes that are extrememly light to polish the drawn out edge. You must use that order for the process.

I find the maintenence of my straight razor MUCH easier than trying to order blades off the internet for a DE.

The big, big, problem that beginners have is that they are afraid of damaging the edge, or they actually do damage the edge because they don't know what they are doing. Damage is usually simply dulling the edge a little. That's it. Just a little dulling and with a simple barber hone its easily correctible. All you have to do is think about geometry. Don't dull the edge with any cross oriented honing or stropping, nor dull the edge with any shaving at angles greater than 30 degrees. Once you stop dulling it, your golden. From there if things aren't working out then you sharpen the blade with the hone, and smooth it out with the strop. But you must get to the point where your comfortable trying to sharpen it. If you think you've overhoned it just do some circular strokes and start over in a smooth x pattern.

In case I'm not being clear . . . the average beginner is spending most of his time incorrectly using or maintaining his blade and dulling it slightly; often. This leads to frustration, which leads to lots of frustrated sounding initial threads posted on here.

The key is to never try and shave with it until you've tested the edge with your thumb pad. Wet your thumb pad for 30 seconds and then lightly touch your thumb pad down on the edge. The skin should break. Its that simple. Don't move your thumb at all, just downward movement, very light touch. If the skin doesn't break, its not sharp enough to cut a whisker. Your close, but not close enough. Shaving at the point prior can be accomplished but will lead to bad habits like using too much pressure.

Then on to shaving which is just a matter of going slow, being patient and being deliberate without using pressure (which if you follow all the above advice you should be able to achieve).

In Summary:
- Learn to update a blade; trust the spine geometry and use light strokes on a high grit stone and keep at it
- Learn to strop correctly; and continue to do so until it passes a thumb pad test or test shaves very easily
- Don't keep dulling it and trying to shave
- Dont' be afraid to try and improve it, you won't mess it up unless you fail to keep it flat or use a knife hone instead of a razor hone. Paste will work on a flat surface too.
- Shave slowly and deliberately.

Your post (probably because of the context) mostly refer to maintenance of the straight rather than "straight shaving" itself ans I agree completely. you can see it in the amount of threads in each of the categories here at SRP, a lot of people are more concerned with the sharpness of their razors than anything else. This can become an obsession for some. The problem is maximized when you are a newbie because you do not know the reason why you are obtaining less than satisfactory results. This obsession reminds me of fishing: very often, fishermen and women are more concerned with their rods and reels than other aspects of fishing that are equally or more important... And just like you said, this often leads to frustration. People, especially new users, should focus on comfort rather than closeness and devote more attention to other areas of shaving than the razor itself.

When I tell people about the benefits of straight razor shaving, the most common reaction I get is something like: "what if I cut my throat?" I am sure that this has to do with the fact that you were posting in a wet shaving forum. A few people find shaving with a straight too labor intensive to even try, or focus on the initial cost of the equipment, rather than "potential" long term rewards. I use the word "potential" because the vast majority of people that post here, including myself, do end up spending more money than it is "required" (whatever makes people happy). This is another obsession that seem to make people turn to Ebay as a quick fix, one that rarely works.... ;-) I have found is that straight razor shaving does not save me time, effort or money, but it makes me incredibly happy. This is why I do it ;-).

Al raz.

Nice post. Lot of good stuff in there.

Great post Alan...

I think you're right. As for myself, I'm more afraid of damaging myself, than the razor!

I had a question about this post. You mention shaving at an angle higher than 30 Degrees can dull the blade on the razor. This confuses me because I have seen videos on SRP That shavers use a very high angle on their ATG pass. Like in XMAN's video. I just started doing this also, since I Thought it was okay, and I get a closer shave with a more aggressive blade angle. Should I Stop doing this ASAP?

Originally Posted by Disburden

I had a question about this post. You mention shaving at an angle higher than 30 Degrees can dull the blade on the razor. This confuses me because I have seen videos on SRP That shavers use a very high angle on their ATG pass. Like in XMAN's video. I just started doing this also, since I Thought it was okay, and I get a closer shave with a more aggressive blade angle. Should I Stop doing this ASAP?

In my understanding of more agressive angle it is a smaller angle 10-20 degrees, but that's IMO.

I mean in seeing ATG passes on videos where the razor is near 45 degrees and scrapping upward on the neck, etc.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I mean in seeing ATG passes on videos where the razor is near 45 degrees and scrapping upward on the neck, etc.

going to look at video now thanks

I mean in seeing ATG passes on videos where the razor is near 45 degrees and scrapping upward on the neck, etc.


Edit: site was acting whacky. Didn't mean to double post.