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.