Am I putting too much pressure on the blade?

I have shaved 3 times now. I first posted that my lather was drying out but I think that there is more to it.

How much pressure am I supposed to put on my face? I know with a DE you use only the weight of the razor, but what about a straight razor?

After last nights shave my face was hot like I was blushing and it felt like a mild sunburn. Under my chin/throat area is very irritated. I still haven't figured out a way to hold the razor and shave below my jaw line on my right side, left is ok (I'm right handed).

I feel like sometimes the blade is perpendicular to my skin and I'm just scraping then I remember to find my angle. Remember I'm a new guy

Thanks

Mark

Here is a wee bit o Glen logic :D

If you're be asking about pressure on the blade then most likely you are putting a bit to much on there.... The blade should really just glide over the skin.... You would think you would learn this after a small amount of time but after 28 years of using straights I still have to remind myself to "Back off Jack" now and then...

I guess I'm on board with the "Glen Logic"..if you have to ask the question, you probably already know the answer. Look at it this way, you can't really use too little pressure, so just keep reminding yourself to keep lightening up on the blade until you find just the right amount. For me this has a lot to do with how sharp the edge of the razor is (less pressure for sharper).

As far as the area around the right jaw line goes I think that more practice will be the best remedy for your problem. I'm right handed, as you are, and needed to get comfy with using the razor in my left hand before I really got control of my right jaw line. Using the blade inverted and shaving South to North is much easier for me if I use the hand opposite the side I am shaving. Using both hands is actually a lot easier than you might think. Just keep it simple at first, like shaving just the left side of your face with your left hand until you get the hang of it.

Definitely too much pressure I would say. You really need to remind yourself not to use pressure when using a straight. It's a lot different than a DE, which I have used also. A DE lets you know a lot more that you're using too much, a straight is a lot more subtle about it, until it's too late.

Also sounds like the angle is off a bit. Make sure to keep an eye on the Wiki which has good pics of shaving angles under advanced shaving techniques.

I have to say that I have been shaving with a str8 off and on for about a year now and the best advice and technique was demonstrated by JockeyS.

JockeyS' vids are, IMHO, the Mantic of the Str8 community.

The best advice I have found is on JimmyHAD sig. Hold the razor lightly enough that it flexes when there is too much pressure.

I also agree with Glen.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger :D I too am a right handed shaver and I went through a period of feeling awkward attacking certain areas. With practice the razor began to feel like an extension of my fingers.

As far as pressure goes, if you feel irritated following the shave then it could be too much pressure. Proper technique including prep, stretching the skin and blade angle is important in using a minimum of pressure and having the razor remove the stubble efficiently. Not falling into the trap of trying to get bbs with one pass is important too. I had a tendency to do that even though I knew better. Here is a little blurb on that.

When a new straight shaver complains that his pre-honed razor is not sharp in many cases the problem is a lack of one or all of the above.

OTOH, if the razor isn't truly shave ready and proper prep, stretching and blade angle are used the razor won't cut efficiently. Especially in the tougher areas such as the chin, jawline and around the windpipe.

It will pull and the shaver will tend to use more pressure to overcome the lack of keenness. Been there and done all that. I watched a video of a guy Rustyblade shaving with a Japanese style straight and when his blade effortlessly glided through his chin whiskers as if it was a squeegee wiping a windshield I knew I didn't have a shave ready razor.

Just food for thought. Assess your razor against your technique and you'll have to figure out if one or both is lacking. If it is the razor IME getting a honemiester to tune up a couple and using those as I learned to hone my own while improving my shaving techniques made all the difference. :gl:

I reiterate what I said here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...e-im-done.html

The most important thing is to let the razor do its work. If you feel awkward trying to reach a spot, try switching hands or a different hold.

Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki


It is important to remember that one must have the correct angle for best result. Perhaps this diagram may help:

Advanced shaving techniques for the straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki

And do not try to do too much the first few times, aim for comfort rather than closeness. As your technique develops so would the closeness. Do not worry, your shaves WILL improve.

Al raz.

+1 on Jockeys' vids. Also, it took my face more than a couple shaves just to get used to the new way of shaving. I had some bad burn until my face got used to it.

As far as pressure is concerned, I think of it like this: I'm only using enough pressure to wipe off the lather. I sort of picture straight shaving as using the blade to wipe off the lather, and so that's all the pressure I put on it, i.e. little to none. Its kinda hard to describe, but I hope that helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I watched a video of a guy Rustyblade shaving with a Japanese style straight and when his blade effortlessly glided through his chin whiskers as if it was a squeegee wiping a windshield I knew I didn't have a shave ready razor.

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Not to be flip, but what "whiskers"? It's a nice video (I love the razor), but it looks like he was already clean-shaven when he made it! Unless my poor old eyes are too dim ... .

Pressure is one aspect of this. One carry over from golf for me is the grip on the scales. I have tried to keep in mind my hands don't have near the maneuverability and suppleness needed if I am gripping too tightly...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by igitur55

Not to be flip, but what "whiskers"? It's a nice video (I love the razor), but it looks like he was already clean-shaven when he made it! Unless my poor old eyes are too dim ... .

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I agree. It's a pretty effortless shave if you're just wiping lather off your face with an edge.

+1 on Alraz.

The razor has been designed to shave and will do so very well if you let it. On my ATG pass I like to use the "Buffing Technique" Advanced shaving techniques for the straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki I use this technique daily. If you focus on the sound you will always get BBS.

I learned the importance of pressure the hard way like you. You'd think it would be evident, I mean you are holding a blade that is the standard for sharpness that all things are compared to and yet I pressed that thing on my skin like it was made of plastic. So bad, lots of redness lots of itch and irritation. It's hard to remember to keep light.

Sign me up for "Glenn Logic" too. There are other reasons that you're not getting good shaves. Perhaps you've got a wired edge. Perhaps there's some kind of bacterial issues. Try shaving with the least amount of pressure possible and see how that goes.

X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by theworldover

As far as pressure is concerned, I think of it like this: I'm only using enough pressure to wipe off the lather. I sort of picture straight shaving as using the blade to wipe off the lather, and so that's all the pressure I put on it, i.e. little to none. Its kinda hard to describe, but I hope that helps.

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totally helped

I think I might have some burn from my shave last night. Now I'm currently using a disposable blade ST8 and it's a little awkward with the disposable gripped in the wedge of the "blade". My first real ST8 is in the mail, and I keep reading little to no pressure, so now I know how go go at it :-)

Thanks
M0nk3y

I'm still new this and I found that less pressure is a good thing. Keep that blade at the 30 degree angle (you'll know it when it cuts like butter) and let the weight of the blade do the work. That's what I have learned by reading posts and so far so good. I have been trying pre-shave oil the last few shaves and found that for me it helps. I still get that sunburned feeling you mentioned and I think its because my skin is still not used to the close shave of a straight.

im going to have to say you are using too steep of an angle. if your angle is to great you will be pulling the whiskers and scraping the skin this would cause your face to be red more than the pressure re-attack with a milder blade angle and re-wet your face as needed :gl: