Thread: Owww!, %$*!@ Razor!

Well I guess my stropping is improving, because I had my first shave today with some cuts! so my razor must be getting sharper!

{ I thought I'd give an update on my progress. I shaved once more without stropping, it went okay, I managed to go XTG on the the cheeks.
Then my strop arrived, I was due for a shave, so I didn't spend a lot of time working on my stropping technique. I had another whack at my face with the Lockwood and it wen't pretty good, I could notice a difference in the sharpness of the blade, got no razor burn or nicks.. so I started thinking I would pick up on straight shaving fairly quick, as I was having good shaves. Far from perfect or BBS but decent for a newbie, and with no razor burn or cuts, I was quite happy with my progress!

...Then I really went to town practicing my stropping, spent a couple nights on it, played the proper sound on repeat while stropping to try and match it, worked slow and built up my muscle memory... and it was time to shave... so I gave it a whirl...}

Well I went for an XTG pass and I must of bunched up my skin just at the edge of my side burn, because I managed to nicely dig the point of my razor in the skin... that left a nice cut, not sure if it will be permanent yet...

Got another good one on my chin, not a cut, more like I poked myself with the point....

Well, after reading all your tips and stories about people getting cuts, I managed to throw that out the window and try it for myself I couldn't resist!

..ohh and even after all that it still beats shaving with the fusion!


/End Rant


Lesson Learned: Go slow and be careful, the thing is sharp Thought I would mention that just in case someone else can learn from other peoples mistakes... I can't

Easy done, isn't it?

For me, at least, it just makes me want to get it right even more.

I think you do pick it up quite quickly, you can get pretty decent results quite quickly, it takes time to develop efficiency and consistancy, but you don't really have to put in any extra effort for those, just time.

Ouch, digging the end in sounds painful! Do you find yourself shaving a lot faster now? Well done for getting the stropping down, thats what I'm currently tackling.

In general, I find that cuts are a result of a razor that
isn't sharp enough, not the other way around. This is
due to the razor not slicing the hairs, but being directed
into the skin.

From the description of your cuts, however, it doesn't
sound like this is the case.



- Scott

Originally Posted by gregs656

it just makes me want to get it right even more.

+1 on the fact that it makes you want to get it right even more, I can't wait till I get enough growth to try again, each time I learn something new I can't do a passable job on my neck, but it's getting there.

Originally Posted by MisterZadir

Ouch, digging the end in sounds painful! Do you find yourself shaving a lot faster now? Well done for getting the stropping down, thats what I'm currently tackling.

Im not sure about any faster... this was only my 3rd or 4th shave, so I'm not too worried about going fast, If anything maybe I was a bit fast on this shave and that resulted in a bit of sloppiness. On average, it takes me about 30- 40 mins to go though the whole process

Originally Posted by sebell

In general, I find that cuts are a result of a razor that
isn't sharp enough, not the other way around. This is
due to the razor not slicing the hairs, but being directed
into the skin.

From the description of your cuts, however, it doesn't
sound like this is the case.



- Scott

Thanks, I'm still working on getting the razor to pass the HHT but it will semi-break the hair... It doesn't pop as it should though.. so I think that means I have some stropping technique to improve and then it should be able to pass the HHT ??

Originally Posted by Bivouhac

Thanks, I'm still working on getting the razor to pass the HHT but it will semi-break the hair... It doesn't pop as it should though.. so I think that means I have some stropping technique to improve and then it should be able to pass the HHT ??

You'll know it's sharp enough when you get a good shave without any irritation, and without having to use any pressure (assuming your technique isn't a problem). I've used razors that didn't pass HHT that gave shaves just as good as my razors that do pass HHT.

Originally Posted by Del1r1um

You'll know it's sharp enough when you get a good shave without any irritation, and without having to use any pressure (assuming your technique isn't a problem). I've used razors that didn't pass HHT that gave shaves just as good as my razors that do pass HHT.

I don't trust the HHT. Shave test and tpt are all I use. TPT before the shave test.

Yeh, I have read various things on the HHT (I know results vary based on types of hair and everything else, so results can be skeptical at best) I've never had any irritation or razor burn with the razor yet so thats been good, nothing compared to what a cartridge razor would give me....

I still finish my neck off with my fusion though so I suspect thats the culprit for the little bit of razor burn on my neck since it has always given me a full on rash of razor burn that hurt for days. I'm still working on getting the right angle on my neck, It's tricky.

I haven't gotten the feel for the TPT, I find it all feels so similar and there is little difference, but it doesn't give the feeling of wanting to dig in, it slides across my thumb pad I get a tingling feeling. I will start taking more notice of the feeling with the TPT before I shave, after shaving and after stropping.. maybe I will notice more of a difference then.
When it says moistened thumb pad, does that mean wrinkly after soaking your thumb for a few mins or just wet/damp?

Give your thumb a lick and go at it, be careful!

Originally Posted by Leighton

I don't trust the HHT. Shave test and tpt are all I use. TPT before the shave test.

Some of you may have also noticed as I have that with the tpt you can actualy feel how smooth the razor is going to be. If it instantly bites and feels smooth with no roughness then your in for a nice shave. I actualy use my other finger tips because I can see them and feel the razor better. But everyone has there own way.