Thread: Newb Question

Hello Everyone,


Having a spot of trouble with my Straight Razor shave.
I have attempted shaving with 2 shave ready razors and have not been impressed so far.
WTG does not remove any beard XTG drags heavily ATG forget about it.


The first razor I didn't check for sharpness and can't seem to get the hang of stropping yet
The second I did a hanging hair check that it did pass but the results were the same.


I have been shaving with a DE with no problems at all no mater what direction I shave other than a slight burn from over doing ATG.


I guess my first question would be,
A straight razor should be at the very least as sharp as a DE if not even sharper correct?


Thanks,
Zack

It could be any number of things but I guess I'll ask first, what have you done to learn how to shave with a straight? The fact that your razor can pass the HHT means that you should be getting at least some whisker removal, suggesting that your technique, and not your razor, is at fault.

Originally Posted by Utopian

It could be any number of things but I guess I'll ask first, what have you done to learn how to shave with a straight? The fact that your razor can pass the HHT means that you should be getting at least some whisker removal, suggesting that your technique, and not your razor, is at fault.

I have watched many youtube videos and read instructions on how to shave / strop with a SR.


I would agree that it is likely a technique issue or my expectations are not realistic.


That is why I asked if the SR should be at least as sharp as a DE.

I'm not sure how it compares in terms of sharpness, but I think the whole point here is that the level of sharpness isn't the issue.

A straight edge razor, properly honed, stopped and used, will give you a cleaner, closer shave than a DE, and do it will less irritation.

It takes most people a while to get there, but that's the goal.

Welcome, Zack. There's a steep learning curve for str8s. How's your prep? Shower before shaving? Hot towel? Stropping? I do 40 - 50 laps on the linen and 50 - 60 on the leather. Blade angle should be 30 degrees or less. Have you mapped your face, i.e., do you know the grain pattern of your beard? How is your stretching?

When I shave WTG and XTG, my cheeks still feel rather gruffy. Those passes do cut whiskers because I see them when I wipe off my blade. Do you see whiskers in the lather you wipe from your blade?

Str8s require many more skills than DEs or carts, but, once learned, a str8 gives a closer, more comfortable shave. Hang in here. It will come.

The gssixgun new official Newbie sharpness test

After doing proper prep (shower or hot towels), lather your face, strop the razor 25 linen 50 leather leaving the lather on your face while you do this.... Apply hot wet towel to face over lather AHHhhhhhhh.....
Re-lather take the razor in your dominate hand and shave from your side burn to your jawline on that side of your face, pulling the skin tight with the opposite hand... the spine of the razor should be two (2) widths from your face while you do this... One nice smooth WTG stroke....

Rinse all the lather off and feel that one spot,
smooth = sharp razor
not smooth = dull razor

The other possibility is that you are doing something fundamentally wrong that I am just not thinking of....

Thanks so much for the help guys.

I am only trying to shave after a shower and have also tried shower lather hot towel then lather again. with out much change I do half my face with the SR but keep grabbing my DE to finish my shave. The SR is making my face raw and sore.

I am using my cheeks to judge because they are the easiest to shave but have yet to be satisfied with the results.

I think I am expecting to remove to much beard at one time and maintaining my shave angle needs some work.

I will keep at it after letting my face recover a bit.
surprisingly I haven't cut my self yet but the burn is painful.

Thanks again
Zack

Zack, welcome to the playground. I assume that you are shaving with the edge of the str8 on your skin and not the spine? Sorry couldn't help it. As far as the razor burn I think that the most likely culprit is tooo much pressure. Try shaving with as little pressure as possible and when you get there try to use even less pressure. This is the pressure that the edge of the blade exerts on you face. Another possibility is your lather. I found when I went from DE to str8 that my lather consistency had to change. Dryer lather is ok for DE but wetter lather is better for str8s. I think that this has been established by many str8 users. Keep tryin, it will get better, even tho it may not seem so now.

Mark