Beard Tugging!

Hello gentlemen.

I am new to straight razor shaving and have discovered my first problem. When I shave, it tugs at my whiskers so much. I have tried a lesser angle but it doesn't shave much off at all. If I use a steeper angle with slightly more pressure takes more off but is very uncomfortable. Shaving against the grain is nearly unbearable compared to my old Mach 3. I did hours of research before buying my first straight razor and purchased a dovo 6/8 from vintage blades honed by Lynn.

My pre-shave routine is to shower first. Then I use a shave soap to lather my beard. While that is soaking in a strop my blade using 30 on the canvas side and 50 on the leather side. I then lather again and start to shave and let the tugging begin.

I have shaved with this razor 4 times now. The first shave to this shave has been equally the same in terms of discomfort. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

My first reaction when I read the tittle of your post was: "the razor is not sharp enough". As I read the text, I realized that is not likely the issue, unless you have managed to dull your razor while stropping it. I have a couple of razors honed by Lynn and they are sharp!!!! Since you prepped your beard, and you said that you tried different angles without success, that leaves stropping as the most probably cause. Poor stropping is often culprit of poor shaves among newbies. You may want to take a look at this entry from the wiki in search for answers: Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

You may also want to consult the wiki for additional information on beard preparation, and shaving techniques (passes, angles, etc.). More importantly, you want to make sure that you can build proper lather. If your lather is too dry, you may feel that your razor gets stuck. This is the URL of the wiki:

Main Page - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Happy shaving,

Al raz.

I'm still new so I won't have as much as others to say but maybe it could be something with your stropping technique?

Well I'm not entirely sure it's the stropping considering I noticed the discomfort on the first shave. Could it be the soap I'm using? I noticed today when I shaved the soap didn't easily come off the blade under running water. I believe I remember reading somewhere that this isn't a good sign.

That's a possibility. Try adding a little more water and foaming it up a little. I've noted that my lather works best when I have it at the consistency of a very light whipped cream, like Cool Whip. Also, you may want to try a more acidic soap or a pre-shave oil. There's plenty of pre-shave creams and oils to use, depending on your scent preference. As far as an acidic soap, my step-mother bought me a shave cream by C.O. Bigelow. It's sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond and it made from/by/around Proraso. It's a Eucalyptus-based cream and is really acidic on my beard and softens my face very well before shaving.

I'd make sure you didn't roll the edge from improper stropping, either. Does it pass the thumb-nail test?

I can think of several things that might be an issue. It could be one, or any of the following:

1) The razor is not stropped to a keen edge. It may be honed and sharp, but not keen enough (determine this with the wet thumb pad only).

2) Try adding a steam towel (or just a plain washcloth soaked in hot water then wrung out) to your lathered face (rub the lather into your beard with your fingers) for a minute or two (if you can hold your head back that long), remove the cloth and lather, then lather again.

3) Make sure your lather is properly hydrated. Slightly, but not too stiff a lather.

4) Use multiple short point leading gliding strokes while stretching the skin (see illustration attached below showing 1-2-3 separate, short strokes). Don't try long, scraping strokes.

Attachment 24674

5) Use just enough pressure against the skin to slightly indent.

6) Try wetting the blade with warm water while shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by honedright

2) Try adding a steam towel (or just a plain washcloth soaked in hot water then wrung out) to your lathered face (rub the lather into your beard with your fingers) for a minute or two (if you can hold your head back that long), remove the cloth and lather, then lather again.

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+1 on this! My shaves began getting SO much better after I added a hot towel to the mix. As lynn says in his dvd, don't worry about it being too hot in your hands. Your face can handle alot more heat than your hands can. Also, it makes my face feel great when I open my pores at the end and splash some bay rum on 'em.

A truly sharp razor imho leaves very few details to be resolved via prep and technique.

I heard Lynn was a honing machine, I think he may just be a regular man. Possible to make a mistake.

Usually the newbie withholds some of the truth; it's normal.

If you have dulled the edge via a not so perfect stropping angle you may have broken the microscopic fin of the edge that allows the blade to hold such a good edge, My advice either buy a finishing hone or ask some one to do it for you and start again.
We seem to forget that these edges are very fragile and dont hold out to much abuse as you would with a kithcen knife.

I to started with a blade that i thought was sharp, well it was by the normal range of knives etc but it pulled and pulled and i ended up like a baboons bottom!

Then i honed it and honed it now its a pleasure.

Hope this helps

Seems like an appropriate time to bring this out again:

Strop your razor 30-50 strokes and then practice for a few days just shaving from one sideburn down to the jaw on that side of your face. The angle should be 30 degrees or less. Get the feel of the razor and it's cutting angle. Get used to very little pressure on the razor. As you become comfortable add the cheek on the same side of the face for a couple days. If comfy with that side, do the same on the other side of the face and practice with your non-dominant hand. Sideburn to jaw and then cheek. If you are feeling pretty good after a week or so, then do a with the grain stroke on both sides of the neck. Now to the chin. The chin shape for some reason naturally flattens out the angle of your razor. Make sure you keep the 30 degrees or less. Take on the chin over a couple days starting under the lip then the sides of the chin and then the chin itself. Remember, light touch. I usually only shave with the grain on the chin, but you can go cross grain once you have the hang of it. Mustache the same. Last, you can try across the grain on both sides of the face and against the grain on the neck and under the chin. Don't be in a hurry.

Depending on your face shape, you may find advantages in stretching the skin around on your face and neck. Watch some of the shaving videos in the forum.

Remember to to make sure you are doing good prep work on the beard and have a really nice lather.

The couple weeks you spend learning here will be lessons that will last a lifetime.

The 6/8 Dovo is usually a very nice shave and was tested before going out. That said, I am always happy to re-hone one on me if you would like to send it back.

Have fun,

Lynn

Sickonblues, I am only a few steps ahead of you ....SR shaving since Feb. And like you, I had problems with tugging at certain spots. I like Lynn's advice as it will strengthen your technique and as importantly, build your confidence. For many reasons that may or may not defy articulation, having razor time is important....even if it only involves an easy pass over your cheeks. With some time under your belt, those tough spots will ultimately melt away (forgive the prose guys!)

Also, I never thought my technique was in question, yet I now get little or no tug when using those same blades that tugged...over the same spots. Time devlopes your technique as much as anything. Keep going.

Other than "technique" the other suggestions I received re the same problem had to do with stropping. I had trouble believing it would make significant difference to a professionally honed blade. But, so many members said otherwise...I took their advice. Glad I did.

Bet you'll soon tell us you've pushed beyond this station in your shaving experience.

Best......Jim

What a difference a day.... or two makes! After reading through all of your posts and trying out the different pieces of advice I must say, today was my best shave yet!!! I am so thrilled I can't hardly express it at the moment! I thank each and every one of you for your posts. It's amazing how many people are out there that are in to straight razor shaving.

Here is what I have learned so far since my last post. Maybe it will help somebody else down the road.

Beard preparation truely is key, especially if you have a heavy beard. I have been showering beforehand and still using a hot towel afterword.

Shaving creams/soaps truely make a huge difference. This was one of my biggest hangups. I have a really cheap bar of soap I have been using and while it was a fine soap for my mach 3 it doesn't give the lather you need for a straight razor.

The most beneficial thing for me that I've learned is onlly to lather half of my face at a time. I found that I was nicking one side of my face much more often than the other side. I thought this was due to not be as comfortable shaving on that side, and while that is partly the case, I also found that my lather was drying up too much before I got there. Until I become quicker at my shaving I will be only lathering half my face at a time.

Finally, if you have a heavy beard like me, it is crucial your first pass is taken with shorter strokes. Otherwise you will have an incredible amount of tugging. The second pass and beyond, you should be able to make longer and longer strokes.


Again, thank you for your kind words and support. I look forward to sharing more of my shaving successes here with this great community and look forward to reading yours!

Isn't it great when shaving can tickle you much!!!! When I was a mountain climber we used to say that the goal was not reaching the summit but enjoying every step of the way. Aint it the truth!

Best all