Thread: 5th shave not as good

I have a couple questions. But first...

I have a Double Arrow that I'm starting with that was honed by Ron. First shaves were amazing!

Before shaving yesterday, I stropped it about fifty times. The shave was an
experience in dragging all the way through, even with the grain.


I've had a couple thoughts.
First was that the lather was too thick, so I thinned it out. No help. Of course then I thought I screwed up the stropping.

I don't have a thick beard, but I think it is coarse. I've got really curly, coarse hair on top of the brain holder and the same for a beard. If I had red hair, I'd look like Bozo's son.

I thought I should get more than four shaves before a tune up with a barber's hone, but I don't know.

I spent well over an hour today lapping a Carborundum barber's hone with 220 g. wet/dry paper. Man, is that stone tuff.

So, question is, how many shaves do you senior guys get before you have to tune up an edge? I realize beard tuffness is part of the equation. I've read to shave with a razor until you feel the shave isn't as good as you feel it should be, then tune up. I just thought it would be more than four.

Maybe I'm off the mark here. Any advice is appreciated.

Also, If the razor was honed taped, should the touch up also be with tape? I'm thinking yes, for bevel integrity.

Thanks,
Kev