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Hey guys- just a reminder for all of the new users here:
Don't use pressure (blade on face) while shaving!!!
It really makes all the difference. Maybe it seems like common sense but we have a habit of pressing more when the blade doesn't seem to shave as well. No pressure is key. Start with a sharp blade and good prep and the blade should just glide. If you find that you 'need' to use pressure... it's time to start troubleshooting.
I think a beginner's post along those lines in the Wiki would be appropriate. Same for stropping and honing, by the way.
Minimal pressure. There has to be some force moving the blade. juist enough pressure to hold the blade to your skin.... :tu
i think that's what the wiki entry says, just enough pressure to keep the blade in contact with the face. i don't think there's a need to clutter the wiki further with posts like this there. there has got to be another way to emphasize few important points.
Agreed, very little pressure is all it takes to scrape off those pesky whiskers. The same goes for honing. As the grit gets higher, I tend to use less and less pressure. I barely keep contact with my barbers hone compared to a good pressure on the low grits.
the barber at Truefitt and Hill told me if you need more pressure slide your finger further out on the spine, it automatically puts more pressure. don't Press with it or use force to do what it should be doing if it is sharp enough. (summary, not how it was worded).
I find I need a bit of pressure with hollows and small blades, bigger blades I sometimes find myself using a bit of negative pressure cause those bad boys want to just slide right down and mow off whatever is in there way. that's great until they get close to the stuff you want to keep. ;)
great tip for newbies Alex!
Red
I read the "no pressure" thread and in my next shave with a 8/8 120 Gotta, I remembered and followed the advise. It saved my face and I got a great shave! We or I have the tendency of being aggresive when shaving and when I get finished shaving the bathroom looks like an operating room at the local hospital. Somethime I run out of toilet paper plugging all of the cuts and nics. To experienced shavers no pressure is a matter of habit, but to newbies is a very painful lesson to learn. Let the edge be the edge and do all the shaving, all you do is guide the edge around your face. "no pressure" a good advise that I will follow in shaving. Thank you Juan.
Good reminder.
Being pretty new in shaving with straights (some 40 shaves), and during couple of last weeks I have had problems with the area below jaw line. I thought it was a problem with the razors and retouched them with hone & strop but no joy:(.
Read through this thread and immediately realized that I've been unconsciously putting more and more pressure shaving the problem area, especially during the second pass which I make ATG. This has caused poor shaves and irritation of the skin.
Today paid more attention to the pressure and kept a feather light touch throughout the shave. Result: one of the best shaves I've had :)
Cheers,
T