Thread: OMG! MY FACE IS ON FIRE!!!

Originally Posted by summerj

How do you tell if the edge is messed up?

You could tell by looking under magnification but you need to know what a good edge looks like for comparison.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Sounds like you need to read a post called "Stop" and another that says read this before shaving...........

Indeed!

• First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki
• Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Regards,
Robin

Originally Posted by summerj

How do you tell if the edge is messed up?

If the blade is shave worthy, it should be able to shave arm hair with the razor floating just above the skin (not touching the arm). You should hear "pinging" and see some hair falling onto the blade. If the blade can do this just a little bit (but along all parts of the edge), it should be fine for shaving. Otherwise, you probably rolled the edge with improper stropping technique.


-Chief

Didn't notice in any posts, but was the razor professionally honed to start with? Good luck with future shaves but don't give up.

Thanks for everyone's help. I am currently letting my face rest. I will try my hand again after a friend's wedding next weekend. That will give me lots of time to watch some videos, check that I haven't damaged the razor stropping and look into all the suggestions.

I will try again and let you know how it goes!

Originally Posted by paco

Didn't notice in any posts, but was the razor professionally honed to start with? Good luck with future shaves but don't give up.

Yes, I purchased a basic set from Straight Razor Designs which comes honed from someone I think knows what they are doing.

I might see if I can find a barber in town to take a look at the blade for me and see if they can watch what I am doing wrong.

Originally Posted by summerj

Yes, I purchased a basic set from Straight Razor Designs which comes honed from someone I think knows what they are doing.

I might see if I can find a barber in town to take a look at the blade for me and see if they can watch what I am doing wrong.

Dude,

Do yourself a favor and check out the links that BeBerlin gave you above. If you just take it a little at a time and learn the right angle and feel of the razor, you will do fine. There is no reason to tear up your entire face. If you are willing to put a little time into learning to use the straight razor and work into a full shave after a few days, you can start to really enjoy this sport. It is doubtful that your razor has dulled unless you are rolling it up at the end of the stroke when stropping or rolling the razor over on the edge when changing directions when stropping.

Lynn

+1 on Lynn, goes without say lol.

I'm gonna just add from experience. Like Lynn says, figure it out. Here's what I did. Spend an hour looking at the mirror and holding the razor near my face at teh right angle, making strokes in the air. Then, with purpose, put it on your face and let it glide. If you hesitate you'll nick yourself. Go slow, but confidently, and if you feel it catch or nick, stop and lift the blade. If the pass felt scrape-y you're probably too upright (too close to 90 deg). If you missed hair or the blade floated you're probably too close to flat. But the other guys know more than me so. The way I learned is slow purposeful strokes to build muscles memory. The speed will come. The razor doesn't care how fast you shave, so just take it slow and work it out. "The more I practice the luckier I get"- Gary Player, Golf Legend.

+1 to khaos.

I find that if I get razor burn, or weepers, from my str8ee, I have been using to much of an angle. I am getting to the point where I can tell I am going to have burn while shaving, so I adjust my angle and continue.
Generally, if I end up with burn, I can tell because it will pull funny, and I will get a nick or a cut, unrelated to the condition of the blade.

Hang in there don"t give up, I too am a newbie that has been shaving now for a couple of months. What I've learned is that straight shaving is not just one skill to learn. Correct stropping is important ( I know you should see the nicks in my strop) Incorrect stropping will dull your razor which will cause razor burn and pulling with a dull razor. Making the right lather is important and finally shaving the correct way is important. There are a lot of videos in the wiki that show the right way or just get Lynn's dvd. I'm not a pro yet, but each time a shave it gets better and better. Listen to old guys they have a lot of good sugestions. Let your face heal and don't give up, it's worth it.

manonengine