Thread: Skin rest and edge finish

I have to agree its a technique issue. You just have to figure out the right angle and the correct direction of strokes and number. I don't think you can tailor an edge to a skin type. The edge should be as sharp as practical and the differences between using a coticule or escher or another stone are not large enough to cause or ameliorate skin issues. My opinion of course.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I have to agree its a technique issue. You just have to figure out the right angle and the correct direction of strokes and number. I don't think you can tailor an edge to a skin type. The edge should be as sharp as practical and the differences between using a coticule or escher or another stone are not large enough to cause or ameliorate skin issues. My opinion of course.

No doubt the sharper the edge the better, but if it is the roughness of the bevel that contributes to skin irritation, then it would be a reasonable hypothesis that a blade honed with a coticule would reduce skin irritation (due to the "sandblast" effect of rolling garnets vs. a fixed scratch pattern). Need somebody with skin irritation to take Bart or I up on our offer to hone 'em to find out...

-Chief

Just IMHO, the reason the old barbers I knew in north NJ 25 years ago all sharpened their razors on Belgian coticules was because of that forgiving edge. OTOH, I don't know what else was available to them for honing razors in the way of synthetics at that time. Also I'm talking a half dozen or so men. There may have been many others that used an alternative but those guys swore by the Belgian 'soap' stone.

You know, the only real way to test this is with a double blind study with a decent N. Bart, what if we modified your "honing experiment" proposal a bit-- if we can get 20 people with skin irritation problems to agree to be test subjects, then...

We find 3 idential razors, Bart hones one with a coticule, and two other honemeisters with synthetic + paste. All three honemeisters send their razors to a third party (the scorekeeper), who then lables them ABC randomly, and ships them to three test subject on the list.

The test subjects shaves with their razors for a week, notes their irritation level, then sends the razors back to the third party, who will keep track of the results, randomizes the razors, and sends them back to the 3 honemeisters, and the process continues.

This could take awhile, but would provide pretty solid data on this point...

Those that are interested in the experiment in any way could cough up some $$ for the 3 honemeisters and the scorekeeper to offset their shipping fees...

If we could get more honemeisters to volunteer, that would further reduce honing skill bias (the "scorekeeper" could coordinate who hones during the experiment).

Any interest? I would volunteer for the scorekeeper/coordinator role.

-Chief

i think it's a worthy experiment hope you get some volunteers,i would imagine you would have to have all the included pre shave prep and post shave etc...info as well from the individuals,hope to see some feedback.

Different strokes for different folks is the best rule I suppose. I must say though, nothing has affected my shave quality more than a really good, smooth, sharp edge. Good technique is revealed through sharpness. Prep becomes increasingly less important. The number of passes can certainly be cut down by following a best approach technique with an sss super sharp smooth edge.

Imho if you think you must go to extreme measure to finish the edge to get smooth, then you best look at your beginnings more closely.