How to tell pulling and cutting yourself?

So I was doing another shave today and every so often the razor would tug. I have cut myself enough to know not to force it, so I would reposition and try again. I still have hair in some places it was tugging so I was wondering how one would tell the difference. This shave was by far my best and man is it smooth in the places I did 2x passes. So should it not tug on the hair at all, I assume my technique is at fault, but when in doubt stop is my motto here. Pull out the old cart razor and finish it up.

Well you are right not to force it if it pulls. Also to go to the DE or another sharper razor if that is the issue. Skin stretching, blade angle, direction of attack all come to mind. Then there is the question of whether the razor is sharp enough. :shrug:

I got the Dovo BQ from SRD, I assume after only 4 shaves it should be ok.

Yes probably should. FWIW, I had to use a DE for the first two or three weeks of my beginning straight razor shaving to finish. I was using a shave ready razor and it took so long that the lather would dry on one side by the time I was ready to go to the other. I had to rinse and re-lather. So it may just be learning curve related. OTOH, have you been doing well with your stropping ?A miscue on the strop can compromise a shave ready edge.

If the "tugging" is limited to just a couple of spots consistently and all other areas shave smoothly, I found it is most likely a spot where the hair is growing in a different direction, and you are essentially trying to shave against the grain. I have spots on my neck that grow in a swirl and no matter which direction I approach I get some initial tugging. The smoothest direction has emerged from trial and error, a good pre-shave oil (AOS unscented - spendy but worth it for me), creative skin stretching, and shorter "mini" strokes in those tough areas for the first pass.

Mapping your face was something I had read of on SRP when I started, and I wish I had paid more attention to it earlier... it would have saved me some grief.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Well you are right not to force it if it pulls. Also to go to the DE or another sharper razor if that is the issue. Skin stretching, blade angle, direction of attack all come to mind. Then there is the question of whether the razor is sharp enough. :shrug:

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+5 didn't miss anything. Great Jimmy

Ok, so the razor if it is sharp enough should not really have a problem going through a coarse beard?

Shooter to map I would have to grow it out over more than 2 days :rant:. I think it is just angle and beard direction, just asking more questions. I dont think I have done to bad on the strop. Dont ask it though, all the nicks where it turns over look rough.

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Originally Posted by rahimlee54

Ok, so the razor if it is sharp enough should not really have a problem going through a coarse beard?

Shooter to map I would have to grow it out over more than 2 days :rant:. I think it is just angle and beard direction, just asking more questions. I dont think I have done to bad on the strop. Dont ask it though, all the nicks where it turns over look rough.

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Shooter is telling you the right stuff. To map the beard you don't need more than a bit of stubble. Take your fingertip and rub the stubble. You will feel the WTG, XTG and ATG in the various areas.

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Originally Posted by rahimlee54

Ok, so the razor if it is sharp enough should not really have a problem going through a coarse beard?

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False!

The razor, if it is sharp enough, will have all kinds of problems cutting through a "normal" beard, let alone a course one, if beard prep, face mapping, quality lather, skin stretching, blade angle, and all the other things that go into what is commonly referred to as "Technique" are lacking or ignored.

The razor, while important to be sure, is but a small part of the required material to get to a quality shave with a straight razor.

Sounds like your doing well so far! Take your time, it's not a race.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Shooter is telling you the right stuff. To map the beard you don't need more than a bit of stubble. Take your fingertip and rub the stubble. You will feel the WTG, XTG and ATG in the various areas.

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I agree, I find that I can map my beard better when my stubble is short and stiff. As it gets longer it bends a bit under my fingers and makes it a little harder to accurately tell the direction - particularly in places with "swirls" or weird hair growth.

Mapping right after a shave really highlights the direction for any spots I missed because it will only be rough ATG.

Time for some advanced techniques. Throw caution to the wind, laugh as the blood runs free, and keep a styptic pencil at hand:

Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki

:)

One thing that might be helpful whether there are problems with the razor sharpness or not is how you hold the razor. If you are stiff and hold it with a grip of death you will get some bad cuts but if you gently hold it and introduce some flex to your grip then any problems that happen will be lessened.


Take Care,
Richard

About this stubble mapping... Do you guys use a permanent or washable marker with colors to show direction or simply use arrows inside the outlined areas? I've just been shaving kinda north to south and south to north or east to west and west to east depending on whether its cheek and jowl or lip and chin. I have the feeling I'm missing the boat here as it appears I may have to add a compass of sorts to my shaving kit - good thing I don't have any magnetic razors. :rock: I guess a guy can get lucky once in a while. :y

:beer2: