Thread: Unsure if this counts as a razor 'pulling'.

Thanks again all I'm looking forward to trying these new techniques

actually it's the same problem as I have, but the difference is that, my blade pass HHT, so I guess it's not the blade, the pulling is still a pull, but it shouldn't be an issue I guess, if it pulls to the point where your blade can't really continue means it's the blade, but if you have that pulling but it still shave without causing any problem, then it's the angle and your confidence, well, that's what I learned from my 5th shave. I don't know if the blade should really glide in your place like when you walk in a slippery floor, but I guess the term "glide" is just like when you have your Mach3 fresh cartridge run on your wet skin...it'll be good if someone confirm this for us newbie, I just have one blade so I have no reference on how a good blade, smooth shave should be, in fact I'm pretty satisfied with my blade, but if it should be more than just the "glide" that I have and assume now, I'll be happier....

anyway, I'm totally agree with previous posts about confident stroke work with me

Erick

Originally Posted by BabysBottom

I recently received a straight razor which I bought from the classifieds here at SRP, and it was to be shave-ready upon arrival. Razor was shipped very quickly and in good packaging. The first thing I did when I opened it was do the hanging-hair test. It didn't perform as well on this test as I had hoped, but then again I am very new and maybe it did just fine.
I tried shaving about 3 times with the blade, but was never really satisfied or comfortable with it's action on my face. It seemed to be "skipping" accros my stubble, not gliding smoothly like I thought it would (once again, I am a newbie).
So I decided to wait and give it a good stropping once my strop arrived, to make a final judgement on whether or not it was shave-ready when it arrived. After stropping, it seemed a little more sharp, but still did not provide a smooth stroke like I was hoping for. It still shaved me very close, but didn't feel quite right.
Maybe... 1. My shaving cream is bad (I'm using walmart brand gel-stuff until my brush arrives, so I can apply my Tabac), or 2. Maybe it's common for new guys to hold the razor improperly and thus have an unsteady draw accross the face, or 3. Maybe I am accidentally not going WTG, or 4. Maybe it needs a good strop.
Could it be one of these things, or should I send this out to be professionaly honed? Thank you

Hello BabysBottom,
I am a newbie too and like you, I have also noticed "skipping" across the stubbles. The problem is especially prone areas where the beard is coarsest (for me, that's the chin area). After 4 shaves under my belt now (woohoo), I have noticed this getting easier, leading me to believe that technique, more than razor will come out to be the dominant contributing factor to end the "skipping" war with the stubble.

On a different note, razor may also play some role in this. Personally, it is for this exact reason that I decided to invest in a few different kinds of razors (wedge, 6/8, full hollow, 1/2 hollow, etc...without breaking the bank or going crazy though), just to see if blade geometry (and weight) will make a difference. My preliminary observation is that Wedge performs best with areas where the beard is coarsest. Jury is out on this one for now until I improve on my technique. Keep at it.

Good luck,
-Robert

The canned shave gel makes pulling the skin taught very difficult. It is very slick even after a pass with the razor. Once you switch to soaps you will be able to get a grip after you shave an area. Provided your fingers are not wet that is.
MrE

HHT does not indicate if the blade is shave ready or not.
Shave test is the real test.
Technique and angles are very important for a good shave.

Originally Posted by BabysBottom

thanks to all for the responses. I see that I could improve in several departments.

As for pulling the skin taut, however... When I try to pull my skin tighter, my finger just slips on the shaving cream, and I cant really pull it tight. Maybe when I start using my Tabac this will help, or maybe i should grip my skin where there isn't any lather... I'll look into the stretching topic on some of the other forums.
Thanks again all!

You can pull in front or behind the razor.

If you start at the ear you can pull and tighten the
skin from above shaving down and not pulling on the slippery bit below.
Lots of short precise strokes and you will have
cleared a clean place to move down with. You can
use your thumb and wipe away lather if you need
to. Just reapply as needed.

It is not necessary to pull the skin drum tight.
Stretch it just enough so the skin does not
roll up in front of the edge. You only need to
pull/ smooth the one inch in front of the blade
then shave half that.

One key -- hold the razor lightly is so important that
one of the moderators has hints in his signature.

Tabac and a brush will help, so will more water with your can
of goo. Use less goo and more water building up
a lightly lathered wet area to shave. You only need
enough lather to make it easy to recall where
you have been. Make sure your face is wet and lathered
for a full three min before shaving. If you live in
a dry place or it is winter you may have to work more
water into the lather on your face a couple of times.

Water... even with Tabac water is important. It
continues to astound me how much water I can
work into a lather if I just keep dripping it in and
working the brush in my lathering mug or on my face.
You can take a $10 CVS boar brush and improve
can goo by working it and adding water.... If you
are in a CVS look for Williams or Van der Hagen shave soap.
They are good soaps to practice lathering with.
If nothing else they will make Tabac look super.. (it is).

A lot of great advice here but I would just like to add one thing though. There is a chance that in fact your razor may not be up to par. Do not push through if in fact your razor is pulling. You can very easily end up cutting yourself. If you are still in doubt after carefully trying some of the things in this thread, try talking to the one you purchased it from. There is a good chance they will happily try to resolve it. If for any reason you aren't comfortable with the shave at that point, send it to another honemeister who is well respected. Also, if you can I highly suggest you pick up a second shave ready razor, from another so that you have another to compare it to. I have purchased a few shave ready razors here that literally float through hair miraculously and have also purchased one that pulled quite a bit. All were advertised as shave ready but perhaps peoples idea of shave ready varies quite a bit.

Originally Posted by mainaman

HHT does not indicate if the blade is shave ready or not.
Shave test is the real test.
Technique and angles are very important for a good shave.

Dear senior I've just start wet shaving weeks ago, not even a month, today I just get my 6th shave, how do I measure a blade sharpness with shave test if my techniques is still undeveloped and I still cut my self my point is that, HHT is the only way that is reasonable for me, since I don't think to test it by slicing a paper as I usually did with knife is the right way. I know HHT may not valid since everyone hair's different (and also the blade might not have the same sharpness on any edge if it's not properly honed), and also the term shave ready by all honemeister, only by experience it may alter subjective matter a little bit objective. I apologize for my inexperience comment

thanks all. I decided to send if off to a very respected honemister, to settle my uncertainty once and for all. If it comes back and it is still pulling, I'll know it was my fault. Thanks again all your input is very appreciated

Having bought several "shave ready" razors from the classifieds, I can assure you that some are more shave ready than others.. One more thing i can say is the "Shave Ready" i bought from Lynn at SRD is how i found this out. After shaving with the razor he sharpened, I realized several of my "shave ready" purchases needed some help. Brad "undream" also really brought a couple of my razors to life

All these techniques are fine and good but all fall short until you have a real "Shave Ready" razor. I had doubts as to whether or not i wanted to continue straight razor shaving at one point. When i finally got my hands on a "real Shave Ready" razor things changed tremendously

Also, i find the gels are superior to plain mug soap. I also bought soap samplers from SRD which i found superior to the previous mug soap i had. Before obtaining these glycerine based soaps with essential oils, I found the gels far superior. I still like Eucerine shave gel for men, sensitive skin. The nostalgia of whipping up my own still calls, but the convenience and comfort offered by the gel will really be hard to beat.

Get a razor honed by Lynn or Brad (undream) and you will then have a standard with which you can determine "shave readiness".. I'm not throwing off on anyones sharpening skills, I'm praising the 2 guys mentioned here. You won't regret having your razor professionally honed in fact, you will be glad you did.

Kirk