Thread: 2nd shave - comments & question

After a good first straight razor shave, I let the beard grow 2.5 days & tried a shave this morning.

I started with side burns & jaw, which went well, but for some reason It didn't go as well as the first time. Some strokes were ok, but most pulled. I put 100000% blame on technique. I tried the neck, the chin, even tried the mustache, but stopped that after feeling I wasn't in control of the razor. Then I decided to switch hands, just to try it out. To my surprise, my clumbsy hand actually gave me a better shave than my dominant hand

I only went with the grain, but still got a decent shave out of it, pretty much on par with a cartridge. And no nicks !!

Considering my clumbsy hand managed better I have the following question: Is it possible I'm puting too little pressure with my right hand ? I'm very precise with my right hand, I can do extremely fine things with it, is it possible I'm just giving too light of a touch? Or would the difference between both hands be due to different blade angle ? Or maybe both ??????

Thanks in advance,
Glenn.

Glen you have raised interesting questions.
My case was different when i start. i was cutting myself usually when i use right hand but left hand i was so scare and taking care of my left hand side i never cut it.
Most likely (i think) you have problem with angle change.
It seems like you keep your hand in cirten angle and shave. that is right way to shave but you have to fine the best cutting angle first then keep in that angle and finish the shave.
don't assume every blade will cut it is best on 25 angle. it is not true.
you need to make small strokes and find perfect cutting angle and use it.
There is over possibility (honing and stropping) i really don't think 1 of them would be.
Example if you strop wrong and edge had problems you will be able to shave with 1 side of the blade and other side will be dull.( i don't think you end up with this issue).
try concentrate on your angle and see that will help. if not use same hand and shave different side of your face see what happens?
does blade act weird? cuts one side and doesn't cut another side.?
this will help to figure out problem easy.
Use very small strokes, don't use long strokes while you shave .
hope this helps.

Glad to see that you're working on technique instead of blaming the razor. Remember that this boils down many times to muscle memory...and quite frankly, nobody has it at the beginning. Consistency of shave depends on your ability to keep and maintain that razor's angle, and when you first start out nothing is consistent. I got better success when I shot for a 45 degree angle and shaved from there. Apparently, looking in the mirror caused me to go too shallow when I thought I was at 30 degrees. As a result, when I changed to 45, the shaves got much better overnight.