Razor or Technique Problem?

Hello all. I've been using the straight on weekends (the only days when I have time) for the last month or so. I'm noticing that rather than cutting cleanly through each hair the razor seems to split many of the hairs- basically shaving off one side of the hair, and then another when I go XTG leaving a kind of jagged end.

My question is, does this indicate a flaw in my angles, or is the blade dull? I don't get any nicks or razor burn from these shaves.

If its dull, does anyone know a honemeister in the St. Louis Area?

Thanks,

Kevin

Welcome to SRP and to the world of straight razor shaving. I don't find XTG to be as effective as ATG. That could be part of the problem It sounds to me like it could possibly be a combination of both the blade and the angle, but my money would be on the blade being dull. IMHO. Is the shave comfortable or do you feel the blade pulling? If you do find a honemeister you can talk to face to face, maybe he can also give you a critique on your shaving. Good luck!

Hard to say which it is but if you're new to straight razor shaving it may be technique or a combination of the two. With straight razor shaving, and wet shaving in general, multiple passes for gradual stubble removal are probably the best way for the average shaver to get a close and comfortable irritation free shave. Here is a Wiki article on the technique.

For the heck of it try whipping up a cold water lather. Lather on your dry face instead of softening the whiskers with hot water. There is a school of thought that stiff whiskers are more easily sheared than soft whiskers and I am an adherent of that school. So don't prep with hot water.

Rub the first lathering into your beard with your fingertips and then re-lather. When you're doing your first pass focus on correct blade angle and proper skin stretching. It doesn't have to be drum tight but it should be snugged up. Plan on the first pass leaving some stubble and go for your second pass. Some people do three and four passes. I frequently do two and for my particular beard that is enough. :gl:

I generally have been doing two WTG and one ATG. The blade does seem to pull a bit, but I've been attributing that to poor technique, hoping it will get better. I don't have this issue with my DE, which i've been using for a while now.

I'll give the cold water shave a try and see how it goes.

Thanks for the help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ksaett

I generally have been doing two WTG and one ATG. The blade does seem to pull a bit, but I've been attributing that to poor technique, hoping it will get better. I don't have this issue with my DE, which i've been using for a while now.

I'll give the cold water shave a try and see how it goes.

Thanks for the help.

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One of the things about the DE is that you are more or less led to use perfect blade angle. If you don't it will not work. With the straight you have to figure it out yourself. Just IMHO. :)

I live in Cape Girardeau and will be happy to help you out anytime you can make it down. I do get up there frequently, so let me know.

Have fun,

Lynn

Seems like if it wasn't doing this before, and has only started doing this recently then it might be a sharpness problem rather than a technique problem. I'm a newb though who dosn't know much, but thats my 2cents.

Lynn,
Didn't realize you were so close. I may send the razor to you to have honed. Hopefully, that will solve the issues. I'm still pretty new, so maybe my stropping technique is a little off.

Thanks again everyone.