Thread: New Razor, Many Problems

Hey there all. New to the group and new to straight-razor shaving in general, but I could use a bit of advice.

My very much well-meaning wife bought me a brand new straight razor from The Art of Shaving in New York for my birthday this past January. After a quick in-person training from them, I started in on shaving at home and things went fairly well. After a few times, I felt like I was getting a nearly decent shave, having to go back with my old safety razor to spot shave still a bit, but I was progressing.

Sadly, despite the elevation in skill and regular strop-use, my shaves were becoming progressively more rough and pain-inducing. After a couple months of this and resulting severe day-long razor burn, I had to give it up all together. I'm wondering if the razor might need to be honed or sharpened and, if so, whether I might be able to get a brief bit of advice on how best to do so.

Thanks for hearing me out. Looking forward to close, non-creinge-worthy shaves in the future.

My guess is the razor just needs to be properly honed.

Originally Posted by ravenandcrow

Hey there all. New to the group and new to straight-razor shaving in general, but I could use a bit of advice.

My very much well-meaning wife bought me a brand new straight razor from The Art of Shaving in New York for my birthday this past January. After a quick in-person training from them, I started in on shaving at home and things went fairly well. After a few times, I felt like I was getting a nearly decent shave, having to go back with my old safety razor to spot shave still a bit, but I was progressing.

Sadly, despite the elevation in skill and regular strop-use, my shaves were becoming progressively more rough and pain-inducing. After a couple months of this and resulting severe day-long razor burn, I had to give it up all together. I'm wondering if the razor might need to be honed or sharpened and, if so, whether I might be able to get a brief bit of advice on how best to do so.

Thanks for hearing me out. Looking forward to close, non-creinge-worthy shaves in the future.

Hello, ravenandcrow:

To my knowledge those The Art of Shaving razors come with a factory edge only. They are quality razors, of course, but I, too, feel our razor here needs to be professionally honed.

Regards,
Obie

First let me welcome you to SRP.
You have come to the right place. There is a wealth of information on here related to shaving.

It sounds like you do need to have it honed.

You should be able to find someone in the member services that can do that for you.

Be sure to also check out the WIKI.

welcome,
Silver2

Ah, thanks all for the quick responses. So—and again, forgive the lack of knowledge on my part—I would need to send the razor off or take it to someone who can hone it? Not buy one of those small, hand-held honing stones? The Swaty/barber hone?

Originally Posted by ravenandcrow

Ah, thanks all for the quick responses. So—and again, forgive the lack of knowledge on my part—I would need to send the razor off or take it to someone who can hone it? Not buy one of those small, hand-held honing stones? The Swaty/barber hone?

Hello again, ravenandcrow:

Right now the important thing is to have that razor honed professionally and concentrate on honing your skill shaving. Also, concentrate on proper stropping. Honing your own razors can come at a later date, when you have mastered straight razor shaving. At least that's what I would do were I just starting out. Good luck, and stay with it.

Regards,
Obie

Get it properly honed and then invest in a barbers hone.

Much safer to send it out. That will give you a point of reference as to what a really sharp blade feels like. Also, if you take it to someone, make sure that they know specifically how to sharpen razors. Knives are very different animals.

Originally Posted by ravenandcrow

I would need to send the razor off or take it to someone who can hone it? Not buy one of those small, hand-held honing stones? The Swaty/barber hone?

The barber hones are good for when you first notice a formerly sharp razor just begin to pull. Five to nine strokes on a barber's hone is all it takes. What you describe is long past a barber's hone usefulness.

Send your razor to one of the honemeisters in the link you were given. You will most likely get your razor back with a much sharper edge than it had when it came from the factory.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Welcome to SRP. Sounds like it needs to be freshened up on a stone. Here is the member services section of the classifieds where you will find members who hone for a nominal fee.