Thread: Please help with first shave!

I just noticed that with a long strand of hair, it takes quite a bit of effort to even sever the hair. Does that mean the edge is ruined?

Originally Posted by jkh0208

I just noticed that with a long strand of hair, it takes quite a bit of effort to even sever the hair. Does that mean the edge is ruined?

Not likely ruined. More likely poorly stropped & easily repaired.

So I should send it off for a re-honing, or can proper stropping repair it?

Originally Posted by jkh0208

So I should send it off for a re-honing, or can proper stropping repair it?

I suggest re-honing.... & then reassess your stropping skills

Is there a way to practice stropping without damaging my blade? Rehoning everytime I screw it up will become really expensive. Also, how can I tell if my stropping is improving?

Have you spent time mapping out your face and the direction of your beard growth?

I ask this because the blade to skin angle changes for WTG, XTG and ATG. The problem is the beard changes direction, so in a given stroke, it is possible to move between a WTG, XTG and ATG. That means that you need to change the angle on the fly during the stroke. If I make a stroke from my side burn past my jawline and into the neck area, I go from WTG to XTG to ATG and back to WTG. That means 30 degrees, 15 degrees, 5 degrees, and then back to 30 degrees. If I stay at 30 degrees for the whole stroke, I will tear my face up.

So, spend some time mapping out the beard direction, you will be glad you did.

Originally Posted by jkh0208

Is there a way to practice stropping without damaging my blade? Rehoning everytime I screw it up will become really expensive. Also, how can I tell if my stropping is improving?

Obviously your results will tell you if you are improving

You can use a dull practice razor or similar to practice the motions.
As with shaving, angle & pressure is everything. The edge & spine must be in contact on the strop & your pressure nil. Saying pressure should be light is relative & light for you may be edge destroying in my eyes. Just try to strop so when you're done you are left wondering how that could possibly do anything to your edge. You may then have the right "pressure" If your problem is hesitation cuts into the strop dulling the edge or not keeping the right contact on the "flip" etc practice with the optional blunt razor. And don't aim for speed.
A razor can be perfectly stropped slowly.

It seems most of the hair on my face points downwards except for my chin. On my neck, it's all over the place. Some hairs point up, some down, randomly.

Originally Posted by jkh0208

Is there a way to practice stropping without damaging my blade? Rehoning everytime I screw it up will become really expensive. Also, how can I tell if my stropping is improving?

There are advertised shave ready "Gold Dollar" razors on ebay for about 25 bucks. These are made in china, and supposedly are made of good carbon steel. I ordered one that is straight from the factory for less to practice honing on.

Originally Posted by jkh0208

It seems most of the hair on my face points downwards except for my chin. On my neck, it's all over the place. Some hairs point up, some down, randomly.

IMHO, If you have really random directionality, especially along the neck, I think it is better to drop the angle to between 5 and 15 degrees and use an additional pass if necessary. The skin on the neck is thin and sensitive. It is really easy to get razor burn on it. So a lower angle with NO pressure and an additional pass works much better for me.

But you will have to experiment here.