razor pulls & tugs + razor burn

Hi Guys


First of all, I would like to apologize for spamming the beginner sub-board with new threads.

Secondly, I want to thank you guys again for this great place.

A good thing is that I immediately got hooked on straight razor shaving.

Did my 3rd shave today and I have to say the more I do it, the more I like it. I have never had such a clean and tight shave in my life!

However, I have some serious razorburn (like the last two times).
It can't be the blade. I visited a professional cutler today and he said the razor was fine. He was being very nice and stropped the razor for me.

I let the shaving cream on my face for about 2-3 minutes, then lathered again to prevent it from drying out and waited another 2-3 minutes. And I did shower prior to that.

However, the razor is hard for me to handle in certain areas, especially around the chin and the mustache. I nicked myself a couple of times too (my colleagues at work are gonna laugh at me tomorrow, haha).

Now, what am I doing wrong?
Is it perhaps that I shaved 3 days in a row? I usually didn't do that, I mostly shaved twice or thrice a week.


I guess I should wait for my beard to wait a little longer, at least 3 days. Would that help improving my 4th straight shaving experience?

What go you mean by "professional cutler", a knife guy?


I have no doubts that your skill with a razor will improve and that it needs to, but the "professional cutler" scares me, knife guys know NOTHING about razors unless they are using them. It would probably pay off to send your razor to one of our members listed in the classified section of this website that specialize in honing razors, razors are an entirely different breed from knives.

A KNIFE GUY!:eek:

BTW: It does take some time for the face to adjust to a straight razors edge, you may wish to alternate shaves between the straight and whatever blade you are used to.

Welcome to SRP, you are going to love it!

Welcome, Was your razor honed professionally ? Are you watching your angle 30 degrees or less ? Little to no pressure? Just some things to consider. Good luck.:beer2:

shiznix,

Shaving with a straight is a skill that takes a little while to come together.

With a couple of dozen shaves under your belt, things will really start to gel nicely for you I am sure :)

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

if i was you i would watch as many videos on utube and watch there technique around chin and tash area . i shave with left hand for left side and right hand for right side its much easier .

Shaving around the chin is tough for many guys, at first.

Hello, Shiznix:

I agree with the excellent comments offered thus far. Yes, I, too, recommend to have your razor honed by a professional "razor" hone master.

You will need time to hone your skill. Here are somethings to keep in mind:

1. Apply no pressure with the razor. Let the razor's weight be enough pressure on your face.

2. Don't shave over the same spot excessively. This sometimes results in razor burn.

3. Use short strokes.

4. Go mostly with the grain until you familiarize yourself more with your razor's characteristics and how it sits in your hands. Also how your face handles the straight razor. Then add across the cross strokes. For now, stay away from against the grain strokes.

5. Keep the blade angle at 30 degrees in most places. The 30-degree figure is a general number. I keep my angle at mostly 20 degrees in places. The angle changes in the mustache, chin and neck areas. These are also difficult parts to master.

6. In time you will master all this. For now, have patience and stay with it.

7. Pay special attention to your stropping. This is extremely important.

8. The preparation and lathering is just as important. Spend time on that, too.

9. As others have recommended, watch as many videos on stropping, lathering and shaving as you can. Also read as much as you can. And questions are welcome.

10. It takes time, but it's worth it.

Regards,
Obie

When I first started I could not believe how much it burned my face. it takes some time and effort and mostly skill. after a while it will stop burning and our shaves will get much better.
Keep trying and take the advice of the folks that know what they are doing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

When I first started I could not believe how much it burned my face. it takes some time and effort and mostly skill. after a while it will stop burning and our shaves will get much better.
Keep trying and take the advice of the folks that know what they are doing.

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I hope you are right. Lately my face has been burning everyday.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dancraig

Shaving around the chin is tough for many guys, at first.

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After about a dozen shaves leaving the chin alone, i've now shaved my chin twice with the straight. I look like I fell into a bramble patch, but the confidence is growing and i'm improving.

By the way, here in the Missouri Ozarks we don't often read terms like cutler and thrice.

Guys


thank you very much for your kind replies.


Now, about my razor: The "cutler" whom I showed my razor to is actually using a straight razor himself. So I guess he should know what he's talking about. I guess.

Now, I guess I will wait a few days now before I shave again. And I won't try shaving against the grain the next 5-10 times.

And yes, I have already watched quite a bunch of youtube videos, maybe I should watch a little more? I mean, hey, they're fun to watch!


And about those terms "cutler" and "thrice": I'm neither American nor English (from continental Europe, mothertongue being German, secondary language being french), so I can't really judge which terms are pleasent to the American's/English) eye ;-) But I guess we understand each other, amirite?

Once again, thx very much. I really appreciate it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shiznix

Guys


thank you very much for your kind replies.


Now, about my razor: The "cutler" whom I showed my razor to is actually using a straight razor himself. So I guess he should know what he's talking about. I guess.

Now, I guess I will wait a few days now before I shave again. And I won't try shaving against the grain the next 5-10 times.

And yes, I have already watched quite a bunch of youtube videos, maybe I should watch a little more? I mean, hey, they're fun to watch!


And about those terms "cutler" and "thrice": I'm neither American nor English (from continental Europe, mothertongue being German, secondary language being french), so I can't really judge which terms are pleasent to the American's/English) eye ;-) But I guess we understand each other, amirite?

Once again, thx very much. I really appreciate it.

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Please do not take offense at my attempted humor about the terms quoted. I intended no disrespect. The region I live in, the Ozarks, is noted for its colorful, hillbilly dialect. I was poking fun at myself rather than at you.

I am also a newbie, in that I"m still trying to figure it all out, but having fun in the proccess. I"ve been into Str8 shaing for about a little over a year now, still working on shaving angles and shave prep, razor maintainance and so on. The bottom line is that its different for different people, depending on inate skill levels, coursness of beard, and the quility of the tools that can be afforded. Just go slow, work on technique first and go for that perfect BBS smooth save much later on, unless your lucky enough to get to that level quicker than most of us out here. It comes down to this in my limited experience, the more you shave, the better you get at it, bottom line. Holding that razor just enough to control it and not dig it into your flesh, not a feel that comes right away, any additional help you need you will fine from the more practiced member of this forum. They have always helped me even when even I thought my question might be to simplistic or obsurd!!! Have a great G/day'!!

Your fellow shaving guy, tinkersd of SRP