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I'm a runner, and a new straight razor user. Runners that run every day are called "streakers" and try to see how many consecutive days (or years) they can go without missing a days run.
After reading a bunch of great advice here, I have managed a four day streak (and counting) of good shaves with no blood!
Thanks to all involved for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Dave
Thats great you might read the axioms and thoughts for newbies threads under general and shaving sections
Welcome as a new active member. Your observations will also help us learn since this is not an exact science.
I had a better shave today then yestersday, I am still having trouble on the right side of my neck and chin (I'm a lefty). I am getting much better at shaving my right cheek and outside part of my neck with my right hand. I do have to admit that I am chicken when it comes to shaving against the grain on my second pass. :( I will need some more time before I am comfortable doing that.
Jim
Jim every new shaver is apprehensive at first...2 very important things to remember STRETCH THE SKIN AS TAUNT AS POSSIBLE if your fingers slip use the end of semi wet folded wash cloth to get a better grip on your skin...NARROW THE ANGLE OF BLADE AGAINST YOUR FACE hold the spline closer to side of face until your confidence and comfort level increases...remember the razor doesnt know its shaving against the grain..it doesnt know the difference...as long as the skin is taunt and your face is lubed with lather and you use lite pressure on razor,shaving in any direction is a piece of cake
Jim, I have to go against the grain for a close shave. Just TAKE YOUR TIME!!! It's all in the wrist when going against the grain, at least that's my technique. It's been working great for me. You'll find the best way for you in time.
-Rob
Jim,
I am a righty and the left side of my face is easier. I suggest doing what several people here have suggested learn to shave with both hands. I still only use my right but then I am stubborn and have learned to do it but using my other hand would be easier.:D
Oh and also against the grain is essencial for the baby buutt feel.:cool:
learning to shave with both hands is well worth the effort and become 2nd nature with a little practice
After about eight weeks, I can say that bloodless shaves are by far the norm.
Now, I try for "streaks" of no-raw-neck shaves. Yesterday I blew a week-long streak: neck like hamburger. Now I am again a Day One No-raw-neck Streaker!
Deepweeds
Today was day eighteen of str8 shaves with no blood! I am enjoying each and every day more...my wife thinks I am possesed (but she appreciates the close shave :) )
Thanks to everyone on the forum for the kind advice and wisdom.
Dave
Dave,
How many razors do you have? Do you hone your own razors?
Ed
Deepweeds,Quote:
Yesterday I blew a week-long streak: neck like hamburger.
Have you figured out the reason for this? Was your skin just not happy to be shaved that day? Were you in a hurry? Different razor? Newly honed?
Just curious. :)
Have you figured out the reason for this [raw neck]?
Jordan,
I think these are the factors that contribute my occasional raw-neck-syndrome (RNS):
1) sensitive skin there: my face and jawline are almost never sensitive.
2) over-shaving: I'm still making adjustments to how I approach my neck, and my constant experimenting results in overshaving. I sometimes keep working at it when I should, after two passes, leave it alone.
3) amateur honing skills: I'm learning, but undoubtedly I'm not giving myself the smoothest edge possible. Once I can afford a second razor, I'll have Lynn hone it so that I have a "benchmark razor."
That's my thinking on it at this point. When I am attentive to these, my neck is fine. When I'm not... ouch!
Deepweeds
jordon, basically 2 things cause raw skin...either the razor is not sharp... this can be caused by poor stroping... too much pressure on razor,elevated razor not laying it flat on strop...razor needs to be touched up on hone give razor 10 laps on 8000 side of norton...or your shaving angle is too wide andyou are scraping your face...in either case you need to give your face a rest for a day...either dont shave or use a disposable bic or whatever and be sure to use skin food or a product with soothing qualities...
I am rotating two razors, a 7/8 Wade & Butcher "meat chopper" 1/4 hollow, and a 6/8 full hollow Clark & Hall Sheffield. I have a half dozen others kicking around that I have not yet tried to shave with, including a couple "fixer uppers" that I want to restore.Quote:
Originally Posted by EdinLA44
I am honeing (or more correctly "learning to hone") my own razors.
Dave
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobico4
Dave,
That's great that you can shave daily like you do. I'm lucky if I can go more than 3 days without having to let my face rest for a day. Your honing skills have gotta be pretty good by now.
Ed
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdinLA44
Thanks, but the more plausible explanation is that I am a bone headed german with a high tolerance for pain :D
Any sucsess I am having is certainly attributable to all the helpful folks on this forum.
Dave
Clarman and Deepweeds,
Thanks for the info. I think I have been slowly ruining the edge of the straight I recently got (first and only one). I was fortunate enough to win one from the contest and so was happy that I would be able to use that as a benchmark.
However, after trying to shave today with it (the old one...haven't received the new one yet) I KNOW that I must have ruined the edge. It was pulling so badly that I had to stop and use the Mach3. :cry:
I am surprised, because I have been getting more and more draw on the strop. I figured that I was getting a feel for it and would be getting better shaves...not sure what's happening.
I can't really afford a hone right now (college...I need the people who make Ramen noodles to make hones), so maybe I'll send it out to have it honed...
Then again, I could be putting that money towards an eventual hone purchase.
Decisions Decisions.
I am so relieved to be getting this new one from the contest so that I can continue to shave until I scrape together the money to get this one back in shape. :D
You might be over stropping or using too much pressure. More draw is not necessarily better. I usually use the Illinois 361 which has very little draw at all and is a great strop. I think, in general, you want to find that place where the draw just begins to happen which is with a very light touch indeed and just rest inside that without going to 'deep' into the draw. I think it's better to compensate by doing a few more laps than by adding more pressure.Quote:
Originally Posted by senorswiss
When you get the new razor, try stropping without any pressure or drawing sensation at all and see how that responds. You might be surprised.
X
Reeeaaaally.....Ok, well I've been going at it all wrong then. I have been trying specifically to get more draw, so this is certainly valuable information.Quote:
You might be over stropping or using too much pressure. More draw is not necessarily better.
I'll do what you said and see if I can achieve better results.
Thanks for the input.