Thread: Incredibly uncomfortable - not getting better.

I'm still somewhat of a beginner, but I've been playing with different methods nonstop for a few months now. Absolutely nothing I do will give me a good shave. I've got a very, very heavy, thick beard (it's just obscenely thick around my chin as well) and very sensitive skin. I got a shave in vegas once last year, and it was absolutely fantastic, even though the barber isn't allowed to use a regular razor (have to use disposable cartridges) I wanted to learn how to do this.

I've used my granddad's old razor (had it honed professionally first,) a razor I got at an antique store with some life left in it (also had it honed) and then got myself a solingen razor from excalibur cutlery. None of them have ever given me a good shave. I've honed them myself on a stone, and had them professionally done from different shops as well. I have a bismark strop, and do 15 on the canvas, 60 on the leather before each shave (have also tried not stropping for a few shaves)

I have a good badger brush, I use conk soap, art of shaving pre-shave oil and lotion. I've tried every day, every other day, 3 days, 4, 5, 6, and 7. every day is just way, way too uncomfortable for my skin. fresh out of the shower, soaking with towels, conditioner on the face, etc.

I've tried all different angles, and I hold my skin as tight as I can (I can't seem to hold it tight with my hand, so I just contort my face in absurd ways) but it always feels like the razor is just ripping hair out and not even trying to cut it. My skin always feels horrible afterwards, even with lotions. on the finer areas, like where my beard starts to creep up my cheeks with a few stray strands, it works fabulously. But on my actual beard, it's horrible. What I am forced to do is shave with a regular razor and then follow suit with the grain in one pass on my straight razor to neaten it up (which it can do without discomfort) but trying to go against or side to the grain, it's right back to absolutely horrible pain. short 1/2 inch strokes are the best that I've noticed, but I can't actually cut much hair doing that.

I also don't nick myself often.

Has anyone else with a stupid thick beard had these issues, and managed to correct them? It's supposed to just "come with time" but I feel just as bad after a shave now as I did on day one.

Have you tried to shave yourself with a disposable like the barber used?

That would eliminate the blade as a problem. Strong chance the fault is in something you're doing/not doing eg mis-stropping.
Wait a minute ... You say razors were honed in shops. You mean knife shops ????
If so that is likely a problem as they don't really know how to sharpen razors unless they shave with one themselves.. As for your own honing , how many razors have you succesfully honed to shave ready. Do those ones shave you well ?
You need to eliminate variables to win this so start with a razor honed by a guy who uses one. This link will find you such a person
Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

First let me say I am fairly new, about 8 weeks into this. You have mentioned many of the variables essential to a comfortable shave, but one thing I haven't seen you mention is the way you pull the blade across your face. Do you just move the blade in a strictly vertical line? There is a Barber's manual I have read that advocates a motion of the blade in the horizontal direction at the same time as the vertical direction. I'm not sure if this is what is meant as 'Scything'. The motion I use will move the blade about 3/4" in the horizontal direction for a pass down the cheek, about 3 inches.
Also, as for comfort, the blade has to just barely touch your face.
I also agree to trying a disposable, just to eliminate any question of blade issues.
Have you shaved with a DE? How does that do with your beard?
I have a thick beard on the chin, especiall the white hairs, which are twice as thick as the others. I am finally getting to the point where I am almost BBS there, takes about 4 passes.
Hope this helps.
PS, what area are you located, and can you find a local Senior Member to mentor you?

Could just be a blade issue. You can send one to me and I can check it out for you, tell you if you're crazy, hone it better, and return it if you'd like.

Generally, there is no such thing as a "heavy beard" to a straight razor. You could add a little more prep time, but that is an unlikely cause of the problem.

By the way, the only reason to skip stropping is if the razor is already shaving you perfectly. Otherwise you should strop quite a bit.

With all due respect, I would wonder about your honing and shaving technique. I don't want to seem as though I'm being condascending but I bought a Dovo Best from SRD and had it made shave ready. Lynn did a bang up job on mine. My stopping is probabaly not the best and my technique is still in the learnig pahses but...each time gets incrementally better. I say this to make the point that the possible combination of a beginners honing aptitude and a beginners shaving technique could be adding up to your "incredibly uncomfortable" shave. In all honesty, honing is something that is not in my immediate future, despite the fact that I can get most knives shave ready. Knives and razors are totally different animals. I would recommend that you have Lynn or one of the vendors on this forum hone it and get it shave ready for you. IF in fact you had them worked on in (knife) shops as onimaru55 asked, then that could go a long way towards explaining your problem too. I'll aslo repeat the queston posed from souschefdude regarding trying a DE safety razor and comparing your technique and results. Don't give up on the str8 though man. Seriously, it's the neatest, coolest thing I've started since I took up weightlifting oh so many years ago. It is a total blast running that blade across the whiskers and feeling them slice off at my command. Truth be told, I have a goatee so the chin and lip aren't an issue with me right now. Having said that, respect the blade for the good it does and the damage that it can do. Don't give up the fight.

Do you suspect the prep is at fault? From my understanding, you've changed pretty much every variable relating to the razor but you have done nothing different regarding the prep.

If I used Col. Conk soap, oil, hot shower and towel, I would have horrible irritation too. I'm a cold water shaver and I personally don't like Conk soap.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Have you tried to shave yourself with a disposable like the barber used?

That would eliminate the blade as a problem. ....

+1 on Oz's comment. Get yourself a cheap disposable straight razor to compare the blade to one that is definitely sharp.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Honeybadger

I'm still somewhat of a beginner, but I've been playing with different methods nonstop for a few months now. Absolutely nothing I do will give me a good shave. I've got a very, very heavy, thick beard (it's just obscenely thick around my chin as well) and very sensitive skin. I got a shave in vegas once last year, and it was absolutely fantastic, even though the barber isn't allowed to use a regular razor (have to use disposable cartridges) I wanted to learn how to do this.

I've used my granddad's old razor (had it honed professionally first,) a razor I got at an antique store with some life left in it (also had it honed) and then got myself a solingen razor from excalibur cutlery. None of them have ever given me a good shave. I've honed them myself on a stone, and had them professionally done from different shops as well. I have a bismark strop, and do 15 on the canvas, 60 on the leather before each shave (have also tried not stropping for a few shaves)

I have a good badger brush, I use conk soap, art of shaving pre-shave oil and lotion. I've tried every day, every other day, 3 days, 4, 5, 6, and 7. every day is just way, way too uncomfortable for my skin. fresh out of the shower, soaking with towels, conditioner on the face, etc.

I've tried all different angles, and I hold my skin as tight as I can (I can't seem to hold it tight with my hand, so I just contort my face in absurd ways) but it always feels like the razor is just ripping hair out and not even trying to cut it. My skin always feels horrible afterwards, even with lotions. on the finer areas, like where my beard starts to creep up my cheeks with a few stray strands, it works fabulously. But on my actual beard, it's horrible. What I am forced to do is shave with a regular razor and then follow suit with the grain in one pass on my straight razor to neaten it up (which it can do without discomfort) but trying to go against or side to the grain, it's right back to absolutely horrible pain. short 1/2 inch strokes are the best that I've noticed, but I can't actually cut much hair doing that.

I also don't nick myself often.

Has anyone else with a stupid thick beard had these issues, and managed to correct them? It's supposed to just "come with time" but I feel just as bad after a shave now as I did on day one.

These are huge red flags to us.. the rest is just Beginneritus... Being a Newb is curable, starting with a questionable edge is not...

Take Alan/AFDavis up on his generous offer, he will get you a "Shave Ready" edge then you can work on the rest of your problems of just being new

Originally Posted by souschefdude

First let me say I am fairly new, about 8 weeks into this. You have mentioned many of the variables essential to a comfortable shave, but one thing I haven't seen you mention is the way you pull the blade across your face. Do you just move the blade in a strictly vertical line? There is a Barber's manual I have read that advocates a motion of the blade in the horizontal direction at the same time as the vertical direction. I'm not sure if this is what is meant as 'Scything'. The motion I use will move the blade about 3/4" in the horizontal direction for a pass down the cheek, about 3 inches.
Also, as for comfort, the blade has to just barely touch your face.
I also agree to trying a disposable, just to eliminate any question of blade issues.
Have you shaved with a DE? How does that do with your beard?
I have a thick beard on the chin, especiall the white hairs, which are twice as thick as the others. I am finally getting to the point where I am almost BBS there, takes about 4 passes.
Hope this helps.
PS, what area are you located, and can you find a local Senior Member to mentor you?

Not recommened just starting out unless you are looking for a scar.

It takes several months to develop the skill to shave with a Str8. Until then you need to go slow, follow the wiki and the advice of the members on SRP. Someday you will shave and find yourself with a close, comfortable shave. How long that takes depends on how you learn and if you follow the advice your given and the wiki.

Keep trying, it is worth the effort.