Thread: First two SE shaves done :(

Based on the buzz generated here, I don't know if I'd put Tony M in the same range as Randy Tuttle or Lynn, however I got one pre-honed blade from him and it's a superb shaver, as good as anything I've honed and better than a couple of pieces in my rotation. He also packages them carefully, so I eliminated shipping as a factor. Yes, there is a possibility of a stropping slip-up, but Sec didn't think it too likely, so I focused on the other aspects.
I am sorry if I sounded like I didn't respect your knowledge. That grasshopper-crap was more of a joke. I try to tone down my "sense of humor" as my close friends and I can get fairly extreme, but sometimes it just shines through. Even people who have forgotten more than you and I combined will ever know have a lot to learn, so I do not want to make it appear that just because I have more experience (or even worse, more posts) means that you do not have anything to offer here. Far from it, your analysis is most welcome here and even our arguments may help someone learn about the complexities of SE shaving.

Without getting involved in the back and forth over causes of the original poster's difficulty, let me reiterate the incredible value of being shaved by a professional barber (who knows what he's doing). I was doing pretty much 90% of everything right before I had a real shave and having a lot of pain, but the last 10% made all the difference. Biggest lessons for me?

1. He showed me how to hold the razor and demonstrated several different forward/backhand grips. That was HUGE, because until then, I wasn't properly exploiting the balance engineered into the blade/scale combination, and it's the balance that allows you to shave without any pressure.

2. I watched how he shaved my chin (until them my most difficult part) by scraping at it lightly at a nearly perpindicular angle. I would have never done this myself for fear of cutting my chin off, but as it turns out, on MY face, at least, this is how to clean it off, irritation free.

3. His relaxed and easy strokes made me realize that I was shaving with too much tension, and that was killing me.

4. He verified that my prep was correct by using the exact same products I use (the shave was at the Art of Shaving), and I figured out that I didn't need to soak my face in hot water as long as I had been. This cut down my prep time and made it possible for me to shave with a straight razor every day instead of just on weekends, and as they say, practice makes perfect.

Good luck, it's worth it!

I have gotten a few razors honed by Lynn, so I know what sharp is, but one of the razors he honed for me came and it was really pulling. Neither of us is sure what happened, weather it got damaged in shipping or what, but when I sent it back to him he noticed some issues and had to really work and honing them out.

So just because it has been honed by a honemeister, like a few people have said, it still could have gotten dulled before it reached you.

I would love to get a SE shave from a pro, but I don't think we have any in the area. I asked the Barber I go to and she did produce some sort of SE with disposable blades, then commented on how she has not used it in years. So I figured that would not be a good idea. We have a few small shops in town, but they are mostly gearded towards women. Figured next time I get to Milwaukee or Chicago I would see what I can find.

I will consider getting a Fromm of something like that, that was a good suggestion.

I used the SE again this evening. I even did better prep and put many many layers of soap on my face. I had better results, but still a lot of razor burn. I also have a 2inch line across my left cheek Not enough to bleed, but there is a line there. The rest of the face was fine, only very minor nicks (same kind I get from time to time with a disposable). I got a little better shave on the sides of my face and under by nose, but the chin was still pretty bad and some spots under my chin. Still a lot of pulling though. I finished up with the quattro.

Maybe this will help as a sharpness gauge?? Forget the HHT it will not pass that. However, try this with some of your "sharp" blades and see what happens. I take a chest hair (dry, no soap) and pull it tight. Then set your blade on the hair. When I do this it does not cut the hair. If I start to put pressure then it will pop it. Or if I move the blade across the hair it will cut. I thought with the weight of the blade (6/8 Dovo) that it would immediatly cut the hair?? I realize everyones hair is different, but I thought that might help me determine if it just not quite sharp enough. Oh and the edge looks very good, and if I run it across my wet thumbnail it glides right across it, no jumping or anything. FYI

Im considering switching back to canned shave cream until I get better soap, or till I get better at just shaving. I am having zero luck with the williams. It dries out super fast no matter how I mix it. It also seems to dry out my face real bad.

i'm pretty sure running the blade across your thumbnail is enough to knock down the edge. when i got my phone-honing tutorial from our resident phone guru, he said not to do that after the initial passes because it would ruin the edge. so, once i got it to draw evenly, i abandoned it and started the pyramid.

I find the thumbnail test (which is done with a water wet nail BTW) is only good for testing to see if there are nicks or wires or similar unsuitable features to the edge. It can detect a decent edge, but that's just the absence of problems. That's just me though. Then I go to the hones and proceed using the thumb test (which also works a little better with a slightly wet thumb pad) and after that, the hanging hair test after the 4k/8k/ pyramid. If all goes well then it's time for the real test, the shave.

X

Originally Posted by Sec162

Im considering switching back to canned shave cream until I get better soap, or till I get better at just shaving. I am having zero luck with the williams. It dries out super fast no matter how I mix it. It also seems to dry out my face real bad.

it does dry faster. try using more water and you should be a little better off. can i recommend the classicshaving.com soap? that's what i started out with and i had good luck with it, plus you won't be spending 30 bucks or whatever on fancy stuff. i don't mind using the williams now--i like how it smells--but it took a little time to figure out just how to use soap in a way that suited my needs. i guess it's fine, just not a good starter soap. also, colleen makes a FANTASTIC smelling coconut soap (what i use now), for about the same price, and you'll have it a few days after you order. she's wicked fast with the shipping. it's silly how fast she is.

I take a chest hair (dry, no soap) and pull it tight. Then set your blade on the hair. When I do this it does not cut the hair.

Okay, stop right there. Others will correct me if I'm wrong, but this sounds like a dull razor. Dull dull dull dull dull. If my current shaving razor gets anywhere near a chest, arm, leg, head, or beard hair, the hair pops in half. The thicker the hair, the easier it is to pop. If you have to saw anything to get it to break, the razor is dull. I have shaved with a razor like this (see my earlier post, "can't get sharp enough" in the newbie forum) for 6 months and couldn't get the hang of it. Then I got a professionally sharpened one, and all is well.

I sent my razor back to get touched up. I used it the first time a few days ago and noticed a difference right away. There is resistance there but it did not pull like before. That time I just did one pass and finished with the quattro.

This morning I did my whole face and didn't even need to break out the quattro

I forced myself to use the left hand as well and the results were much better. In fact some parts of my face that I did with the left were better than the right I basically did two passes, with a few extras on the chin. It did not get as close as the quattro but its getting there. Appearance wise it looks great, just a little rough to the touch in a few spots. There are a few spots that are BBS but not many. I have a little razor burn, but not bad at all considering I don't have any aftershave yet.

So if you are having problems keep at it, I can see it takes some time to develop skill, and a sharp razor helps also

Originally Posted by Sec162

In fact some parts of my face that I did with the left were better than the right

You're not the only one to notice this, and it is a mystery that's for sure. I'm also much more likely to nick myself with my strong hand than my off hand.