Thread: Something not working, help!

I bought a shave ready straight razor, strop and brush from whippeddog.com. Today is my third attempt, and something isn't working. The first I had major razorburn, which I attribute to probably using the wrong angle. My biggest problem though is I'm not getting much of a shave. I've tried all three directions multiple times, but I've still got stubble. I don't know if I just have a tough beard, if I've messed up the hone on the blade already, or something else. I'm also finding it awkward to find the right way to hold my hands and the razor for certain passes. I'm right handed, and trying to go under my jawbone from my right ear toward my chin, the blade is long and the scales get in the way. suggestions?

Razor burn can usually be attributed to a couple of things; too much pressure, incorrect angle or a razor which is not as sharp as it needs to be. Whipped dog have a pretty good rep so it is unlikely to be the razor.
Your story is common in the beginner threads. Do you have a good pre shave prep? If you stubble and face are not in the correct state when you start you are fighting an uphill battle before you start.
You sound like you are know a bit about the need for correct shave angles but here they are just in case; WTG - 30 deg, XTG - 15 deg and ATG - 5 deg.
Very light pressure is also needed, when starting out guys tend to use too much pressure. Use light pressure and let the edge do it's thing.
Lastly, if you feel like the edge is not up to scratch it might pay to sent Larry at Whipped Dog and let him know, from what I hear he is a good bloke to deal with.

Most of all, just take it slow. Just small steps, a good technique will take time. Maybe give you face a break from the straight for a bit and try again.

Keep at it and try to enjoy the ride.

Stu

Prep is a big thing. Dont try and hone your razor for a good while it shouldnt need it. Work on correct stroping technique. Read the wiki...it is your friend, say it with me "the wiki is my friend". Relax it takes time, just keep at it. If your stropping is good and all else fails it could just be practice. It's been 4 months for me and I still cant shave atg on my neck without getting crazy razor burn.

Three shaves in, is very early days. I would suggest just sticking with WTG passes, perhaps just on the easier bits (sides, Cheeks) until you are confident. IMO becoming comfortable shaving with both hands, helps when moving to shaving XTG and ATG as it gives you twice as many options in tackling difficult areas.

+1 to what others have said, especially re pressure and slowing down. I've purchased one razor from LarryAndro and he's honed 3 more for me, and they're all great shavers. You might try using no more pressure than it takes to keep the edge just in contact with your face. If you think the angle might be an issue, one helpful technique early on is to lay the blade flat against your face and, with the edge remaining in contact with your skin, CAREFULLY rotate the spine away from your face until it's about 2 spine-widths from your skin--that's about 30 degrees, which is a good starting point for WTG. Some blades work better at less than 30 degrees for WTG ( I actually have one, an old Bengall that had lost a lot of metal before I bought her), but 30 degrees is a good place to start.

Sounds like it would also be a good idea to slow way down and only shave your sideburn area WTG for a few days, and finish the rest of your shave with whatever kind of razor you were using before. This will give you an opportunity to figure out the most comfortable way to hold your razor and also to begin to get comfortable using your non-dominant hand. Straight shaving is an acquired skill with a pretty steep learning curve for most of us, and from what you've written it seems like you might benefit from taking this in small bites, you know?

You don't mention whether you've stropped your razor yet--after 3 shaves, it's probably really in need of stropping. Again, it pays to go slowly while you're learning--proper stropping keeps your razor nice and comfortably sharp for a long time. Improper stropping will dull the ege and cause you to have to get the razor honed much more quickly than would usually be necessary. And the shave will not be comfortable. When stropping, you don't need to use any more pressure than is necessary to just keep the razor spine and edge in contact with the strop--basically just the weight of the blade itself.

Lastly, you might want to use the "location" feature in the forums to see whether there are any other members in your area. You'll want to make sure that your location is entered in your profile first. Then you can pull up the map and see where other members are. Being able to get together with an experienced member will really help a lot.

Hope this helps! Hang in there, be patient, and stick with it. It will get better! And it will have been worth it!

I'm really new too, but find I get a pretty good shave already. I do have quite a light growth (even though I'm not young, almost 50). I find I only need to do ATG on my jawline; and mainly on my left jawline. When you say "trying to go under the jawbone from my right ear towards my chin.." do you really mean across the length of the jawline from the ear to the chin? Or are you shaving either down the face over the jawline continuing down the neck or up the neck, over the jaw up the face? It's my understanding that generally shaving across the jaw/neck area is almost impossible (I might be wrong). I'd only go up or down (N or S) along there not E or W. I think, really, if you are getting razor burn from too much pressure and STILL not getting much of a shave maybe the razor is in fact not sharp enough? One would think if you're using so much pressure that you get burn you'd be removing hair (and maybe too much skin, too). When I started I used a VERY light pressure (more because I was petrified), and continue to do so. You say you have a strop, so I'm assuming you use it before each shave. I myself do 30 round trips on the canvas and 70 on the leather before each and every shave. I also was very mindful of not 'rolling the edge'; and I do believe this can be done in error if one doesn't really try and keep the strop taught. A strop that isn't held taught enough will sag, therefore impacting on the actual edge of the blade, and rounding it (or so I gather). All this (and I hope what I say is correct) was gathered from the forums and the Wiki (and videos), so the comments about Wiki being your friend (and also all the helpful people here) is very valid.
I'd concentrate on only ONE direction (WTG) first, and I found you DO need to very much try and use both hands (as much as you may only want to use one) and you DO need to really research and try different ways to hang the scales. I used a butter knife, envisaging where the scales would hang and even drew little diagrams and made notes. It's too hard to try the different angles when you've got a blade held to your neck; much easier with something that's not going to hurt you!

FWIW I will share some of my (limited) experience.
I have never had razor burn (at least I don't think I have) so I can't comment on that.
I would suggest that you strop carefully and with many strokes as carlmaloschneider said.
I had my best shave ever today with my little 4/8 mandarin full hollow and was surprised at how little pressure I was using after stropping on the canvas side then the leather.
I have just started to use the canvas side of the strop and it does make a difference. IMHO
I have the issue where the hair under my jawline grows towards my ear and WTG passes are an exercise in contortionism.
I shave this area with the point of the razor down, my left ear on my shoulder, my left hand reaching over my head and stretching the skin up over my jaw and, at the same time, trying to push my right shoulder towards the floor.
All this while trying to keep the point of the blade under control, the edge at the correct angle and the pressure as light as possible whilst keeping the edge in contact with my face.
I'm not even going to try and describe the XTG and ATG passes but, hey, it works for me.
The point that I'm trying to make is that it has taken over six months for me to get this part correct.
Sometimes it pays to try holding the razor in an 'unconventional' way so that you are able to keep a firm hold of the razor, keep control of the angle and use the lightest pressure. (What I believe are the major points to a good shave)
I hope I have given you some ideas that may help you solve your dilemma.
The only other suggestion that I would make is that you keep trying and it will get better. Also, never lose sight of the fact that we have all been where you are!!
Enjoy the ride on the learning curve and let us all know how you are going.
Cheers,
Geoff

I feel your pain. I have an extremely tough beard and it grows thick! I had razor burn the first dozen shaves in different places. At first, I recognized it was angle so I corrected that but still got it in some areas. Then, reading some other posts, I realized my lather was too dry so fixed that. It got better but still some problems. I finally realized that I wasn't prepping well enough for such a tough beard. I started letting the shower run on my face and neck a little longer, then doing better work with preshave oil or cream and extra hot towel stints. Now, three weeks in, I only get a spot with razor burn if I 1) hurry, or 2) lose focus and let the angle screw up.
Another thing I figured out was that when stropping, I wasn't doing enough to fully align the cutting edge so I started doing more passes on the strop and that helped a LOT.

There are still some areas on my neck and just below the jawline that will not be BBS, but are still every bit as good or better than I ever got with a cartridge. cheeks and such are BBS to the max, and SWMBO can't help but reach over and rub on them.

Don't give up!!!

Originally Posted by Jdulaney

I bought a shave ready straight razor, strop and brush from whippeddog.com. Today is my third attempt, and something isn't working. The first I had major razorburn, which I attribute to probably using the wrong angle. My biggest problem though is I'm not getting much of a shave. I've tried all three directions multiple times, but I've still got stubble. I don't know if I just have a tough beard, if I've messed up the hone on the blade already, or something else. I'm also finding it awkward to find the right way to hold my hands and the razor for certain passes. I'm right handed, and trying to go under my jawbone from my right ear toward my chin, the blade is long and the scales get in the way. suggestions?

I am still new to this hobby, but here are some thoughts that come to mind based on my own experiences:
- I agree 100% with the points the other members posted to your thread. Great having a great bunch of people pitching in to help you out!
- Is your lather too dry? This can cause the razor to drag rather than glide on your facial skin.
- Are you stretching the skin? Stretching the skin is well emphasized in this forum.
- Are you using slow and short strokes? Made a world of difference for me. Less nicks too!
- Be patient, I keep telling myself that!!

Hope your next shave is a better one! Have fun and enjoy!
Patrick

You might find someone to help you out nearby you here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/vbgooglemapme.php Take your time and post a pin where you live as well. Most folks here are more than willing to help a fellow wet shaver learn the ropes...