multiple passes

Hey everyone, All my things finally got to the new house, after the big move, and finally got a chance to start with the straight again. With the move, i havent shaved much for about a week or so, and with my hair being so thick and growing so fast i have a full thick beard. My question is, " Has anyone else had an issue with not shaving for a week then once you try your fist shave, that youve had to make multiple same direction passes. I mean like 2 WTG passes?" I understand that the blade should be able to pass through without a problem the first time, but i used all my normal procedures. Hot shower while soaking the brush and bowl. Followed with a lather building, then application. Stropping while lather sets in, then re-application of lather, and finally a shave. Still had issues with a pulling and needed to make multiple passes. Am i missing a normal step? I hadnt taken to a barbers hone in a bit, but it still shaves fine without a week full beard? Any ideas for next time i decide to let it grow for a bit?

the second it starts pulling strop....

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Originally Posted by paco664

the second it starts pulling strop....

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i tried, maybe i need to take it to the barbers hone. Just wondering if anyone else has issues with thick hair pulling with a fresh blade?

I suspect what's happening is that with a full beard, the razor is running into some hair above where it emerges from the skin and catches and tugs on that unsupported hair. A close trim with a clipper before shaving may make this problem go away.

I have skipped up to a week more than once since starting and recently retarted after oral surgery. I too have found the tugging and believe that Bruce may be spot on.
What I did this last time was to use a heavier wedge blade with very short buffing strokes WTG until the majority was mown down. Then I continued with the shave as normal. I didn't find a need to strop mid-shave and the pulling was kept to a minimum. I also never allow a razor to become subpar on honing as I will frequently touch up for fun.

Ok, since you are posting this in the beginners section, I will assume that you are really a true beginner...meaning less than 30 shaves in. Either way, I have one major recommendation: shave prep. I just shaved several days of beard off (abnormal for me as I am normally a daily shaver) with a freshly honed TI. I took a quick shower and lathered up and shaved. Had the same situation on the slight pulling. I did two passed wtg as you did, then did my normal xtg, followed by atg. Here's where my experience comes in. I knew it wasn't the razor as on the atg stroke the razor just glided thru the whiskers. Why? My whiskers were fully hydrated by this time due to sitting in three layers of luxurious warm lather before the atg pass. I then knew it was a lack of shave prep.

What would I recommend? Try this and let me know how it works:

Take a normal shower & clean your face well with a washcloth and whatever soap you choose. When you towel off, don't dry your face. Lather your face well. Strop your razor while your face is getting moisturized from the nice warm lather. After the 50-60 strokes on your strop, take a hot washcloth (as hot as you can stand) and hold it to your face for a good 30 seconds or so. It will feel wonderful. Wipe the lather off with the same washcloth, and re-apply your lather and shave....this should help to soften your beard.

Just a tidbit of trivia for you...a normal man's whisker is as tough as a pure copper wire of the same diameter.

I think that either the razor needs a touch up or that it may be technique. Blade angle, stretching, that sort of thing. I do cold water shaves. My "prep" is lathering on my dry, unwashed face, rubbing the lather in vigorously, and relathering. Then I shave. If the razor is shave ready it does the job in a two pass shave.