Thread: Lots of pain - bad lather or dull blade?

Hi OmniRiot,
Shaving (properly) with a straight razor is typically pain free. You shouldn't think you need to 'tough it out', it should be a painless pleasure!

First, was the razor sold as 'shave ready'. Was it ACTUALLY shave ready? If you don't know, send it away to be sharpened properly and meanwhile buy one that you know really is shave ready. I've been very happy with the razors I've bought here. When you start honing you need a 'benchmark'. I think if you've just started honing without really knowing if the razor you had was dull or not, you'll just end up guessing. Having a well sharpened blade to compare your honing attempts to is really important. Even if you start with a sharp razor, if you only had that one, I think after a while you'll forget what sharp REALLY is and end up putting up with a poor-ish edge, assuming you're not an expert at honing immediately on turning your hand to it.

Secondly, you make no mention of cream, soap, hot water, pre-shave oils, etc. Preparation is really important. Yours may be perfect, but it's worth mentioning just in case your using gel from a can on a dry face or something!

Thirdly, technique. That is, 30 degree angle of blade to skin (or less), no pressure, no sideways movement of razor (i.e. slicing).

Fourthly, stropping, and stropping is all about technique, too. I find the main points are lightness of touch (almost no pressure), no rolling of edge on surface, even stroke, concentration.

My first thoughts are though that the blade is simply dull. You could learn up on honing and give it a whirl, but in my experience if you just sent the razor away for a honing by an expert it'd be done and back before you learnt how to hone properly :-)


Carl

you might need to set the bevel on your razor using a 1k stone, and you didn't say if you lapped your norton stone and are truely honing on a flat surface. while it might look flat, it might have slight variations on the surfaces. Don't be discouraged learning to hone, it takes time much like shaving. If your razor is properly sharpened, it should be pain free and not tug or pull at your whiskers on your face.

Thanks for all the good advice...still struggling.

I got the razor new from Dovo and it was listed as "shave ready". After about a month, I had the razor professionally sharpened. After another month, I bought the Norton 4000/8000 (new) and sharpened myself (including stropping on canvase and leather). From the initial condition, professional sharpen, and self sharpen, the result has been the same - it hurts alot and makes my skin red and puffy, and it burns after. I am using colonel conk shaving soap and a badger brush, I seem to have a good lather going.

I followed the pyramid honing method today, and same result. Starting to get discouraged...maybe my beard is too course and incompatible with a straight razor? Maybe I just have sensitive skin?

I am using this video to guide my shaving technique
DOVO STRAIGHT RAZOR SHAVE FULL HOLLOW GROUND BLADE Wet Shaving First Pass with Grain Cut Throat - YouTube