Thread: Discouraged

Hi All,

This is my first post to the forum. I just finished my first straight razor shave and I am discouraged and looking for some help and encouragement.

I bought a vintage H. Boker Razor on eBay in fine condition. I honed it myself. I am a violinmaker, so I think of myself as someone who knows from sharp, but I could be off the mark there. I took a few strokes on a 1200 waterstone to get down to some fresh metal, then cleaned up the 1200g scratches with a 4000g and finished with a lot of polishing on my 8000g until the bevel was mirror smooth. Then I stropped the edge, 25-30 strokes, on a strop that has been used with red rouge, though there wasn't very much compound left on the leather. It felt very sharp, the hairs on my arm leaped off from the mere whisper of it.

I took a hot shower to prep my face, then used some pre-shave oil. Then I used a fairly cheap badger hair brush and some shaving cream to make a thick lather. I worked it into my face with the brush, then put a thicker coat of lather on.

I tried to maintain a good angle, around 30 degrees, but that was really difficult to manage with holding the razor and dealing with my reverse image in the mirror.

I gave up about 70% percent of the way through because my face was throbbing and raw. I cut myself a couple of times but that wasn't the bad part, I feel like my face was belt sanded off, particularly my neck. I finished up with my regular safety razor.

I was really excited about shaving this way. I like old fashioned things, I have some sharpening know-how, I like being self sufficient, and I like the ritual of the cup and brush and cut-throat.

I have not given up yet, but this was the worst shave I have ever had. I have to believe it gets better than this.

Where did I go wrong? And what should I do now?

Thanks very much for your help.

Michael Doran

Two thoughts, and just opinions so take them as you will

1. You know sharp, but have you ever had a blade honed by Lynn, Glenn, Max etc? that will truly tell you how sharp a razor should be to shave with comfortably.

2. It sounds like your pressure may have been a little too much. Try lighter pressure and only worry about the angle going past 30, under 30 is no biggie.

also you should start on your cheeks till you get comfortable shaves, finish with your DE. When you feel ready go for the full face.

just MHO but I really hope you stick it out. It will be worth it!!!

adam

It sounds like you have the general concept and grasp on honing...but as already stated until you've had something to compare to you won't know for sure...after all it is a razor not a knife. That being said...it sounds like you've eliminated all the other aspects except for pressure...use very little to none! Hope this helps

Welcome to straight shaving. Trust me when I say that it's going to get a whole lot better. As mentioned, use light, but controlled, strokes. Too light of a stroke is just a dangerous as a too heavy of a stroke. Once you have a couple of weeks of shaving under your belt, you'll get to know what angles and what pressure you need for different areas on your face.

During the first week or so, don't try to do your whole face at one time. Take time to see what you're doing and how things are working out. The nose and chin are generally the last areas to focus on because they are tough areas to manage.

One thing that I will suggest for beginners - with the first couple of shaves, don't focus on sharpness or smoothness, focus on angles and your attack on your face. In fact, I would recommend shaving with a normal razor first, with whatever you used before a straight, and then lather up and try shaving with the straight. This takes away the sharpness and smoothness variables so you can concentrate on blade angle, how you hold the blade for the attack, and what pressures feel good. It will also allow your skin to get accustomed to the straight razor without burning or cutting your skin.

Don't give up! You'll get it in no time!!

Joshua

Let your razor honed by a pro like lynn, max ect.
Once you know how sharp he has to be, you know how sharp you have to make it yourself.
Make Good Lather from a good soap or cream, not the foam from an aerosol.
Get a good angle of the razor, and let the razor do its job.
No pressure between skin and razor, and take your time. (if you come out of the shower, make sure you dry your hands. so you can hold the razor securely without slipping)
have fun and keep trying, it gets better

The first shave can be intimidating, as you are not going to get anywhere near to what you expect from your DE. This is a whole different ballgame, but there is some good advice in these posts above mine.

I would suggest you try sending your razor or, if there's a honemeister in your area, meeting up with someone who can show you a trick or two about straight honing. Also, as light as you think your pressure is, go lighter. The sharpness of the blade should cut, not your pressure. This is something that, as a fellow noob, I am constantly having to keep in mind while shaving, as the tendency is to go for more pressure to get those whiskers off.

Don't give up! Once you start to get the feel for it, the experience is wonderful.

Thanks for the replies.

I am open to the possibility that my razor isn't sharp. It sounds like a good idea to get it professionally honed at least once so I can compare it to something.

I was also thinking of getting a professional shave once, to see what it is supposed to feel like when it is done correctly. What do you guys think of that idea?

Pressure is an interesting variable I did not consider much. I will experiment a bit with that next time.

One of the reasons I wanted to switch to straight shaving is that I get ingrown hairs on my neck, and have heard that that is less of a problem with a straight shave. So I guess I have pretty sensitive skin on my neck to begin with.

I like the idea of not shaving my whole face at first. I think easing into it would make a difference. I was just so excited that I finally got all my stuff together that I bit off more than I could chew.

Thanks,

Michael

Who are Lynn and Max? Are they people who hone razors or companies? There is a "The Art of Shaving" store kind of close by to me, and I think they hone razors there, or have them sent out. Any opinions on that place?

Thanks,

Michael (near Seattle)

You can find some folks that hone in the classifieds.