Thread: What part cuts on a blade?

Hi again Kippo,
Nothing wrong with being new :-) As rickboone says, the entire edge should be cutting equally, but not necessarily at the same time; in fact, given the angle the razor is held at, face contours, need, etc, it's doubtful the entire edge cuts equally MOST of the time, in my experience.

Just back off on using the tip (we call the tip the 'toe' and the opposite end the 'heel' (think of a foot)). I think you may be digging the toe in to your face a little. Buying a really square spike point would teach you not to do this My first razor has a really spiky spike, and while many would say it's not the razor for a beginner, I think it taught me a LOT, as it's also very, very sharp...What I mean is, I learnt respect. Quickly.

Over time you will figure out which part of the blade works best on different parts of your face. One important thing: Don't park the blade on your face. That's how you get cut. When the blade stops moving get it away from your face while you are thinking about what to do next.

Hi Kippo,

No need in me saying the same things as the guys above me. All great points. Bottom line is, use the part of the blade you NEED to use to get that spot the best. Watch the ears, (and your pressure!! go light and easy) around the small spots and along your jawline. These places get us all (or got us all, whatever the case may be) and taught us all to watch those spots.

As a newbie, welcome to the club!! As a str8 user, your already in the club!!!

Asking questions is the best way to get answers. You have to find what works best for you based on the advice you get.

Good luck mate!!!

Mike

Originally Posted by mjhammer

Hi Kippo,
Watch the ears, (and your pressure!! go light and easy) around the small spots and along your jawline.
Mike

Thank you all for your replies. This really is an extremely supportive community. I'm in Awe.

My Jaw! Not even close yet. Still use DE for that. But... My Ears? Do people cut the ears? Why is the blade even going near there? Then again I have sideburns...

Thanks again. Everyone.

oh man, I have scars in front of my ears.. When you go WTG along your sideburns you pass directly in front of your ears, and I have managed to slice both sides on more than one occasion. I literally have a scar in front of my left ear from shaving it with my right hand. It is sooooo easy to just cut in with a spike point. OUCH!!! hehehe. I don't know about anyone else, but I assumed I'm not alone in this. I haven't cut my ears in a very long time, but it only takes twice (once wasn't enough for me I guess, heheh) before you start to really watch out for it.

That's why they make round point razors, LOL!! Can't cut your ears with a round tip.

TTYL!!

Mike

Yeah, was gonna say Mike had a good point about watching the ears, or more precisely, the toe as it passes the ears! Also, as I shave the jawline I need to be careful of the wicked evil spike on my Burrell cutting in to my neck; just below the ears...

Originally Posted by Kippo

I've seen many videos, and it's hard to tell exactly where the cutting is done. When I shave (being very new) one of two things happen, One: I shave a large width of area with the middle, usually on cheeks or two, I shave tiny widths with the very edge of the rounded blade. This is leading to micro abrasions to my skin. Is there any right or wrong part to use?

If a technique gives bad results, don't use it.

I find it very hard to control the toe of the blade, if that's all that's touching my face. If it's sharp (which it should be), it'll dig into my face very easily. [That's why I don't use spike razors.] There's a very fine line between "right pressure" and "too much pressure", when only a bit of the blade is touching skin.

I don't have that problem when using the heel of the blade. It's closer to my gripping hand, and easier to control.

My suggestion is to cheat:

. . . Use a DE razor for cleanup, rather than trying to use the point of a straight razor.

It could be that, by switching hands, or using a backhand grip, you'd be able to use the heel of the blade, rather than the toe. Might be easier, that way.

Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

...[That's why I don't use spike razors.]...

I'm maybe a little bit of a masochist. I do remember having a discussion with my platoon commander (a female) about recruit instruction (of females) and My thoughts they shouldn't use any light on the fist night 'out bush'. My argument was that they had to 'get used to it'. She countered with a rather odd 'you don't need to cut yourself to know what it's like to bleed'????

Anyhoo, using a spike point as my first straight taught me a valuable lesson, to concentrate ALL the time... :-)

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Hi again Kippo,
Nothing wrong with being new :-) As rickboone says, the entire edge should be cutting equally, but not necessarily at the same time; in fact, given the angle the razor is held at, face contours, need, etc, it's doubtful the entire edge cuts equally MOST of the time, in my experience.

Just back off on using the tip (we call the tip the 'toe' and the opposite end the 'heel' (think of a foot)). I think you may be digging the toe in to your face a little. Buying a really square spike point would teach you not to do this My first razor has a really spiky spike, and while many would say it's not the razor for a beginner, I think it taught me a LOT, as it's also very, very sharp...What I mean is, I learnt respect. Quickly.

Ditto

Originally Posted by Kippo

Thank you all for your replies. This really is an extremely supportive community. I'm in Awe.

My Jaw! Not even close yet. Still use DE for that. But... My Ears? Do people cut the ears? Why is the blade even going near there? Then again I have sideburns...

Thanks again. Everyone.

You betcha. And usually twice. One for each ear, before the lesson starts to kick in.

Originally Posted by mjhammer

oh man, I have scars in front of my ears.. When you go WTG along your sideburns you pass directly in front of your ears, and I have managed to slice both sides on more than one occasion. I literally have a scar in front of my left ear from shaving it with my right hand. It is sooooo easy to just cut in with a spike point. OUCH!!! hehehe. I don't know about anyone else, but I assumed I'm not alone in this. I haven't cut my ears in a very long time, but it only takes twice (once wasn't enough for me I guess, heheh) before you start to really watch out for it.
That's why they make round point razors, LOL!! Can't cut your ears with a round tip.

TTYL!!

Mike

As per above...And yes you can cut your ears with a round point. I know from personal experience...Right up under the ear lobe.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'm maybe a little bit of a masochist. I do remember having a discussion with my platoon commander (a female) about recruit instruction (of females) and My thoughts they shouldn't use any light on the fist night 'out bush'. My argument was that they had to 'get used to it'. She countered with a rather odd 'you don't need to cut yourself to know what it's like to bleed'????

Anyhoo, using a spike point as my first straight taught me a valuable lesson, to concentrate ALL the time... :-)

No you don't, she's right there, but blood without pain is only 25% of the lesson. Pain will bring it home that extra 75% and drum it in nicely.


Mick

Kippo, my first, and presently only, SR is also a Prima Klang. As I have been using a SR for 1 whole year now, please let me share my wealth of ignorance.
One thing I noticed I would do often when trying to use different parts of the blade was changing the angle to my face. That is bad, very, very bad. When you are about to use a different part of the blade, stop and check the angle to your face. That should always be much the same.
The way that I decide what part of the blade to use on my face is simple. 1) What will keep me from cutting something I shouldn’t? 2) What is presently near that spot? 3) What keeps my hand out from in front of my eyes? (Seriously, I haven’t learned to shave by brail yet.)
Hope this helps.
Scott