Thread: New member and lots of questions

Hello Paul,

In my experience, and I believe that was the experience of most people who took on straight razor shaving, the learning curve is very long. In average you should expect between three to six month before you pass the point where you can start feeling you started to master the technique. I actually gave it up once in cheer frustration, then two years later, like the prodigal son, came back few months ago. I'm glad I did. It is until now that my shaves are showing good progress. My shaves are comfortable now and they are getting closer and closer each day.

Things to watch are the angle of your razor and the pressure you apply to your face. The less your razor touches your skin (with out missing the whisker!) the better your results will be.

I also was told by some members here, that one of the most common problems beginners have is stropping technique. If you put to much pressure while stropping you are actually flattening your razor instead of sharpening it. So what I did after I heard this one was to send my razors to have them professorially sharpened again.

To summarize, I started making progress after I re-honed my razors, re-learn how to strop and became more aware of the pressure/angel in my strokes.

I read some where that if you are having problems shaving is not because you have sensitive skin nor because of your type of bear but because of your technique.

I wish you all the success you can master!

Carlos