Thread: Incredibly Frustrated / Thinking of quitting after 6 shaves.

I posted this thread a few days ago.

The long and short of it: I had shaved only 5 times and the blade was grabbing like crazy and not shaving properly.

I took advice, increased my stropping dramatically and hoped it would do something...

Alas, this morning I could barely cut my sideburns down, let alone the thicker hair on my chin.

After much cursing and anger, I quit and used a Gilette Fusion I had gotten in a white elephant game a couple weeks ago.

The blade pops hairs on my arm, but it doesn't do dick to my face. It doesn't even feel like it's sharp in the least. I don't know if I got a bum razor, or if I'm just not cut out for it. I certainly don't have the money to get it honed once a week. This entire endeavor feels like a ridiculous waste of money and a good 5 hours of time for just 6 damn shaves; none of which have been worth a damn.

Is there anything that you can offer as far as comfort or advice. I really don't want to quit, but I feel that i may have no choice if it's going to make me feel this angry every time I want to shave.

Well, the first thing you need to do is decide if the razor is shave ready. I didn't read your previous post so I don't know what was discussed there. If it's the razor it needs to be honed. if it's not then you need to take the blame. There is no magic and no shortcuts here.

I'm sure you have been told this already but you need to give it some time. It's a skill that needs to be learned and getting frustrated will bring you no closer. I would just try doing the sides of your face and no more until you get it right.

Remember, at one time this was the only ticket and everyone else had to learn. So what you are saying is you can't do something every man did say in 1880.

You need to take the attitude you are just going to learn to do it and have the patience to stick with it. if you can't do that then maybe straight shaving just isn't for you.

+1 to thebigspendur's advice.

I'm betting it's dull from improper stropping and/or technique, sounds like a rolled edge. Before you throw in the towel for good get your razor rehoned and give it another go. Check for honemeisters in your area or send it back to Larry to have it rehoned. When you get it back be sure to strop it carefully and slowly and try to tackle one part of your face at the time, only moving on when you master that section. Good luck

You need to be sure the blade is shave ready. Without knowing that there are too many variables. With that knowledge and assuming your stropping technique is correct, its just the learning curve of straight shaving. I went 16 shaves before it was comfortable and over 25 before it was clean and smooth. Hang in there and give it more time. It's all worth it in the end...

Good luck

I've seen it written here "You'll be getting great shaves in no time."

You're finding out that that isn't true. It may not take 100 shaves to get a good one, or even
great one, but it will likely take more than ten.

It sounds like your blade is dulling. In your original post, you described stropping 15 to 25 times.
The key to stropping is repetition. Each pass has a very slight effect on the edge. I routinely
do 100 passes and sometimes more, and that is on a razor that shaved fine. If yours is dulling,
then perhaps the Barber's Hone will help. You have to remember that both your honing and
stropping need time to improve. Keep at it, using your Fusion whenever you want to, and within
a few weeks you'll be on here bragging about it coming around for you. Good luck!

Check the members map to see if there is anyone close to you. If there is PM them to see if they could give you some face time to help you work through your troubles.

You have been given good advice on both threads. Incredible Frustration at this point really says that either you need to back off your expectations a little or may be you are making the right decision. If the razor is dull, get it re-honed and let's see what happens from there. This really is a world that when you put a little patience forward in learning it, it should be a relaxing endeavor for you there after.

Have fun.

I agree wholeheartedly with the expectations idea. While it is understandable that you would be frustrated at the moment, you do need to bear in mind that straight razor shaving, and particularly doing it effectively, is a real skill that can take many many months, even years, to become adept at and even longer to master.

Accepting setbacks is par for the course I am afraid - we've all had them and we've all pulled through the other side. It really is just a matter of dusting yourself off and jumping back on the horse.

I'd recommend getting a second razor if you can afford to. That way you can alternate, or at least still have one if you need to send the other out for honing. And it definitely sounds like you may need to get that razor looked at. At least try to take the excellent advice to find someone close to you who may be willing to help you out. Some of us need to see rather than read what to do. On that note, make sure you look at some of the really excellent videos members have taken the trouble to make. In particular for stropping, there is a sticky in the stropping section by AFDavis that is truly helpful for every stropper, whether beginner or not. I'd commend that video to you.

Best of luck!

James.

geauxtig3rs,

You have received excellent advice in both threads and, especially with the caliber of members who have answered your call for help, I certainly can't add anything extra. Yet I always try. Please forgive me.

It takes a while for things to come together for you. Ace mentioned the 100 shave mark. He wasn't saying you'd do well in 100 shaves or 10 shaves, but the conventional wisdom, at least amongst some straight shavers, is that you will feel a huge improvement in your technique 100 shaves in. I'm beyond that, and although this is true, not everything has come together for me for that perfect shave. I get a DFS most of the time, but I'm no expert.

There are threads here and there where members a year or so in, year and a half, pop up and say things have finally come together for them. This is no quick road. You have to ask yourself why you're doing this. There are plenty of reasons, but are they yours?

Assuming they are, you can still get great shaves as a newbie with straight razors and show up for work perfectly clean shaven. How? By doing one pass or so with your straight and finishing with your Mach. You might want to invest in a double edge; there's a learning curve there, but it's not nearly as bad and you will learn, with the right technique, how to get a great shave with a safety.

In the meantime, every time you do continue to use your straight, you'll gain confidence knowing that your shave DOES NOT DEPEND on your straight shaving technique. Eventually you'll be better WTG and will then progress ATG and finally XTG, maybe start using advanced techniques as your confidence improves, should you find them necessary.

I guess what I'm trying to say, in my verbose way, is don't stress yourself out learning your straight. Just practice and don't feel ashamed to clean up with another razor. Then, the process will be more fun for you, which is much better for learning. Take the stress out of the game. You'll thank yourself for that.

-Mark

Just as all here have advised you , take it slow, this just does not happen overnight. There is no failure,except in no longer trying. Lynn and
everyone else had to acquire the muscle memory to acquire a great shave and so will you. This site is a very immensurable one, with great members who all have the same goal/shaving utopia in mind. They will all help an give their best advise always. I learned alot just lurking on the site!