Thread: Advice for second straight razor shave...

Just take your time. The learning curve of the straight razor takes a while to master, it is not like the mock3 that anyone can get an ok shave from at the first try.
But it is worth the effort. take it small steps at the time.

If you haven't done so already; read these threads by Lynn:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ead-first.html
and
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html

If you have read them already; Good for you, it does not hurt to re-read them.

I bit of advice that helped me learn (and I'm still learning) is to not go to 30 degrees on the first pass. Keep the blade about one spine width away on the first pass. You will take off most of the hair, but it won't be as close as you want it to be. On the second pass use 2 spine widths (30 degrees) and you will get the closeness you want. This should increase the comfort of the shave.

As you gain experience you can switch to 30 degrees on the first pass.

Not meaning to stir the pot here, but the keener that your razor is, the less of an angle you need to cut well. Remember, when your razor is being honed, the spine is flat against the hone (meaning this would be the closest and least irritating shaving angle if you had the most perfect edge and technique in the world--as well as a completely flat face).

Now, since we don't have flat faces and the edge varies (and in fact is ever so slightly rounded by the stropping process), we need to increase the angle, just a tad. Ideally, 30 degrees is the maximum angle that you'd want. Any more that that and you're not really shaving, you're starting to scrape the hair off. The flatter your angle, the less irritated you'll be, but that only works with a sharper razor (especially on tough hair). So, anywhere between 1-2 times the spine width is good (remember, this means that there is potentially only half a spine width between the spine and your skin. That's still pretty flat).

Good luck, and just continue practicing!

A couple pennies in the pot. I noticed in your first post, you mentioned the stickieness got real bad on the other side of your face. If following the guides you switched hands, otherwise your original hand is at a vastly different angle. Either may have caused your actual angle to be off a bit. I am 6 months down the road and still learning those little nuances to the shave. After getting the basics down, playing with the angle has proved a bit fruitful. At least my face likes different angles all over the place.