Thread: Advice for second straight razor shave...

Hi Folks!

I had my first (well, part-first) straight razor shave tonight. I had a 2 day growth. I stropped 50 passes on leather with razor thats been honed by a professional. I soaked my face in a very hot wet towel for 30 seconds, then lathered using Edwin Jagger aloe vera shaving soap and did WTG on the right hand side of my face - cheek, neck, lip and chin. This seemed to go fairly smoothly, but the blade seemed to "stick" a bit a few times - almost like it was snagging and then cutting through. On the left hand side the sticking seemed so bad, I ended up swapping to my DE to finish up - which was my plan anyway, I'm not in a rush to learn.

The blade only passed the HHT on the front half of the blade, the back half towards the heal pushes the hair over, I thought this might have cleared up after stropping, but it didn't really. The blade came back like this from the honer.

Can anyone suggest what would cause the sticking? I believe its my technique rather than the blade at this point.

Thanks!

kD

I am going to assume half of the razor isn't shave ready. It will cut hair but it will take more effort (probably the sticking you're referring to). Was this professional someone from the forums? I am not asking to name names, I am just wondering if they're a self appointed "pro".

Its a vendor thats often recommended, but I don't believe they are actually on these forums - this is why I think it must be my technique, rather than the blade

I would venture to say it is NOT the blade! My guess is it's the prep (or lack of), the lather and angle.

Is the 30sec towle all you are doing? Or is this on top of a hot shower?? YMMV but for me I know a one time 30sec hot towel would not soften the hair enough for a comfortable shave. Maybe try repeating the towel 3-4 times the last time with lather on your face and then hot towel over it and relather and shave, I usually shower as pre shave but the above towel routine has been sucessful for me.

As for lather did you find it drying out at all? This has proved problematic for me in the past and caused skipping bc you lose the "slick" and/or "glide" properties of the lather when it dries out. You didn't mention this but figured I'd ask about it

Last angle.....and this is really technique! If your angle is too extream (ie over 30degrees at MOST) this will cause, IME, the razor to skip across the face.

As for the HHT, and there are LOTS of opinions on this, DITCH IT!!! if it was professionally honed (was it a member here?) they have shave tested it and it should be good to go! Again this is a YMMV but after I send a blade out to be honed I DON'T strop before the first shave since most guys honing will strop it before sending it back ready to go! There is the possibility your stropping messed the edge up before the shave.

Hope this helps a little.

I don't shower, as I've only got a small bathroom and showering causes the mirror to steam up. I did actually notice that the lather dried out a bit, and I re-applied water and new lather - guess this was just because I was taking my time as its the first go.

I was careful about the angle, but this was my first straight razor shave

Half the blade didn't pass the HHT before I stropped it - but like you say, I reckon its probably fine.

If I'm not showing, maybe a glycerin soap or oil would help?

I would try adding more towels to the prep and maybe lather as you go during the shave (I did this when starting and it worked well!)

Also (using Tapatalk so cant link to it) but read the thread "honed razor still fails HHT-3" (or close to that) it has some GREAT advice and WARNINGS about the HHT

Just had a thought - the HHT test I did was with one of my wife's hairs, which is quite fine and conditioned etc. I've just tried it with one of my thicker side-side burn hairs, and while there is a difference between the front of the blade and the heal, it does pretty much pass the HHT the length of the blade.

I am guessing I need to soak more and stay at 30 degrees or less...

FWIW I have NEVER used the HHT! I'm in the camp that it gives inaccurate results! I vote ditch it and work on the prep, lather and technique

since it was your first straight shave, you might have rolled the edge when stropping too... making the once sharp razor not so sharp.

Thought I'd update this thread with my next two shaves.

After the advice given, I forgot about the HHT and concentrated on prep and stropping.

I bought some Geo. F. Trumpet skin food to use before the shave, and I showered first to make sure my beard was as soft as it could be. I stropped 40 linen and 50 leather. Lathered and made sure it stayed wet.... exactly the same. The razor was sticking on the hairs I got more of my face done, but reverted back to the DE.

The third shave was this morning. The same stropping. No shower, just skin food and a hot towel soak, aloe vera soap - perfect WTG shave! No jumping and I got my whole face done, didn't even put a blade in the DE

The difference is that I only had stubble this morning as I'd shaved Friday night, rather than a visible beard.

Maybe I was just trying with too much growth too soon?

Oh, I did cut myself once. On my chin I felt the blade hit a tough patch and instead of cutting through, it decided to move sideways. I felt every nanometer pass through my flesh - it wasn't pain, it was just sharp inside my flesh It stung when I splashed water on it to wash the blood away, and it stopped bleeding soon enough without paper or a stick.

So I feel like I've progressed today