Thread: 6 months in, still having trouble

Originally Posted by regularjoe

Your razor isn't sharp, and you may not be using the correct angle. But firstly, your razor isn't sharp.

But what to think of the fact that he has the very same problem with them new feather?

I wonder if a visit to a barber for a shave will prove beneficial?

Yeah, I agree about the honing. I think you're saying you haven't honed your razors, and I don't think you say you've HAD them honed. So does that mean you haven't sharpened your razors for six months AND you've got course hair? Have you EVER had a close, comfortable shave (i.e. when the razors were new/fresh?). Were they actually shave ready when you started? I don't have a heavy beard growth, so I feel for those that may, and also have course hair. Then again, the AMOUNT of hair wouldn't really be a factor other than dulling a razor sooner. Really TOUGH hair may I guess be harder to cut.

+1 to the idea about getting a shave by a barber; I was going to suggest that. Also, do you know anyone near you who also shaves with a straight? Maybe they could use your razor to shave and evaluate the edge. Of course it would always be a good idea to sterilise the razor prior to sharing...

Just watched your stropping video. I don't know whether thisis being caused by your having the strop haning up so high, but I notice that you're lifting the razor completely off the strop at the end of each completed lap, and setting it back down on the strop flat, instead of spine first. Also, it looked to me as if you started your forward stroke before the spine was down on the strop in a couple of cases. Either of these things could lead to your rolling the edge.

I'd recommend unshipping the strop from its hardware and laying it flat on the countertop or tabletop at about waist height, and strop that way, focusing on keeping the spine in contact with the strop at all times when you flip the razor to change directions at the end of each stroke. You won't want to use any more than the weight of the razor itself to keep the blade in contact with the strop. This will be slow at first but you'll really master the flip land earn how to keep the blade in contact with the strop without bearing down or rolling your edge.