Thread: How Much Resistance Is Correct

Resistance can depend a lot on the density of your beard. A light beard will not provide much resistance, and the razor will plow through it effortlessly. A heavy beard will definitely put up some resistance no matter how sharp a blade is. That being said, if you find the razor is literally being stalled mid-stroke it is usually due to a dull blade or faulty technique.

If the user is:
a) experienced, the cause is likely the former
b) inexperienced, the cause could be both. Proper stropping also comes into play, so that's something else to consider.

So many variables at play when it come to getting a smooth shave....

Thanks all

The straight razor was honed by Lynn. You can forget sharpness as the issue.

There are two phases to consider: (1) when reducing the whiskers to skin level, and (2) the rest of the shave. Phase #2 should be smooth, no drag and pulling, smooth, light pressure! However, #1 will be accompanied with some resistance and pulling.

You shave with a scalpel sharp Gillette "something", and the first time you drag the razor over your beard, there is pulling and resistance. The razor doesn't even contact the skin, but rides on top of the whiskers maybe. Each pull is met with resistance, but the whiskers are being cut. And, when you get the whiskers down to skin level, then the razor glides smooth.

The above is how shaving with a commercially sharpened blade occurs. And, if you have some pulling during this initial phase with a commercially sharp blade, you can expect the same experience with a straight razor.

(If your whiskers are light, or if you are adept at shaving knowing slices and such, then the above pulling might be minimal. But, that is in the future. And, even then, there will be some resistance... cutting thru a few hundred whiskers all at the same time, well the physics tells you there will be some resistance no matter how efficiently you slice and scythe.)