Thread: Establish a yardstick

That's what I did for myself so that I would have a goal to attain.

I took what some would consider the epitome of sharp for a razor, a good disposable, and decided that would be my yardstick.

I think I read somewhere that no straight razor could ever be as sharp as a factory, machine sharpened blade. HA! HORSE-PUCKY!

I took the disposable and used it for the hanging hair test (HHT) so I'd know what the HHT should feel like with an established sharp edge. From there, I endeavored to get the same results with my straight razor.

It took lots of practice, trial and error, but I can safely say that my straight razor is as sharp as any factory blade I've ever tried, including the Mach 3.

Now, if I could do that, anyone can.

Oh, and if you are one of those who claim that your hair will not pass the HHT, try wetting your hair. If you still can't get that hair to cut on a factory blade, go get your DNA checked.

Good luck,

Scott

Great post Scott. I'll give this a try!

Jordan

Since wetting hair will substantially soften it (dry hair being as tough as coper wire of the same diameter), isn't that cheating? And remember you are only cheating yourself!

OTOH since we are shaving wet hair, it might be a fairer comparison to do it with wet hairs, but if one member is going to start talking about HHT and mean wet and another dry i think it is madness

Also a heavier, thicker hair will pass more easily than a fine light one, ie my gf hair floats towards the blade and i am doing well if it passes, but mine is more easy to pass with. Pubic hair will pass more easily than head hair too.

edit: I do not mean to cast aspersions on your success story btw, if you are getting as good as a disposable you are twice the stropper I am!

Originally Posted by ernestrome

Since wetting hair will substantially soften it (dry hair being as tough as coper wire of the same diameter), isn't that cheating? And remember you are only cheating yourself!

Sometimes it's ok to cheat. Go ahead, nobody's looking and we won't tell.

Originally Posted by ernestrome

OTOH since we are shaving wet hair, it might be a fairer comparison to do it with wet hairs, but if one member is going to start talking about HHT and mean wet and another dry i think it is madness

Also a heavier, thicker hair will pass more easily than a fine light one, ie my gf hair floats towards the blade and i am doing well if it passes, but mine is more easy to pass with. Pubic hair will pass more easily than head hair too.

edit: I do not mean to cast aspersions on your success story btw, if you are getting as good as a disposable you are twice the stropper I am!

It's good that you are thinking here, but don't let yourself get bogged down by "Analysis-paralysis."

Originally Posted by ernestrome

Also a heavier, thicker hair will pass more easily than a fine light one, ie my gf hair floats towards the blade and i am doing well if it passes, but mine is more easy to pass with.

I thought the same thing, but right now I'm questioning this conclusion. The two types of hair definitely respond differently to the same edge, but as I've been getting better with my honing and stropping I'm noticing that sometimes an edge will pop a thinner hair while the thicker ones will snap but remain attached, or maybe snap and fold back on itself...

Maybe this will change again as I continue to improve; it's a work in progress.

I think the lesson is don't get too bogged down in the details on this one; just go with whatever gives you a comfortable shave.

Josh

Originally Posted by joshearl

I think the lesson is don't get too bogged down in the details on this one; just go with whatever gives you a comfortable shave.Josh

And it's also meant to encourage all the new guys to set the "bar" higher and to not let anyone tell you you can't.

Scott

Originally Posted by ernestrome

Since wetting hair will substantially soften it (dry hair being as tough as coper wire of the same diameter), isn't that cheating? And remember you are only cheating yourself!

But since you should be prepping your beard with lots of hot water and lather, being able to cut a saturated hair is the whole point, no?

BTW, it takes approx. 2 minutes to saturate womens leg hair. Since men's facial hair is coarser (thank God), it takes a full three minutes of splashing, towels or lather to get your hair as soft as it can get.

Your incomplete quoting of me does me a slight injustice. I made clear that i felt a wet HHT might be a more appropriate test for shaving: the issue i'm pointing out is that it is a new yardstick and that might confuse things.

I've tried WetHHTs and they are easier to pass than DryHHTs.

Originally Posted by ernestrome

Since wetting hair will substantially soften it (dry hair being as tough as coper wire of the same diameter), isn't that cheating? And remember you are only cheating yourself!

OTOH since we are shaving wet hair, it might be a fairer comparison to do it with wet hairs, but if one member is going to start talking about HHT and mean wet and another dry i think it is madness

Also a heavier, thicker hair will pass more easily than a fine light one, ie my gf hair floats towards the blade and i am doing well if it passes, but mine is more easy to pass with. Pubic hair will pass more easily than head hair too.

edit: I do not mean to cast aspersions on your success story btw, if you are getting as good as a disposable you are twice the stropper I am!

Bold text to outline text in question.

Sorry. Above is the complete quote. I wasn't trying to say that you are wrong and I am right. I was simply restating the fact that we shave our hair WET and any time someone mentions a dry shave, we all shudder. I believe that using a wet hair for the HHT makes perfect sense. If the whole point is to cut wet hair, why should a wet hair not be used as the "yardstick" with which to measure?

I hope this can help to rebalance the scales of justice.

I think all is clear now.