Man - that first pass is Rough

This forum has been SO helpful. Thanks to all who are so welcoming to us beginners :rock:

So this morning I really took a LONG time to shave lol. I actually got a decent shave even tho it took me almost an hour and two batches of lather. But here is the thing, that first pass I make WTG is SO difficult. I mean I don't know if my beard is crazy coarse or if my blade isn't sharp enough or if it's my angle. So many possible things I could be doing wrong. The subsequent passes were totally smooth and easy.

I do take very small strokes (1/4") and I try to stretch my skin as much as I can. But I think you would laugh as I try to get my moustache area. I mean I feel like I'm cutting one whisker at a time!

I had the razor honed by Whipped Dog who I know is proficient. I have shaved maybe 8 times since then and I strop on one of his "poor man's strops" before each shave (30 passes maybe). When I strop, I do it on a table and I apply little/pressure. I can do the HHT.

Any ideas out there? I can't have the beard of Zeus can I?

The secrets to a good shave.
Hot towels. Lather that looks like shiny whipped cream. An shaving angle that is almost flat on the face & a sharp razor. Ohh & I forgot... Lots of practice. :)

Hi,

As I understand it's only the first pass and the second is much smoother?

If so I doubt the razor's not sharp enough, it's more likely a combination of angle, pressure and lack of skills, work on the angle and pressure, low angle, no pressure.
I guess you now think you don't use pressure, but you are! In a few weeks you'll see it, and in a few months you'll see that at that point you still used quite amount of pressure, but that's just a part of the learning.

Be patient and work on this and your skills will improve, and so will your shaves, already in a couple weeks you shaves will probably be two-three times as good as now, at least.

And forget about the HHT, it's of no good for you until you start honing you own razors :)

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

How long are you letting your beard grow? If you are waiting a couple days between shaves, that may account for a tough first pass.

+1 onimaru55. In addition to hot towels, you might try an oil base pre-shave to soften your beard.

Hang in there, SR shaving is a journey, sometimes with a bumpy road.

Practice makes proficient. I do know that I prefer a higher angle, use longer strokes, and let my hair grow for several days. I guess that I am just an oddball.

thanks. Yes - the first pass is what is rough - the second and subsequent much smoother. I find it easier to not use any pressure on the subsequent passes but I feel like I really have to push on the first pass. I try to keep the blade pretty flat but maybe I'm not doing it right. I always shave after a hot shower.

I usually let it go for a couple days worth of stubble. Only reason I was using the HHT test was to see if I somehow wrecked the edge unknowingly. I don't know how else to know.

Oh and I know it's a journey - which I am enjoying. I truly don't expect any miracles and I know it will take quite awhile until I'm proficient. If it was simple then I wouldn't be typing right now in a "Beginners" forum on straight razor shaving :)

Yea, you just gotta find your sweet spot when it comes to angles.. Someone can say 23 degrees, but how does that translate when you are holding it to your face? Just play with it a bit and youmwill get there... Just don't over think it.. You will end up over compensating doing it that way. It relly comes naturally after awhile.

Unless you are not stropping properly and rolling the edge, it sounds like technique and angle. Is your lather slick enough?

I have been using Mama Bear's samples. I have a heck of a time with them. I think it's the sample wedges - not the soap. I tried my old Col Conk's tonight and I must say it was FAR smoother going and the lather lasted alot longer.

Both those soap are glycerine based, try a tallow based soap (Tabac, Arko etc) for my face I get much better cushion and glide with tallow

You know? When I read your post my first thought is 'Nothing is wrong'. Seriously. In the beginning it IS really hard. It certainly may feel like you are cutting each hair. As you progress, you'll get to know what works for you in regards to hand, arm, body positions. You'll adjust this and that a bit and find a better angle. You'll realise that you can actually break some rules (later). Let it take its time.

...And I think the HHT is a nice little trick but I never use it. Have you ever tested yourself throwing hoops using a tennis ball? The test of your razor is a shave of your face (and/or head); not cutting hanging hairs, or shaving arms, legs, dogs' tummies, koala's armpits or tattoo clients' bodies (unless that's what you use your razor for).

Just my opinion, and a plausibly implausible one at that...

My koalas will be disappointed to learn this. Now they will have to shave themselves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech

My koalas will be disappointed to learn this. Now they will have to shave themselves.

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I think it's just as well that they learn some independence, you've been molly coddling them for FAR too long...Every body's been saying so...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wintchase

Yea, you just gotta find your sweet spot when it comes to angles.. Someone can say 23 degrees, but how does that translate when you are holding it to your face?

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The thread below shows 16º(approx) is about average for most razor edges, ie spine to edge angle, so 30º shaving angle is lower than most think if you factor that in.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...zor-angle.html

if you go with the grain the first pass.. then against it the second as some i know... it will seem just as rought each time more than likely...

i suppose diagonal direction the second go would be better than a second pass in the same direction, and would not be as rough as going against the grain.

The first pass used to killed me for a while too. It gets a lot easier, once you learn your face. I don't let the water run while I shave, I like to hear the blade passing over my whiskers, the sound lets me know I'm at the right angle.

I always have a problem with the first pass also and I shave every day. Waiting a couple of days would mean an even harder first pass.

Prep is very important. It takes at least two minutes for a beard to begin to soften so that may be what you need. I always do two N->S passes. My first pass is a very light one and missing some is just not an issue because I am going to go over it again.

Take care,
Richard