Another "can't get it sharp enough" thread

[celestino]

+1

I shave a small patch on my neck to test a razor after honing. I don't even use water. I wouldn't shave my whole face this way, but it gives me the best feedback with fewest variables. Even with no prep, no lather, no nothing, I don't have any discomfort. The blade shouldn't be pulling at all if it's properly honed.

You said you had it honed locally, and I don't mean to bash whoever did the work for you, but I would try another person. Maybe the person who honed it for you didn't really put a good edge on it to begin with, and you have been struggling with a poor edge all this time unknowingly.

+1 i have to agree with this. You have to know if the person knows what they are doing. No offence to the person who honed the razor. Good luck.

[mloyd]

Lynn honed my first razor, almost immediately I destroyed the edge. I don't know how I did it, but being a newb it could have been a hundred different things. Anyway. My three weeks were awful, and I was thinking my inexperience was the problem. It was btw. But my edge was destroyed as well. My shaves improved exponentially when I followed advice from earcutter and mapped my beard, and secondly by trying a different razor. Now I have two good razors in rotation and a reference razor that I use once a month.

[regularjoe]

OP: Send your razor to me. I won't keep it. I've got more than I can count. I'll tell you if it's sharp enough. I'll hone it. Then, if you want, I'll call you on skype and we'll have a real time conversation about shaving. I will watch you hold a razor to your face. I will watch you strop. I will correct what I see as deficiencies. Then, after you've gotten a decent shave for once in your life, you can think about skipping the lather. If you're not comfortable with old regularjoe, find somebody with one of those blue mentor badges. IMHO, for a person who has never experienced a comfortable shave to attempt any test of razor sharpness is pointless. Might work for somebody who knows what he's doing. But it ain't gonna tell you anything. Anyhow, PM me if you're interested. If not, as I said, there are a lot of honers and mentors on the site who can help you in person. But that's what you need.

[carlmaloschneider]

That's a great offer from regularjoe. I'm sure anyone who shaves with a straight day after day can analyse it for you. And the skype idea is a good one too. You're very lucky.