Thread: consideration for shaving longer hair?

I'm still fairly new to straight razor shaving. Well, I picked it back up recently after having learned as a kid. So far so good for the most part, but I do have one question for all of you more experienced folks out there. I shaved recently with almost a week's worth of growth instead of the usual day's worth. I found that I needed to strop my razor about halfway through to keep it running smooth. After I did that, it was fine. The shave was fine, but it did raise a question or two in my mind.

First of all, should I give consideration for shaving my face when the hairs are longer? I guess another way to put it would be this: Is it harder on the razor to shave longer face hair? The reason I ask is because I had never needed to strop halfway through the shave until this time. I didn't know if there was something about shaving longer hair that makes it dull the blade a bit faster. Any insight would be appreciated.

Secondly, I was wondering if the razor I have is in need of honing because I needed to strop halfway through. Maybe the problem wasn't with the length of my hair, it was with the shape of my blade. It has been about 2 months since I started shaving with it. The blade had been sent in somewhere to be honed before my dad gave it to me, so it was definitely shave ready when I got it. I've read stuff that indicates that you need to get the edge honed again every few months, and I'm wondering if that time has come. Also, I didn't know if there was an intermediate step I could take, like honing it just on a 12k stone or something like that just to touch it up. I guess I'm curious to know what a good sign would be to tell me that it's time to get my razor honed. Thanks in advance!

Hair length shouldn't matter, as the razor only sees the hair at the surface of your face.

It is possible that your blade might need a touchup. The amount of time between touchups depends on the blade, your hair, your technique, your shave prep, etc etc. If it was the blade starting to lose it's edge, all it would need is a touchup. You'll never need anything more than that unless you damage the edge in some way.

You might try a Barber Hone. When that happens to me, usually 6-7 passes on the BH tunes it up.

I agree that your blade may need a touch-up.

I have previously shaved a MONTH of growth using my razor and gobs of lather created by Martin de Candre and my usual brush. It was one of the most memorable shaves of my life. It just takes lots of hot water and prep. Thoroughly soak the beard to get it as soft as possible. A sharp blade will go through it like the French army in Mali. You'll hear each and every hair "ping" one by one.

One of the most satisfying shaves there is, is wiping off several weeks of growth as if it wasn't really even attached to your face.
Let's see a Gillette do that...

Totally agree with that. Hard part though is staving off the gotta shave urge long enough to achieve said joy. We really need a fuzzy faced icon of some sort here for such occasions.

I'm pretty new to this myself, but I had to hone my straight for the first time yesterday, & it's been pretty much 2 months since I started so the timescale is right. It could have been poor stropping/prep/shaving technique when I first started that prematurely dulled the blade or it may have just been time, it's hard to say due to lack of experience on my part. A few very light runs over the 8K side of a Norton made the world of difference & I actually got the best shave so far last night.

Before touching up the edge on my razor I could still shave my sideburns & cheeks okay, but everywhere else was just tugging quite badly. 1st pass yesterday was better than any complete shave I've had before.

I don't know anything about barbers hones, but it may well need the edge of the blade touching up, & if it does, the difference is staggering.

Why does the razor have to work any harder if the hair is 1 mm vs 1 cm long? The cut is still the same regardless of the length of hair.

Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech

Why does the razor have to work any harder if the hair is 1 mm vs 1 cm long? The cut is still the same regardless of the length of hair.

I actually find it an easier shave when I've left my beard to grow a bit longer. It tends to get a bit softer (& itchier), but that's just me.