Thread: Questions from an idiot

With a sharp razor, you need no measurable pressure against your face. Pressing with the razor will shave closer, but it also gives you razor burn. With sensitive skin, extra pressure is going to be a no-no.

The easiest way I've found to deal with multiple angles is to divide it into several zones, then focus on each zone individually. For example, I divide my chin into about 6 zones on my 1st & 2nd pass. If I'm going for ultra-BBS, I divide it into about 12 zones and finish with a water only pass.

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

With a sharp razor, you need no measurable pressure against your face. Pressing with the razor will shave closer, but it also gives you razor burn. With sensitive skin, extra pressure is going to be a no-no.

The easiest way I've found to deal with multiple angles is to divide it into several zones, then focus on each zone individually. For example, I divide my chin into about 6 zones on my 1st & 2nd pass. If I'm going for ultra-BBS, I divide it into about 12 zones and finish with a water only pass.

Is there any way to describe those 6-12 zones? It might help my chin shave as well.

OH, thinking of it let me run this past all y'all:

I said even after 3 passes, I don't get really close. Thinking about this for a while I have discovered that this is the case primarily along my jawline. The hairs tend to grow back toward my ears (horizontally). When I've stretched the skin I stretch back toward the ears and I've tested this only to find that those hairs "disappear". If I were to stretch toward the chin, those hairs stand up. I wonder if I did an ATG while stretching my skin toward the chin if I wouldn't get that cleaned up.

Also, I've been thinking more about my stropping/honing. I spent some time on the phone and PMing with Lynn. He's been a great help and I can now get a good edge of the Norton following his advice. So, I do believe it's my stropping technique that's the problem and from the advice here, I think I can narrow it down to one or two errors. I'm looking forward to touching it up tonight and trying the stropping advice previously posted and seeing how it goes.

Originally Posted by steve

When I've stretched the skin I stretch back toward the ears and I've tested this only to find that those hairs "disappear". If I were to stretch toward the chin, those hairs stand up. I wonder if I did an ATG while stretching my skin toward the chin if I wouldn't get that cleaned up.

Yes, it should solve the problem. For an against-the-grain pass you should pull from in front of the razor so the hair stands up. Be careful - your hand will be in front of the razor so don't slip!

Originally Posted by steve

Is there any way to describe those 6-12 zones? It might help my chin shave as well.

A picture's worth a thousand words. I wish I had a picture

When you look in the mirror, just pick... say 20-30 individual whiskers and focus just on them. Repeat until smooth. Stretching the skin really helps, and stretching so that the whisker stands up is really the key. So, as you learn more about your face, the angles and the direction the beard grows you'll have it BBS in no time.

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

A picture's worth a thousand words. I wish I had a picture

When you look in the mirror, just pick... say 20-30 individual whiskers and focus just on them. Repeat until smooth. Stretching the skin really helps, and stretching so that the whisker stands up is really the key. So, as you learn more about your face, the angles and the direction the beard grows you'll have it BBS in no time.

Thanks! I can get a picture of that easily. And, yes, I am learning about the skin stretching so whiskers stand up (I'll have to be extra careful in some spots as it will put my fingers in front of the blade). Problem is, I'll need to lather my face in sections so I can get a good grip in front of the blade.

I've learned more about my face in the last 2 months than in the past 36 years. It's confirmed what I've always thought...I'm ugly

Originally Posted by steve

Thanks! I can get a picture of that easily. And, yes, I am learning about the skin stretching so whiskers stand up (I'll have to be extra careful in some spots as it will put my fingers in front of the blade). Problem is, I'll need to lather my face in sections so I can get a good grip in front of the blade.

I've learned more about my face in the last 2 months than in the past 36 years. It's confirmed what I've always thought...I'm ugly

I do my final pass against the grain with water only leading the razor with my stretching hand and moving them in tandem up my face. It's something I've done since my Trak II days so I'm perfectly comfortable with it. Others may not find it so easy.

X

Well, I touched up the razor last night on the hone and stropped according to all y'all's instructions (it wasn't exactly the prettiest thing to watch but I didn't slice the strop and practice will provide improvement). There was a remarkable difference. I don't know how to describe the feeling when I did the thumb pad test but I could tell that the different stropping made a noticeable difference in the edge. I want to say that it felt thinner but that isn't the right word.

At any rate, I shaved this morning with 2 days growth and from the first pass, I could tell a difference. I could hear the blade slicing through the hairs on my cheek. I did 2 passes (WTG, XTG) and finished up with just water for the ATG pass. I still have some spots that aren't completely smooth but they're the same spots I have always had trouble with AND I can tell that it's much closer than previous shaves have gotten them.

No razor burn and the witch hazel felt nice and cool and refreshing.

It was a little rough though. Not any pulling but just not as smooth a cut as I'd like so I think I will do a few more strokes on the Norton 8k and re-strop. I will be getting a wide bench hone from Tony soon with the Cr02 on it. Speaking of Cr02, where does one purchase it? I can buy the diamond paste from Classic Shaving.com but they don't sell Cr02.

Thanks guys for all the advice. You've made a dramatic improvement in my shave.

Strop the razor before you take it to the hone! This makes sure that the fin is sticking out nice and straight before you start taking metal off, otherwise your first stroke on the hone will actually dull the razor a bit.

Chrome oxide and boron carbide can be purchased from Hand American (www.handamerican.com). I got mine in the little chapstick tubes, just rub it around on your strop then smear it out with your fingers.

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

With a sharp razor, you need no measurable pressure against your face. Pressing with the razor will shave closer, but it also gives you razor burn. With sensitive skin, extra pressure is going to be a no-no.

The easiest way I've found to deal with multiple angles is to divide it into several zones, then focus on each zone individually. For example, I divide my chin into about 6 zones on my 1st & 2nd pass. If I'm going for ultra-BBS, I divide it into about 12 zones and finish with a water only pass.

Maybe that's my problem, I've been pressing in a little too much. To be honest, my shaves with the straight are still leaving me really rough. My wife prefers me to use the Gillette I've been using up until now because it leaves my face so smooth-- and a lot less bloody! The straight hasn't even come close to that level of smoothness yet, but I keep hoping it will! Thanks for all your guys' help in that regard.