Thread: Help! Confused.

Originally Posted by Jetmech

I'm on about my 6th shave. I know I shouldn't be expecting much but one shave will go good and hardly any irritation, the next won't, blade catching and not really gliding. I'm not even doing a 3 shave pass either. Just WTG pass twice and a little XTG. I don't think it's my soap because I'm using the same soap. Could it be my stropping? Or could it be one time I get the angle right and the next time I don't. I've tried using guillotine stroke a little too. I'm confused. The blade seems sharp using HHT. Is there a way to narrow down what I'm doing wrong? Bad stropping or angle? I try to pay attention to the angle I'm using.

On another note, I used to shave maybe every two or three days with a cartridge and now I'm shaving every day because I look forward to it even though the results aren't very satisfying.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My interpretation of your experience is that you're doing great. You have to work through that period of confusion, because the more you do it, the better results you will get.

You're asking the right questions. Generally, the best angle is 30 degrees. I'm going to attach an outstanding shaving video and an outstanding stropping video. The more you watch the shaving video you will notice little things like how well mixed his lather is (he uses Cella in case you're curious). If you can't perform these strokes at first you will eventually be able to do so. As you develop your shaving technique, you may find better ways for you than the way it is demonstrated.

straight razor stropping - YouTube