Thread: Cant get a good shave with a straight need help

I had that issue the first few times as well. I did a bunch of reading on the direction facial hair grows on different parts of your face as well as the different passes and techniques that can help get a closer shave. I tried a few different suggestions and was able to find something that worked for me. Not everyone is the same, so you may have to try a few things out to find what's right for you.

Pay close attention to your prep. If your beard is stiff when you start the shave it is going to be a lot harder to cut. Really try to get the beard to relax and keep it wet. A DE will not be as sensitive to the quality of you prep as the edge is sharper. With good prep, you will have a much easier time learning and the results will be better.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

....In other word if you can't get at a spot ...try to move the spot :<0)

This might be the best advice I have heard yet!!

Originally Posted by Grumpyjohnny

Hi there ty for replying ya its frustrating I can get a Baby smooth shave with a de but I love my straight razor I really have to find a way of stretching the skin while being able to see my razor i tried to stretch I couldn't see my razor now I have a nice scar lol gee

Stay with it.. it takes time. Just yesterday I posted a question whether I would EVER be able to replicate the close, and comfortable BBS I get from DE while using a SR. I was REALLT frustrated. Then poof.. this morning I nailed the ATG and a perfect BBS, both in one shave. Two things I am sure of.. I will probably go backwards before I go forward since there are so many variables and muscle memory is slight. And, I will continue to learn and improve with every shave.

Two bits of advice I got yesterday that really helped...

Don't try so hard. Seems when we loosen up and lower our expectations, and think less, things click. I'm not saying be casual, you want your ears where they are.. just stay 'loose'.

Second.. Treat your face like a riddle.. each section has it's own answer that needs to be found... as you find answers to how to negotiate one section, add it to the big picture and keep conquering one riddle at a time.

If you have done it yet, do a face map.. you likely have, if you're a DE shaver... Pretty hard to know which way to attack if you have no idea which way your beard grows.

Something that hasn't been touched on yet is the blade itself. You say it was 'sharpened' by a pro: was it done by someone who specializes in honing razors or sharpening knives? If the latter, it's entirely possible you have never shaved with a truly shave-ready blade. Your experience reads a *lot* like mine when I started out, and that was one of the problems I was facing: the thing just wasn't sharp.

Potential blade issue #2 is stropping. It can be really easy to wreck an edge while learning to strop. It really doesn't take much to do.

You mentioned the HHT, but please don't put too much faith in that particular test. There are a lot of variables that need to be calibrated in order for it to be a truly meaningful test. (the hair type, which direction you're holding it, what the cutting motion is, etc.).

Where are you located? There may be an experienced member nearby who could check out your blade and help point you in the right direction.