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

Grumpyjohnny,

You may not be holding your razor at the correct angle. 15 deg. - 30 deg. is the correct angle, I believe. You also need to use your opposite hand to stretch the skin of your face where you are shaving and make it taut to get a close shave.

Another thing to consider is that a straight razor doesn't necessarily remove all of your facial hair in one pass. You may need to shave certain parts of your face across the grain and against the grain as well as with the grain. Relather those parts of your face that still have stubble and try one additional pass across the grain or against the grain. Don't overdo it, though. You'll get razor burn.

I hope this advice helps.

hi there ty ya I'm really struggling with finding my angle but it seems like its gonna take alot more then 25 shaves to find it i appreciate the info

If it makes you feel any better I'm about 75 shaves in and I still have stubble left in one problem area when finished. And that's after a WTG and XTG pass. I've tried an ATG pass on that area a couple of times but I'm not yet proficient enough to do it comfortably. My whiskers grow from left to right under my chin and neck and I've yet to comfortably find a good direction to get them all without a little stubble left. It's really annoying but I keep at it anyway. Maybe one day I'll get it

What ever direction you feel the stubble the most is the direction you want to go to cut it down. Some places may be hard to get but you will find a way if you want it gone. I can generally pull the skin somewhere to make a pass I want. In other word if you can't get at a spot ...try to move the spot :<0)

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.

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

I do some of my best scaring while I am watching.

This morning I was watching my mustache line and thought I needed to get some lower. Instead of picking up the razor I just slide it down some. I got a nice line there now.

Lol thanks the funny thing was i didn't feel it i just watched it bleed crazy glued it up now I have a conversation piece oh well part of the learning curve

Most think I have this mean crazy cat. The other 6 straight shavers at work just smile.