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

Ehh guys i just joined i bought a straight razor from a antique store had it pro sharpened my strops seem good pass the hanging hair test real good but cant get a great shave I've had around 25 shaves with it but got lots of stubble left advice would be greatly appreciated ty

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)

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.

Lol thank god I work at a hospital