My third straight shave. Honemeisters input needed.
My third straight shave went much like the second. 15 minute shower, 50 laps on my brand new dovo strop. And the best lather I have made so far. Was frothing out of the bowl with only an almond sized amount. Mmm it felt nice....Until the straight went to the cheek. I had about a days worth of growth on my cheek. First n to south pass.... Very discomfortable, it was like it was cutting half way into the hair and pulling the rest. I had to do 4 passes n to south and on the fourth, it glided down with no pulling. But no where near smooth. I then had to do a west to east towards my sideburns, and pain, discomfort. I pretty much did a n to south pass on the rest of my face, but everwhere else except my cheek which took in total about 10 passes to get what a mach 3 would get it feeling like in 1. My chin and neck hair are about 1 mm, my lip hair is about .5 mm. My face feels like sandpaper. Actually my face hair is getting longer each day. The razor cant keep up with the growth. Except on the cheeks if I do 10 passes.
On my post for the day two shave, most came to the conclusion that my razor was not sharp enough. I guess I wanted to give it one more try to make sure it wasnt my technique.
Just a recap.....
While I was waiting for lynn to sharpen this straight up, I let my hair grow for 5 days. When the razor arrived, my first shave was terrible. I couldnt shave even my cheek hair with the thing, using the word pulling is an understatement, it just got plain stuck and if you pushed any further.... ouch. I thought maybe the hair was too long, so I shaved it with my electric. After that I could at least get the straight "moving".
Day 2:
15x linen 80x leather
Better shave, but I wouldnt call it a shave. Compared to day 1, 95 percent less pulling, but it could still only shave the cheeks decently with many passes. It was able to shave the upper lip, which was impossible on day one but this was because on day one I got the upper lip smooth as a babys butt with my electric razor. And even though it was able to move over the surface this time, I wouldnt necessarily call it a shave.
Day 3:
50x Leather
Lip hair is twice as long now, so is chin hair...razor still moves over it, but it feels exactly like it did before I tried shaving. And when I say moves over it, there is much pulling involved in it. 5x passes down 5x passes to the east to get my cheeks somewhat resembling a close shave.
And when I say pulling, its about the same feeling as taking a pair of tweezers to your eyebrows to about 10 lashes, and pulling them taught, almost to the point they come out... That type of pulling...
Im trying to figure out what my next step should be. Should I buy a shave ready razor from bill? And contact lynn to see if he can find out how I screwed my razor? I am actually kind of worried that maybe I got a lemon razor. Tracing my steps back, I did nothing that would harm the edge. When stroping I always kept the spine on the strop. And applyed just enough pressure to keep the entire edge on the strop. And at the end of the swipe, flipped the spine over, and drug back.
What do you guys think, should I send it out for more work? Or try some more. Im guessing I need a second razor... Bill do you have anything that will shave a thick beard that has a rounded tip? Or maybe I should buy a feather razor?
Whatcha guys think? :thinking: :shrug:
