Thread: Hanging Hair Test, parlor trick or useful?

I gotta agree with Glen on this one-its a tool thats somewhat uaeful while your honing,as it shows that your on the way to shave ready. What I would really like to see is a HHT like they used to show on the old Popeye cartoons where the hair would be split down the middle- Now that would be some trick, and the steadist pair of hands on the planet.IMHO

The only test that I can comprehend the results is the shave test.

The HHT works well with some hair but not with others. The big question for me is: does cutting or popping a hanging hair make it a good predictor of a great shave and the answers are mixed. Personally, the only test I use is the shave. You'll know in about 5 seconds whether or not its honed right.

Shaving with a blade may be the ultimate test, but it is of little use to someone new to straights whose technique is not yet well-developed. That's why Newbies continually ask about the HHT. They would like to have a test for sharpness independent of the shave. As tests prior to a shave go, the HHT is as close as we have at this point.

Originally Posted by ace

As tests prior to a shave go, the HHT is as close as we have at this point.

Some of the more follicularly challenged use the AHT (arm hair test)

Originally Posted by ace

Shaving with a blade may be the ultimate test, but it is of little use to someone new to straights whose technique is not yet well-developed. That's why Newbies continually ask about the HHT. They would like to have a test for sharpness independent of the shave. As tests prior to a shave go, the HHT is as close as we have at this point.

Usually, someone new to straights has more trouble with technique than with anything else. The HHT can produce a negative pre-determination for new people that a razor that can shave well is not shave ready. I have seen new guys try to do the HHT on a new blade with oil on it, with the oil just wiped off of it and with no stropping and immediately pronounce the razor not shavable. The bottom line will always be how well does the razor shave. We can have the same discussion surrounding whether new people should simply attempt a full shave the first time trying or learn a decent technique so that they can really enjoy this art. Some new people do OK out of the blocks, but most do much better by taking it a little at a time and learning to use the straight razor. From a hoing perspective, being able to cut arm hair or using the HHT is only an indicator, but the quality of the edge gets a much better determination from actually trying to shave with it.

I believe as much as this topic has been discussed over the years and the fact that the discussions continue to end in disagreement is quite indicative no matter how many ways the topic is approached.

As was pointed out earlier in this discussion the inherent variables may present the only consistency regarding the HHT.

This is a sport dominated by personal preference and that should always be respected. There really is no doctrine that works for everyone. Regardless of the results of the HHT, I would always recommend a shave test as it can give you some really good feedback. You may end up with a good shave. You may end up with some whisker being cut and only need to do a little additional work on a blade. You may end up with the razor just rolling over the beard and not cutting anything in which case you may only need a little more work. You may feel a significant amount of pulling or the razor will not cut at all, in which case you have a little more work to do. The more practice you experience with all aspects of using and honing a straight razor, the better you get. I have found that there is really no replacement for that experience.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It comes down to what you want to spend time on...

We're so fortunate to have Glen loving to spend his time honing those ancient worn out wedges

Originally Posted by stimpy52

YES !! YES !! YES !! (this should actually sound as if Meg Ryan is shouting it)

Now, please, somebody make it stop.

Why would you want to make it stop? I'd listen to Meg Ryan doing that for a long long time


Plus this is one of the most incomplete incarnations of the thread. It's missing the option 'none of the above'. I demand to be given all options, no matter how useless they are!!!! It's HHT we're talking here, after all

Originally Posted by Lynn

Usually, someone new to straights has more trouble with technique than with anything else. The HHT can produce a negative pre-determination for new people that a razor that can shave well is not shave ready. I have seen new guys try to do the HHT on a new blade with oil on it, with the oil just wiped off of it and with no stropping and immediately pronounce the razor not shavable. The bottom line will always be how well does the razor shave. We can have the same discussion surrounding whether new people should simply attempt a full shave the first time trying or learn a decent technique so that they can really enjoy this art. Some new people do OK out of the blocks, but most do much better by taking it a little at a time and learning to use the straight razor. From a hoing perspective, being able to cut arm hair or using the HHT is only an indicator, but the quality of the edge gets a much better determination from actually trying to shave with it.

I believe as much as this topic has been discussed over the years and the fact that the discussions continue to end in disagreement is quite indicative no matter how many ways the topic is approached.

As was pointed out earlier in this discussion the inherent variables may present the only consistency regarding the HHT.

This is a sport dominated by personal preference and that should always be respected. There really is no doctrine that works for everyone. Regardless of the results of the HHT, I would always recommend a shave test as it can give you some really good feedback. You may end up with a good shave. You may end up with some whisker being cut and only need to do a little additional work on a blade. You may end up with the razor just rolling over the beard and not cutting anything in which case you may only need a little more work. You may feel a significant amount of pulling or the razor will not cut at all, in which case you have a little more work to do. The more practice you experience with all aspects of using and honing a straight razor, the better you get. I have found that there is really no replacement for that experience.

Have fun.

Interesting post Lynn. Your final sentence really hit home: "The more practice you experience with all aspects of using and honing a straight razor, the better you get. I have found that there is really no replacement for that experience."