Thread: Does this edge look problematic?

I got my straight professionally honed, and it doesn't feel sharp enough.
I'm probably completely wrong because this is my first time shaving with a straight razor, so I have no base to compare it to. I'm pretty sure it's only my technique that's lacking, but I did notice this on one side of the edge.

It's extremely difficult to capture, but I think it's almost visible here.
On the very edge, there is an area where the honing is visible. It's small, only about 1 mm wide, covering the length of the blade. But it's uneven!
There is a small section that hasn't been equally honed - or so it seems. Judge for your selves:
Would this be a problem?

I'd say it is impossible to tell from a photo and it is not unusual for a person to have unsatisfactory results for their first straight razor shaves even if the razor is perfect. It is also not unusual for the bevel to differ in appearance from one side to the other, one end to the other. I'd suggest you try again and maybe take another look at the beginner's guide for tips on shave technique.

Just a low spot on the blade.

I have shaved many times with it... It's not my actual first time shaving, but this is my first razor, and the first time it has been honed.
My technique is improving rapidly, but the razor still refuses to shave closely where the whiskers are tough.
It also fails the hanging hair test.

I would say, is to early to say. An uneven bevel doesn't necessarily means bad honing. It could be the spine, from manufacturing, to uneven wear thru years of bad honing, or it could be bad honing from the start. If you had it hone by a reputable razor honer and not just a knife honer, then I would say that most likely is your technic.

Not to long ago (year) when I started, I didn't get good shaves for about a month, then it was hit and miss. It wasn't, until 3 month after, that I started to get consistent DFS with occasional BBS. It wast until 6 month later, when I was getting consistent results with my edge upkeep, that I started to get consistent BBS.

Keep at it and it will come. Read, watch the videos of other people shaving, map your hair growth on the face and think and practice how you're going to attack that area that gives you problems, once you conquered that area of the face, you move to another area. Keep reading and practicing, ask question when at a lost and you will experience the most amazing shaves you ever had with any system out there. At least it has been like that for me. Double O

Originally Posted by kieselmayer

I have shaved many times with it... It's not my actual first time shaving, but this is my first razor, and the first time it has been honed.
My technique is improving rapidly, but the razor still refuses to shave closely where the whiskers are tough.
It also fails the hanging hair test.

Who honed it before? Was it honed proffesionaly this time around? HHT is only for the person honing (it's a measure of his progress) just because it doesn't pass your hair test doesn't mean its not shave ready. Double O

Originally Posted by Double0757

Who honed it before? Was it honed proffesionaly this time around?

It was honed by Maxim from japanesenaturalstones.com
Slibe Service DK Barberkniv
(slibe means honing in danish )

I don't know of him, but it looks like a legitimate guy. May be someone can vouch of his honing.

I never ruined a razor on my first stroping but I read of people that do. One thing I did, was that my stroping was not efficient (little pressure) and the edge went to far out and needed honing. After some time I experimented and started to get better results with my stroping. Best thing is to get together with some one that also straight razor shaves and see if you are stroping correctly and shaving with good technic. Or you could video yourself shaving and stroping, and have others critique you here.

Another thing could be your beard prep. Where you wet shaving before straight razor? What do you do for beard prep? I find my best shaves when hot shower, shampoo/soap beard (take oil out of hair) then conditioner for one minute or two, rinse, lather and shave (outside the shower of course!). Or if not on shower, rinse and wash with soap (30 sec.), then lather, leave for two minutes (massage with fingers or brush), rinse, re lather and shave. Double O

These tests will help

Straight Razor Sharp Tests - YouTube