Thread: Hello from Michigan

Hello All,

My name is Spiro. I am an Undergraduate Microbiology Major at Michigan State University. When I first started shaving, I used a cheap electric shaver. However, I quickly switched over to cartridge razors like the Gillette Fusion because the electric shaver couldn't give me the clean shave I wanted. I have since found out that I have very sensitive skin and very tough, corse facial hair. With this combination, cartridge razors left my face cut up and covered in razor burn no matter what I tried.

I started shaving with a Straight Razor last week, and so far, the experience is infinitely better. I have used it for full shaves several times already with great results. In all my shaves so far I have had no razor burn and only one or two nicks total between them all, so I am very happy so far with Straight Razor shaving as a whole. WTG shaves have been going flawlessly. When I do XTG or ATG it seem to be much tougher. There is a lot more tugging and resistance here, as apposed to the WTG where the razor glides easily down my face. While I feel this is probably pretty normal, I think there is more tugging on the XTG and ATG shaves then there should be. Does anyone have any thoughts here?

Former TC native here. Welcome. I just recently posted this link on another thread but look carefully at his techniques. This vid actually helped me out some years back. Cheers ! http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ml#post1446983

Welcome to SRP!
My first thought is that the blade isn't sharp enough. The blade should never tug. It may also be that your angle is to steep. You want the spine of the razor to be about 2 spine widths off of the skin to get the right angle.

That being said, it sounds like you are starting out pretty good. XTG takes a little bit more skill than WTG and ATG takes a little bit more skill than XTG, but that skill comes from shaving.

Make sure that you read the Beginner's Section in the Library and ask questions as they come up.

Welcome to SRP and congratulations on your first Straight Razor shaves.
Now you no longer shave like a G.I.R.L.!

(GENT IN RAZOR LIMBO)

Hi and welcome. As you go from wtg to xtg lower the angle and then lower again for atg. It will take practice and is good to start with a couple wtg passes then a xtg and add atg when you have that down pat. Good luck

Wecome to SRP!

Hi Spiro & welcome to SRP. Like criswilson10 mentioned, my first thought was that the blade isn't sharp enough & needs to be honed & stropped. It might just need some stropping, I don't know at this point because I don't know if you purchased it as a shave ready razor & even if you did, most of the time, they aren't unless you bought a new one from SRD, Straight Razor Designs. Lynn, the owner of this forum & part owner of SRD makes sure every new razor that leaves there is honed by him & also you get a free honing in the future for that razor you buy from them later in the future for when it needs it. You will get a closer shave with a straight razor than anything else, you didn't go wrong for buying one. All you need to do is to make sure it is sharp. You might ask around for any members in your area that could help you out. I already looked here but there isn't anyone listed there from Michigan:

Local Help - Straight Razor Place Library

Sometimes there could be another member close to you that you can learn from but if not & if you can't get your razor sharper by stropping it, you should send it out to be honed by a pro from here. Just look in the classifieds or you can even send it to Lynn & he'll hone it for you for a charge, but it'll be right when you get it back. Most importantly since you do own a straight razor, you need to know how to strop a razor correctly before & after each shave. One wrong stroke can dull a blade quick too. Do not try to hone it yourself until you know how to strop for some time. You can practice stropping with an old wide belt & a butter knife. It's easy to cut a good strop with a straight razor. We've all done it at some time but usually it isn't bad & can be sanded out or glued back down with some glue. I like to use rubber cement since it is pliable. You might want to get you a spare razor in the near future so that when you send yours out to be honed, you will have another one to shave with. You will like it here so enjoy & learn all you can. If you have any questions, just ask & we'll be very happy to help out in any way we can. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

I did buy my razor from SRD, so I don't think that it is a honing issue but rather an issue with my stropping. I adjusted my stropping technique this morning and got a much better shave as a result; however I'm sure it could still be improved. I think that I am applying too much pressure when stropping. Everything I have read on stropping has been a little vague when it comes to exactly how much pressure, if any, that I should use.

lay the blade on the strop supporting the weight of the razor. Strop back and forward using only as minimal pressure is required to keep contact