Hey guys, new dude around here...I love the idea of sraight razor shaving - old-school, closer shave, therapeutic and totally badass.

I just gave myself my first sr shave last weekend and I gotta say it wasn't what I had hoped! It may be that my razors aren't sharp enough... I have two old ones, a henkels and a Wostenholm/Sheffield. I do have a good hone and strop as well. (well I don't know how good the strop is actually, it's a Illinois brand...looks old but seems solid). I think my sharpening and stropping technique is good; I was shown by the guy who sold me the hone and he really seemed to know what he was talking about... X pattern on the hone and butt end first on the strop, etc.

Anyway, out of the shower and on with the williams mug soap...got a nice thick lather. I felt with both razors that they were pulling my beard hairs more than they were cutting them... Is there an easy way to see if a razor is sharp enough to shave with? I don't quite know how to tell. I finished the shave but it kind of felt like it does when I use an older safety razor that's not as sharp as it was new...

Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!!

Geoff


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