Thread: Shaving against the grain

Good morning Gents. I am new to straight shaving and i am wondering if my blade is sharp enough. I recently bought a Dovo Best Quality and it was honed by Lynn Abrams. However, it is only slightly comfortable shaving with the grain. It hurts too bad to go Xtg or AGT which is the only way to get it close enough. I was told that this kind of shaving will give a great close shave so maybe my blade isn't sharp enough? Also, I cant shave with the grain after a weekends worth of growth. Shouldn't a blade that is sharp enough be able to do that easily? I would appreciate some help on how to know if my blade is sharp enough. Thank you.

There's so many components involved in a shave apart from how sharp Your knife is. For starters whats's your preshave routine? At what angle do attack the whiskers? I'm sure, from what I've heard about Lynn's honing skills that it was sharp enough. Please give some more info about Your routine and I'm sure we can give You a tip or two.

Originally Posted by elfort

There's so many components involved in a shave apart from how sharp Your knife is. For starters whats's your preshave routine? At what angle do attack the whiskers? I'm sure, from what I've heard about Lynn's honing skills that it was sharp enough. Please give some more info about Your routine and I'm sure we can give You a tip or two.

Thank you for the quick response I usually shave right after a hot shower. I lather up and get going. I read somewhere that you are supposed to use a thirty degree with the grain, fifteen degree XTG and five degree AGT. That is what I have been doing.

As you probably already know, there is a learning curve with regards to shaving with a straight. A proper lather is very important to getting a good shave so make sure you're getting a nice lather for your beard prep. Try playing with the blade angle and see what happens. The numbers you quoted are a guide but not a steadfast rule. Hope this helps

Something that helped me out immensely and may help you out is to let the first later sit on your beard for 10 minutes or so. Refresh/add water as necessary so it doesn't dry out during that period. After 10 minutes, rinse it off and re-lather for your 1st pass. I have a tough beard and this softens it up nicely.
As was mentioned, angle is probably another issue. It's good to have a baseline of 30/15/5 degrees but you may have to adjust a bit to get the best attack point for your face/whiskers.
Also remember to stretch your skin where possible. The taut skin will give the blade a nice firm base to work against.
Hope that helps.
Welcome and good luck!

The angles sounds just about right. Try and apply som lather and let it work while you strop. Then relather before you go at it. How many shaves with a straight have you made?

PFunkDaddy! Quick as a lizzard!

Okay, thanks I will try that. I have shaved with it about thirty times.

Originally Posted by Thejmojo

Okay, thanks I will try that. I have shaved with it about thirty times.

OK, you have been shaving with the same razor for about 1 month and do you strop the razor before every shave? The reason I asked that is if your technique is not too good you can dull a sharp razor from stropping it. If you stropped it before your first shave you could very well have dulled it then and also you would not know how sharp it was because of that. It is recommended that you not strop before the first shave so you known what a sharp razor feels like.

Somebody on this site and I can't remember who, said that about 1 spine width should be the gap between the razor's spine and face. I tried that and got a much better shave, seems I had too much of a gap trying to judge 30 degrees. Going ATG I have the razor darn near flat on my face and that seems to work for me. Going ATG really requires a very sharp razor.

Bob

Yup,

I was about ask the same. Did you strop your razor?

Originally Posted by BobH

OK, you have been shaving with the same razor for about 1 month and do you strop the razor before every shave? The reason I asked that is if your technique is not too good you can dull a sharp razor from stropping it. If you stropped it before your first shave you could very well have dulled it then and also you would not know how sharp it was because of that. It is recommended that you not strop before the first shave so you known what a sharp razor feels like.

Somebody on this site and I can't remember who, said that about 1 spine width should be the gap between the razor's spine and face. I tried that and got a much better shave, seems I had too much of a gap trying to judge 30 degrees. Going ATG I have the razor darn near flat on my face and that seems to work for me. Going ATG really requires a very sharp razor.

Bob