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As I have said in other post, I have managed in a few weeks to shave my entire face with straight and not nick myself. But I notice that the shaves are not as close as I get with a DE. I imagine this is because I am reducing the angle too much to avoid cuts and nicks. Any thoughts.
It is possible that through less than ideal shaving and stropping technique that your edge has fallen away. If my lather is too dry it makes for a lesser shave experience as well, and not very close. My shaving angle changes with the part of my face and whether it is XTG, WTG or ATG. On my neck and underside of my jaw, with or against the grain, my angle tends to be quite flat. One of the older members used to say that between one and two thicknesses of the spine is the range for how much you should raise the spine above your skin. In the begining I spent a lot of time watching that gap.
I just had these razors honed a few weeks ago. I can’t imagine that my stropping technique is so bad that I’ve dulled the edge. I get lots of feedback with the hollow ground oneQuote:
Originally Posted by RezDog
You'll be fine in time. Just keep after it and you'll improve your techniques that works for your face.
Well, I’m enjoying it too much to quit now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johntoad57
It does take a while to get your specific technique dialed in. There is things that will be specific to your skin and what directions your whiskers grow in different spots on your face. There is skin holding and stretching, also lather making makes a difference. One missed stroke on the strop with a hollow razor can possibly roll the edge enough that it won’t strop out. Also high angle shaving will kill the edge fast.
Also, if you change a bunch of things all at once it is hard to keep track of what helped. Pick one thing that might be causing you issues and change it for one shave and reevaluate. There really are a lot of variables. You will likely have several aha moments in the first little bit. Once you mail it perfect the first time there will likely be a fair amount of facerbating.
You could roll the edge with one stropping but the good news is that even if that were to happen anything you could do with a improper stropping you could normally correct with stropping properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elnones
Thanks. That is good news.Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
I consider that a normal occurrence and (unless you have a substandard razor) to me it is an indication that your technique is still evolving.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elnones
For a straight shave to surpass a good safety razor shave everything has to fall into place, honing technique, stropping technique, shave prep, shave technique.
If you have serious issues in any one of the above four areas the shave will be be ruined, if you have minor issues the shave will be inferior to a good safety razor shave, if everything falls into place your shaves will be equal or better to a good safety razor shave.
I consider the often quoted 100 straight shaves the point where straight and DE shaves should be about equal, but after that technique still continues to evolve and you slowly start to pull ahead with straight razors.
Having said that; until about two years ago I believed that ultimately a safety razor was no match for a straight, but since then I have reviewed my view somewhat and believe now that with the right (positive) blade exposure and (generous enough) blade gap it is possible for a safety razor to match a straight. Safety razors that meet above two conditions (essentially that the blade glides directly over the skin and is not recessed somewhat) are however in the minority.
Hope this helps…
B.
Interesting points. The Gillette Red Tip and the Slim are excellent razors. But it’s not really about just the shave. It’s about mastering a new skill and using a well crafted vintage tool. Achieving a BBS has never made a lot of sense to me. I can hardly believe that I can shave with my left hand. I will push on.Quote:
Originally Posted by beluga
Yea, there are a select group of DE Razors that will give you a shave equivalent to a straight but for many, maybe most that's not what it's all about. It's more about some real tradition and learning a new skillset and being in touch with the past. It's also a hobby for many though they didn't intend that when they started.
Best of all after you pass our test and pay your fee you will be a card carrying official Troglodyte with a badge and fancy certificate.
It takes time mastering but once you get it, it's the closest shave you can ever have.
Badges....certificate's....! Damn kids. Think they deserve everything. Those sure weren't around when I started with a straight. :rofl2:
Yeah, I know. You would think there was a Nobel Prize involved. Today I got a pretty close shave with a Wostenholm wedge, and I bragged about that in another post. It will eventually all be routine.Quote:
Originally Posted by outback
Maybe for some but a DE never got as close a shave for me as a SR. In fact I didn't shave AG with a straight for a long time, only WG because I always get a rash with any safety razor shaving against the grain. Now I do a two pass; WG then AG with a little XG under the chin. With that routine I can get no detectable stubble at all.
Oh, I've gotten shaves every bit as close as a straight, but never as calm and comfortable.
I feel pretty BBS with a de if i go for it but it doesn't stay smooth for as long as a straight