Thread: The sharpness "catch-22" for beginners.

Not sure if this has been posted - but I've noticed quite a catch-22 in learning the straight razor. I cut myself a few times originally, then no problem for weeks. Then (I think) I'm getting better at stropping. I went for weeks with no knicks and now that I'm getting better at stropping (plus CrOx) I think I've gotten to where I've made my razor way sharper than before. I feel like I'm learning over again as I get better at stropping.

The whole process is, in a way, ethereal. Consider it as a spherical trip and as we move around the globe of shaving perfection we are shrouded in mists and fogs that contain pitfalls and traps that must be overcome to achieve the paragon shave of perfect sharpness, one pass perfection with no irritation and especially no sense of having shaved at all but the end result is a BBS none the less. And if we ever achieve that nirvana of states we are probably in the next world.

Learning the straight and how to sharpen it is like learning a musical instrument, some days you're up and some days you're down. Just be patient and it will come.

Actually, if you learn to shave properly the degree of keenness should not matter at all. As a matter of fact the sharper the razor the less likely you should be to cut yourself. With a dull razor folks will apply pressure and do more passes and use bad angles all which can cause nicks, cuts and irritation.

"The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard."-
From the Katha-Upanishad, 5th century BCE.

Good for you! "Strop often and Prosper"

This may have nothing to do with stropping and as for prospering......hoo boy, as one of the all time forum legends says, "I'm gonna spend."

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Good for you! "Strop often and Prosper"

Originally Posted by WW243

This may have nothing to do with stropping and as for prospering......hoo boy, as one of the all time forum legends says, "I'm gonna spend."

Must be referring to Tarkus!
My meaning is that if you learn to make what you have shave well, you won't spend more money buying things you hope will!

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

The whole process is, in a way, ethereal. Consider it as a spherical trip and as we move around the globe of shaving perfection we are shrouded in mists and fogs that contain pitfalls and traps that must be overcome to achieve the paragon shave of perfect sharpness, one pass perfection with no irritation and especially no sense of having shaved at all but the end result is a BBS none the less. And if we ever achieve that nirvana of states we are probably in the next world.

This children is what we call an acid trip.

Just playing. That's probably the best description I've heard yet.

Countless variables with the human element sprinkled in and its a wonder we can get good results at all.

There is a bit a catch-22 in there. Learning to strop you dull the razor which requires more pressure to shave. And then there is the magic day coming off of CrOx where you strop perfectly and use too much pressure to shave - often followed by tears when you apply an aftershave. Eventually you figure out that with a sharp razor, you don't need any pressure on the blade at all. Less is more!