Thread: Help for a frustrated beginner

I've tried several blades: The Feather (wow, it's sharp) and a Dovo straight and two different Thiers-Issard straights.

Try as I might, I just can't get a good shave from the straights. They are Lynn-honed razors, but they just don't remove hair as good as my Mach 3. I am lathering up and using a good brush, using Trumpers shaving cream.

As shown in Lynn's video, I do the hot towel treatment, then brush on the cream and work it in. Things start Ok on the sideburns, but on the chin area in particular, the hairs just stick out and the blades just can't cut them. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

The Feather and the Mach3 can do the job, but I'm more inclined to trying a traditional straight.

I am gonna guess that its your angle. About what angle are you using on your chin?

How are you stropping? The angle is important, the sharpness not just off the hone but off the strop is important, skin stretching is important.
Are you stretching out the skin there cause that stands it up to be cut flush. Also how long have you been practicing? It takes time to get that smooth.

I'd imagine the chin is one of the hardest parts for most people.

For me, I'm gonna keep my beard down there, so I get to avoid that whole area for a while.

There is a learning curve when you begin to shave with a str8 razor. The problem seems to be with the angle of the blade, and the chin and neck are the most difficult areas.

There will be times of frustration, the important thing is to not give up,

How long have you been shaving?

The amount of time it takes to get proficient with a str8 is measured in months rather than days.

I find , that a very low blade angle works best on my chin , on the first pass . I pick it up a touch higher on the second .

I am doing about a 30 degree angle. Very careful to not hold too flat (so as not to pull the hair). I can use the technique on the Feather and good pretty good results. So I'm not sure if it's the technique that's the problem.

I received the Dovo and the TI blade today, they were honed but I didn't strip them yet. I'll try that for tomorrow and hope it helps. I am using an untreated Dovo Strop on the leather side.

Originally Posted by hal_jackson

I am doing about a 30 degree angle. Very careful to not hold too flat (so as not to pull the hair). I can use the technique on the Feather and good pretty good results. So I'm not sure if it's the technique that's the problem.

I received the Dovo and the TI blade today, they were honed but I didn't strip them yet. I'll try that for tomorrow and hope it helps. I am using an untreated Dovo Strop on the leather side.

Angle sounds good. Stropping can sometimes help greatly. If you are just beginning be careful, go slow, and don't put pressure on the blade when stropping. You wouldn't want to dull a freshly (and perfectly) honed razor by stropping incorrectly.
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Originally Posted by hal_jackson

I've tried several blades: The Feather (wow, it's sharp) and a Dovo straight and two different Thiers-Issard straights.

Try as I might, I just can't get a good shave from the straights. They are Lynn-honed razors, but they just don't remove hair as good as my Mach 3. I am lathering up and using a good brush, using Trumpers shaving cream.

As shown in Lynn's video, I do the hot towel treatment, then brush on the cream and work it in. Things start Ok on the sideburns, but on the chin area in particular, the hairs just stick out and the blades just can't cut them. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

The Feather and the Mach3 can do the job, but I'm more inclined to trying a traditional straight.

I am certain your problem is within the highlighted sentences.

First, don't even try compare sharpness of machined blades to man honed blades, you won't get a sharpness the same, but you will get it close.

You are trying out three completely different shaving methods, whilst you are starting just stick with the real straight and the M3 or the feather and M3.
An M3 and a feather are not very similar at all, neither is a feather and a straight, or straight and M3. You get what I mean.
The feather angles are completely different to using a real straight and neither is easy to get the hang of when first starting out.

IMO if you prefer to learn the straight first, ditch the feather, at least until you have more experience. Then you can try again. I started with a feather and then changed to real straights, it would have been better to start the other way round, because like you, I thought nothing could ever compare to the feather or cartridge shaver, but after some time, I am getting used to the real straight.

I didn't see an answer, how long have you been on the straight path?

I've been doing straights about a month. Right now, I get my best shave with the Feather (professional blades). Each shave with it I can do better. I am more aesthetically drawn to a traditional straight, but my worst shaves come from my pre-honed Dovo and Thiers-Issard. I am going to try honing the Dovo using Lynn's video as a guide, and would like to learn honing anyway. Not sure if it's my technique but my so-called "shave ready" straights give me horrible shaves, even after stropping.

Regarding my straights, I don't think it's totally my technique because I can do the sideburns (easiest surface anyway) and I get crummy results even there with the straight. The Feather leaves it smooth as glass.

Are feathers frowned upon in general, how do traditional straight shavers feel about them?