My first shave to day, Question?

Hello

I just received my kit from RupRazor to day, I got a brush, soap, Double Arrow shave ready and strop, I first stroped the razor about 20 times on the smooth side then lathered up, and started on my sides, I also ordered the Lynn Abrams DVD and have been watching it for the past few days, I must say it seems hard to hold the razor like I'm supposed to, the razor did pull quite a bit from what I've read and seen I thought it would just kind of glide over my face, I wonder of I stroped it right? probable not! right at the last I also ever so lightly bumped it on the faucet, I could see a very very little nick on it so I used the coated side of the strop for about 5 strokes then 10 on the smooth side and it seemed to shave better? but still pulled i also got a head of my self, when I started shaving I just keep going, I know I shouldn't but I shave both sides of my face and my neck then moved to my Chin and cut my self then I stroped finished with a disposable, even after nicking my blade, trying to hold the razor right and getting cut I must say (I can't wait till tomorrow night to shave again) HE HE HE, what I did shave of my face is very smooth better than anything I've had before, I love it. Any suggestions on the pulling?

Thanks

use less angle, blade should be almost flat on your face and prep well.

If you got a razor 'Shave Ready' It was just that. Ideally you shouldn't have stropped it. That way you get to experience the razor as it's meant to be. It's hard to remember in all the excitement though!
It's possible the edge wasn't quite perfect after you stropped it, resulting in the pulling.

It's recommended you shave just your cheeks to give yourself time to become accustomed to handling the blade. It's not a set rule, merely good advice. I couldn't stop myself on the first shave too! If you're struggling to hold the razor then maybe you should try it till it feels more natural in your hand?

When you say coated side, what's it coated with? If it's just plain linen give it 20-30 laps on that, followed by 30-40 on the leather. It needs that sort of number before each shave. You can go more though, if you want. Go slow. Speed will come as you develop muscle memory.

Try to maintain 2 spines width between razor & face, as a rough guide. Ensure your prep is good & your beard softened as much as it can be. If it's still pulling after those, then it's probably just not sharp now.

:gl:

How small was that nick in the blade? This might sound funny, but I have mistaken spots of oil, water and dirt as damage to the blade! After careful cleaning the "damage" disappears. :rofl2:
It's best to examine the edge with a magnifier of some sort - at least 10X or 30-100X if you can. That will show if there is enough damage to worry about.

Congratulations on your first shave!!

I've done a similar thing to one of my razors about a week ago and it certainly had a nick in it that I had to remove on a hone.. but as stated earlier you should be able to see something with a microscope or loupe. With my razor I just noticed it while stropping because there was some leather sticking to the blade.

Good luck on your second shave and try to take it easy..

Have Fun!!


Maarten

Hello

Unfortunately I did put a very small nick in the blade, the strop has green past on one side I got it with the razor it's a The Filly strop, I wish I had shaved before I messed with it, maybe I will order another I wonted two anyway, I will just shave my checks till I get my technique down a little better, I believe I will end up having to getting a hone to get the nick out, any good suggestions on where to get one? I need to stay around 8000 grit right?

I would like to say Thanks, if it were not for all the great people here I would have never tried straight razor shaving and missed out on allot. Thanks.

Hi,
Don't stress about it. Only use the green side occasionally. It's abrasive & not required before each shave. Since you've only got leather as a clean strop give it 40-60 before each shave. I like to do 10-20 after once i've dried it off too, to ensure the edge is completely dry. It'll be slow going at first, but don't rush & your speed will pick up very soon.
Speak to Kenrup. If you do decide you want to order another, he may be willing to do a deal on honing the nick out. You never know & it's worth asking.
(Hope it's ok i suggested that Ken)
I'd avoid the hones at the moment. You've got enough to learn!

If the razor is truly shave ready then any pulling is most likely due to poor technique. Keep working on it. It can improve quite quickly.

If your razor has a nick in the edge, no matter how small, you will need to have it honed out or it will keep cutting you.

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