Did I Dull My Razor Already (4th Shave)?
My third shave went extremely well, when I put on my AS my face barley burned.
For my 4th shave I did not do anything different during my prep other than strop more. For my third shave I stropped 15 linen, 20 leather, and for my fourth I did 20/40.
After my 4th shave my face felt like my first, on fire. At first I though it was just my technique when shaving (which is still likely was a contributing factor). However I stropped my razor today and before I put razor to face I did a hanging hair test (cut loose hair with blade) and 95% of the razor does not cut the hair, the hair just glides over the blade. This is my first HHT so I do not have anything to compare it to.
When I stropped my razor the past two times, I used a light touch, I made sure the strop was firm and I did not use so much pressure that the strop flexed (using a hanging strop).
Did I strop incorrectly and dull the blade?
When I strop I try to put no pressure on the blade and what pressure I put (from holding the razor as it is moving) I try to keep on the spine. I noticed going down the strop is easier than going down in terms of maintaining lite pressure.
Could I be doing the hair test wrong? Any insight on stropping would be appreciated. I have watched several videos on how to strop and though I was following their advice well. Perhaps not.
Guess it is time to learn how to hone, and buy a new pre honed razor so I have something to shave with.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Did I Dull My Razor Already (4th Shave)?
What is the weather like?
Seriously, if we get a cold snap my skin gets sensitive over night. Sure I prep well...but 30 minutes of prep will not trump 24 hours of skin exposure to new extra dry conditions.
I still get good shaves, but the AS burns a bit more.
Another possibility? It's your 4th shave...are you trying to get a little better shave than your 3rd by taking an extra stroke or two? The difference between skin irritation and not can be as little as one stroke...or a few grams of pressure.