Thread: Faster Strokes?

Hey all,
So it's been almost a year (7 months) since I started shaving with a double edge. I've been using my Edwin Jagger 89L daily and really have taken a shine to this razor when I lost track of how many shaves I got from my Gillette 7'Oclock yellow.

Right off the bat I could tell it was at least 4 shaves in, I usually stop after the third shave and take a new blade. Since my hands were wet, face full of lather and I keep my razor tightened pretty well, I figured that I would try something new tonight.

I found that faster strokes with a duller blade give a very satisfying shave. (next time I'll try a newer blade) I combined it with a little TOBS Rose shaving cream (The scent grows on you after a few shaves) and not only did I shave with quicker strokes, I didn't stop to wash the lather off of the razor.

For some reason I decided to further bend the taboos of wet shaving and just randomly shaved my face where ever it felt right.

The result?

Well, despite having lather on my hands from not washing the razor off (not such a problem) it yielded me with three passes, no irritation 98% baby butt smooth skin.

For some reason it appears that it slices through the hair better. It reminds me of when I once walked past a physics classroom in college with a chart for cutting certain materials that required a certain amount of rpm's for the cutting wheel to get through.

Anyone have any similar results with my method of shaving?

No, I usually find after 3 or 4 shaves the blade has had it. I don't see how increasing the speed of the strokes would change the result unless as a consequence of speed you are doing more strokes or changing some aspect of your shave routine. If that's the case your just doing more strokes with a duller razor which isn't usually a good thing.

I have to agree with TBS on the life of the blade. When I use a DE I usually get no more than 3 shaves out of a blade. Of course we all have different beards but I personally wouldn't do faster strokes. I have always been more likely to get a nick with a DE than with a straight. I guess that is one reason, among others, I shave exclusively with straights now.

Both valid points, I think TBS is onto something there with a difference in technique besides the faster strokes. I always tried the flat surface and "face quadrant" method in shaving but perhaps since hair grows in different directions, maybe I subconsciously picked up on this, shaved in those almost random directions and that's what got me the better shave?

I remember reading a post saying that as compared to a straight under magnification, a new double edge blade is in far worse condition than a used straight edge.

One day I will make the transition to a straight edge razor but I want to start working on making my shaves less than 20 minutes but still retain some of the quality. I'd even like to shave daily since waiting every other day, although easier on my face, leaves me with stubble that doesn't look professional

I have found going a little faster with a duller blade can prevent the blade from catching as much, hence a 'better' shave. However this is essentially pulling the hair instead of cleanly cutting it and I suspect using this technique often would cause much more irritation that replacing the blade. In my opinion, considering how cheap DE blades are I would just go for the new blade. As for shaving randomly, as long as you pay attention to the direction the hair grows I don't think it's that taboo.

from working with kitchen knives i know that the angle and pressure of the stroke has a huge effect on how a blade slices through things.. i would imagine that your quicker strokes somehow work better for you.. i'm guessing that your body naturally adjusts itself to cut more efficiently when you are not over thinking out your actions.

i'm also willing to bet that you'd get just a good a result with the same technique and a new blade..

but i could be wrong.. who knows.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No, I usually find after 3 or 4 shaves the blade has had it. I don't see how increasing the speed of the strokes would change the result unless as a consequence of speed you are doing more strokes or changing some aspect of your shave routine. If that's the case your just doing more strokes with a duller razor which isn't usually a good thing.

Gentlemen:

I agree with my friend thebigspendur and have little else to add. As a rule, I change blades every three shaves, no matter the blade brand. To me, my Hollywood face is more important than the cent or two I might or might not save by prolonging the blade's death march.

Regards,

Obie

I totally agree with Obie and Nelson.

I wouldnt think faster strokes would help improve the shave and I reckon if you did it long term you'd find it caused razor burn or something. I'd far rather replace the blade often and always get a good shave than try to eke out a few more shaves from a blade thats already past its prime.

Well, Newton's second law of motion which says that force equals mass times acceleration would support the theory that moving the razor faster will result in a cleaner/easier cutting motion.

The mass of the razor is constant. But by moving the blade faster you will increase the force with which the blade hits the whiskers. The entire point of shaving with a sharp razor is to create a large, discreet, concentration of force on your whiskers which causes them to shear off.

Try this to prove it to yourself. Take a carrot and try slicing it as slowly as possible. I mean, really slow,take your time. How hard did you have to press? Pretty hard. Now, try cutting the same carrot by just chopping through it in one swift motion. Much easier. It's physics in action.

All the physics aside, I can attest the the fact that I get a better shave when I move the blade faster.