Thread: Newbie help please

Good evening! Just used a feather ss non folding straight with a kia captain mild blade for the second time. Now I've been a daily de shaver for two years now so I have a wet shaving routine thats been very successful. However, when I shave with the ss it keeps skipping on my face. With that said, its scary how my face is equivalent to sand paper and shave soaps are in primary use. Anyone know why the skipping? What's the proper angle? 30 degrees approximately. Thanks.

Poor stretching and or dry lather would be my first guesses. I don't know about shavettes but straights generally need a wetter lather than D/E's.

Thanks. My lather is definitely wet enough

As a fellow newb using the DX I experienced some skipping in the first few shaves. For me this was because my strokes were too slow and/or too long. Try faster shorter strokes. Only other thing I can think of is try the professional or super blades.
RE angle, I like to keep as flat as possible without touching and adjust from there.
I have problems with soap drying up cause it takes me a long time so I lather up in sections and find it really helps.

Thanks I'll give it a shake

Sorry I didn't mean FAST, I meant me personally was taking slow strokes at times. Watch a few videos so you have a sense of what the correct speed is.

I keep the angle at between half to one spine width away.

I have never used a shavette, so I am only relaying what I think I remember reading in this forum. I am under the impression that a shavette is to be used at a much steeper angle. That is, NOT keeping the spine near the cheek but rather having it closer to a 45 degree angle.

Originally Posted by Utopian

That is, NOT keeping the spine near the cheek but rather having it closer to a 45 degree angle.

I just checked the angle I use and it is between 35-45 (best guess) degrees for the most part.

I currently use a 40deg ish with my shavette.

That being said: START FLATTER!!! and work your way up. High angles can easily lead to razor burn when you're learning. Shavettes are unforgiving.
But, to avoid skipping, shave with short strokes and make sure you're stretching your skin. Don't try to cover your entire cheek in on stroke; I'd say that four or five short strokes from sideburn to jawline sounds reasonable in my head.

Get the 30 degree angle to stay consistent with the angle of the face. Use buffing as needed. Good lather helps, if its not already there.

Good Luck!

Pabster