Thread: Should my razor stay sharp through one complete shave?

I started shaving only my cheeks, down around my jaw on both sides and neck all the was around. This left my mustache and beard on my chin. I never got a hint of the razor getting dull. I have finished 3 shaves which included my chin and the razor seems to not be very sharp as I finish up. My chin is the last place I shave. My beard in not very thick or my whiskars aren't very thick individually I don't think. My hair has always been considered fine. The only thing that changed in addition to now shaving my chin is I have only been using the $41 sight unseen razor I got on whippeddog.com. My other razor (Boker) has no handle right now. I'm waiting on material to make a new one. I just held it and I think I could still shave with it though.
So looking at the possibilities:

Razor is not really sharp to begin with and I need to improve my honing ability.
The blade steel on the razor I have used is not the best.
My beard is thicker than I thought it is.
My shaving ability is not very good.
Some or all of the above.

I've only been shaving about 3 months or so and I haven't shaved every day. So maybe it's my skill or ability that needs work.

The next shave I'll use the Boker to see if anything is different. I may be able to put the old handle on it temporarily.

I could use both razors for each shave but I haven't heard anyone say they need two razors on hand for one shave.

Any help or advise is appreciated.

Any ideas guys?

Jack

Exactly what makes me think the razor is dull is when shaving the thicker whiskars on my chin the edge will cut into the whiskars and then pull my skin. Sometimes a stroke goes smoother than other times. I have not found a good way to hold my skin still. I pull up at the top of my cheeks but don't know exactly where or how to pull the skin on my chin to make it tighter so it can't be pulled as easily. Maybe that info helps someone understand what's happening.

Jack

Originally Posted by jackknifeh

Exactly what makes me think the razor is dull is when shaving the thicker whiskars on my chin the edge will cut into the whiskars and then pull my skin. Sometimes a stroke goes smoother than other times. I have not found a good way to hold my skin still. I pull up at the top of my cheeks but don't know exactly where or how to pull the skin on my chin to make it tighter so it can't be pulled as easily. Maybe that info helps someone understand what's happening.

Jack

Sounds a bit like you just haven't figured out the right technique for your chin yet since it's sometimes smoother. Try to take notice and remember what you do/did the times it was smoother and try copying that the next time.

For me using my facial muscles works best for stretching, I look like a fish on dry land when shaving sometimes

I am guessing it is in the "some or all of the above" category. When you say you may need to improve your honing skills I take that to mean you have honed the razor after you got it from the vendor and you could be right on that. I think the chin and neck just below it have some of the toughest parts of anyone's beard and will really test the sharpness of a razo particularly going against the grain. A razor that is adequate doing the cheeks could be a bit dull for that area. Being a relative beginner to straight shaving and not doing it every day could also mean that your shaving technique is a little iffy too. Put all or some of that together and you could have some trouble on one of the harder sections of the face to shave.

Bob

Yeh it kind of sounds like youse need to take your blades to a stone for just a touch up. It's not difficult and is always a skill that everyone should learn. I normally may hit it on a 8k for a few licks and then to my naniwa 10k.

2 things come to mind, first is the stretching I push my teeth out and pull my cheeks back sometimes. This is done with my jaw muscles. Sometimes i will sort of do a bit of that and pull my cheek diagonally up my face. I also shave accross the point of my chin and diagonally down from the outsides inwards and then just a short north south down the flat.
The second thing is angle, due to all of the small angles that a chin is made of Holding consistent angles Is hard to acheive

Im my first few weeks of shaving I managed to dull two perfectly good razors with bad (leather) stropping technique. I overpressured blades on my strop and made them duller, not sharper. After a professional rehoning I went back to stropping on leather with attention to a smooth stroke and a very light touch - end of problems. It took me a couple of weeks to sort it out. My thoughts, as always, no charge.

Start with your chin. Then see how it works on your cheek. Could be any number of things but if you start with the hard area first that will eliminate some of the variables. This way you can discover if it's your skill at shaving or at the hone. Maybe spend some more time on the strop ?


Ed, are you looking in the fun house mirror again or is that just my imagination ?

Yeh moo you are most definitely right!!! I have dulled a blade or two while learning my stropping technique. It's really not anything anyone can explain to you. You would just have to see someone do it. Anyways as far as the stretch, that shouldn't dull the blade. That will merely affect the closeness of your shave.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

2 things come to mind, first is the stretching I push my teeth out and pull my cheeks back sometimes. This is done with my jaw muscles. Sometimes i will sort of do a bit of that and pull my cheek diagonally up my face. I also shave accross the point of my chin and diagonally down from the outsides inwards and then just a short north south down the flat.

Ed, can we get a step by step demonstration of the facial contortion's - pic's preferred.........heheehe