At what point did your shaves improve?

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Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Just curious as to how long it took for your guys shaves to improve? Being a long time DE user I knew what a proper shave without irritation was like when I started with straights. I've been using straights for a few months an have progressed much faster than expected IMO. I am now doing 3 pass shaves an getting very good quality shaves. It was frustrating at first. I was used to excellent shaves then took a major step back when starting with straights. Glad it has started to come around. Makes it much more enjoyable.

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My shaves began improving when I finally started to dial in my pre-shave prep. My beard is tough and without the proper prep I end up with tugging, pressing too hard, etc. The more I took my time preparing my beard, the better my shaves got as I could learn to use proper technique and let the blade do the work.

My pre-shave routine became:

1. Hot shower, applying shea butter hair conditioner to my beard, letting it sit for a few minutes.
2. Rinse off conditioner, end shower but leave beard wet.
3. Apply Shave Secret to my still wet beard.
4. Lather up with the wettest lather I can manage.
5. Strop blade, letting wet lather work its magic.
6. By now a number of minutes have elapsed since 1. and my tough beard is now ready.

When I follow my routine I get consistently excellent shaves.

Your proper routine, of course, may differ.

Mike

About a month in now and my neck is the only remaining problem area. I can get my cheeks/chin absolutely smooth. Just recently got to where I could get around my mouth as I'd like it. Still however will miss some hairs on my neck. Issue for me seems to be hair direction as the hair on my neck grows in multiple directions. I have to do several passes to get the hair shortened and then go back for a clean shave to avoid irritation.

mdwright - what style of shea butter are you using? I think part of my issues with the neck are the same as yours - VERY tough beard.

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

mdwright - what style of shea butter are you using? I think part of my issues with the neck are the same as yours - VERY tough beard.

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Suave almond + shea butter conditioner. Cheap at Walmart. In the shower I wash my face, apply Suave, continue showering everything else, rinse off face last being sure not to get any more soap or shampoo onto my beard.

Attachment 171941

I hadn't even thought about this - thanks! I'm going to try this out. Conditioner definitely softens head hair, so I can't believe I didn't think about this for the face.

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Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

I hadn't even thought about this - thanks! I'm going to try this out. Conditioner definitely softens head hair, so I can't believe I didn't think about this for the face.

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I make a point of using a 'softens dry hair' conditioner rather than a 'repair and strengthen' type. The last thing I want to do is to strengthen my beard!

mdwright - just bought this via amazon. Smaller size to try out, and figured I'd get matching for my shampoo.

Amazon.com : Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo + Conditioner Pump Bottle 2 Pack 25 Oz Each : Beauty

I started in December and when I reached 100 shaves, it seemed to go much better due to my technique and skills etc. Now at 180 I get a perfect shave every time. It really came together at about 150 when I listened to Tony Miller. I followed his advice. Strop 30 on the linen and 30 on the leather and have not had a marginal shave since

My shaves started to improve when I decided I really didn't know what I was doing and went back to the video of lynn shaving and watched and listened. I found out that my angle was all wrong and I went back to the drawing board on honing and got my razor shave ready. now i'm not in the class as lynn or Max or others here on the place but I can now shave without the big ol crocodile tears. that's been 6-9 months ago. I tried straight shaveing years ago didn't quite know what I was doing so I stopped then tried it again and stopped. then found this web site and started back. Have enjoyed ever since. So I guess this has been a long winded THANKS GUYS.

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Originally Posted by Grazor

I read here pretty early on 100 shaves as already mentioned, reckon that is about right. 2 years on getting consistent good shaves, but always room for improvement. Once you discover learning to strop is as important as learning to shave your results will improve IMHO.

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Stropping...aside from the shaving itself, the single most important element IMO.

Can't remember who posted it, but the OP posted a pic of a blade edge, after honing, with 50 laps on the leather. There was the edge, you could see it.

Then he did an additional 50 laps on leather, for a total of 100 laps on the leather, and posted another pic of the blades edge. Was like night and day difference between the two edges. So, always 100 laps on the leather for me now, and I must admit, the shaves are considerably better now.

Actually, I found the thread, check it out, it was Lakebound who posted this, big thanks to him:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ml#post1345138