Thread: Just no luck with straights

Well, just a little update here. I just had my first shave since starting this thread and the bottom line is it was a terrible shave. I just got back my freshly honed dovo 1/2 hollow and boker edelweiss. And like before went straight to the face untouched. I took extra attention to the best beard prep possible and focused on a much more flattened blade angle. Nice smooth strokes, good skin stretching and still no luck. I actually feel the quality went backwards quite a bit. And quite a bit of razor burn which I never get. I was so excited going into this one but now I feel pretty helpless.

There are quite a few members in Ohio, i don't know the geography of your area or where else you are near, but it might be worth doing a search for senior members/ mentors near you and asking for some help via PM.

Razor burn is typically wrong angle &/or excessive pressure.
Have you tried the hot towel as part of your prep as well ?

If your beard is tough the straight may be the most challenging way for you to shave but it can be done.
Possibly, most of the answers you need have been covered. Your understanding or application of them doesn't seem to be reflected in your results tho . Maybe it's not one thing but a combination.

At this point you would do well to try meeting up with a mentor or experienced member or if that is not convenient post up a video of you shaving or maybe try Skype.
Sometimes a mistake can be very obvious when seen but more difficult to diagnose via the keyboard.

Man sorry to hear that you are not getting the results you would like. My two cents, try a thicker grind razor. I am sure the last thing you want hear is go buy another razor, but I get the best shaves with a 1/4 hollow or near wedge. Ok, yes, you can shave with full hollow razors and get good shaves. Sure you can focus on technique and prep all you want, sometimes the grind does make a difference. I have used full hollow razors and got ok results, but the the best and smoothest shaves were from a 1/4 hollow razor.

My beard might not be as thick as your beard, but it is wiry and difficult to shave. For example, a Barber had to change blades during a shave. My chin hairs were just difficult. The barber stated I had on of the toughest beards to shave. My best shaves are with an old Sheffield near wedge, A hart steel razor. I am ordering a custom razor specifically with a 1/4 hollow grind. Many will say that the grind does not matter. But for some it might be worth considering. Again, I am not saying you cannot shave with full hollows, but you might benefit from a thicker grind.

Wedges may be of benefit because they are less demanding of technique not because they are inherently better for tough beards.
If that was the case the European razors marked "pour barbe tres dure" or "por barbas duras" would be wedges rather than singing or half hollows.

You need some one on one time with an experienced straight user. I saw where you mentioned after the first pass, you had to resort to your old way of shaving. After my first pass, I'm nowhere near clean shaven. For me, that happens after the second pass. I do three passes below the jaw, then I'm clean shaven and done. Us SRP members can give you all kinds of advice, but you really need a mentor to personally guide you through a successful straight shave.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Wedges may be of benefit because they are less demanding of technique not because they are inherently better for tough beards.
If that was the case the European razors marked "pour barbe tres dure" or "por barbas duras" would be wedges rather than singing or half hollows.

Completely valid point, but I know what I like and they tend to be 1/4 hollows. So why not try all grinds to see what you like. An edge is an edge, but there are an infinity of faces
and beards.

Addendum: did not wedges go out because they were difficult to hone? Not because of their effectiveness.

Originally Posted by Mephisto

Completely valid point, but I know what I like and they tend to be 1/4 hollows. So why not try all grinds to see what you like. An edge is an edge, but there are an infinity of faces and beards.

The red highlight is spot on.
I have indeed tried most kinds & recommend the fun filled journey. But the one thing that stands out for me is that a well honed razor with exceptional steel is my preference. I can get as equally a good shave from my 'wedgey' Iwasaki kamisori as I can from my almost 'foiled' EA Berg which makes most full hollows feel like an axe & there isn't any major difference in the way I use them

Just a coincidence but both those razors are made with Swedish steel. I also hone for a guy with tough beard /sensitive skin combo who uses 2 Swedish Framebacks in rotation. I could therefore claim Swedish steel is the answer but coincidence does not make reality.

I can empathise with the tough beard type . I used to think i had a tough beard till I tried a straight on my head. I gave up & went with a DE for head shaving simply because I can't be bothered with the amount of prep it would take me to use a straight on my head. Maybe the op should try shaving his head for perspective . No, no I'm just kidding.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The red highlight is spot on.
I have indeed tried most kinds & recommend the fun filled journey. But the one thing that stands out for me is that a well honed razor with exceptional steel is my preference. I can get as equally a good shave from my 'wedgey' Iwasaki kamisori as I can from my almost 'foiled' EA Berg which makes most full hollows feel like an axe & there isn't any major difference in the way I use them

Just a coincidence but both those razors are made with Swedish steel. I also hone for a guy with tough beard /sensitive skin combo who uses 2 Swedish Framebacks in rotation. I could therefore claim Swedish steel is the answer but coincidence does not make reality.

I can empathise with the tough beard type . I used to think i had a tough beard till I tried a straight on my head. I gave up & went with a DE for head shaving simply because I can't be bothered with the amount of prep it would take me to use a straight on my head. Maybe the op should try shaving his head for perspective . No, no I'm just kidding.

Excellent points sir. I do not disagree with you at all. I know that your experience far outweighs mine. I only know from my experience. I have had better luck with heftier grinds. I have had good shaves with full hollow grinds. And I am talking about old school singing razors that are ground to the thickness of paper. Ok, well,not that thin. I cannot in a million years deny that fact. On the other hand, the most contented and beautiful shaves were from a thickest grind. I have to admit that I am not the norm. But I like what I like. I am only suggesting an alternative. Maybe it will work for him, maybe it will not. Btw, my thick head of hair is nothing compared to my beard. I did a full head shave with a singing razor with my head and had better results. But that is my experience alone.

Originally Posted by Mephisto

Excellent points sir. I do not disagree with you at all. I know that your experience far outweighs mine. I only know from my experience. I have had better luck with heftier grinds. I have had good shaves with full hollow grinds. And I am talking about old school singing razors that are ground to the thickness of paper. Ok, well,not that thin. I cannot in a million years deny that fact. On the other hand, the most contented and beautiful shaves were from a thickest grind. I have to admit that I am not the norm. But I like what I like. I am only suggesting an alternative. Maybe it will work for him, maybe it will not. Btw, my thick head of hair is nothing compared to my beard. I did a full head shave with a singing razor with my head and had better results. But that is my experience alone.

The JR Torrey instructions below are in agreement with you to not use a too thinly ground razor but as the op has some half hollows I would have though the had that base covered. Not to say a wedge should not be tried. I remember the first time I tried ATG was with a wedge & thought it was impossible with finer grinds till later in the game.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ng-basics.html