experiencing some tug.

[McCormick]

When i use my straight razor i experience some tug. I know the blade is plenty sharp I strop it before and after each shave and it will have hair without touching skin. also I build customs knives for a living so I am well versed in edge geometry. I use a shave soap and build a good bowl lather. Would a pre shave oil be something i should look in to?

[Santana219]

When i use my straight razor i experience some tug. I know the blade is plenty sharp I strop it before and after each shave and it will have hair without touching skin. also I build customs knives for a living so I am well versed in edge geometry. I use a shave soap and build a good bowl lather. Would a pre shave oil be something i should look in to?

Maybe try some preshave, but I tend to have my best shaves with shave creams.

[ecormier]

maybe an angle thing while shaving?

[thebigspendur]

Tugging is a symptom of a not sharp enough razor. Of course technique could play a role too.

Very often knife makers discover razors are a very different animal as opposed to knives and their experience with knives can actually be a detriment.

Just saying.

[whoever]

maybe build more cusnhion in the lather,

[RezDog]

I think there have been some good points. For me a good shave has several factors beyond my edge. I use Noxema for a little extra glide and skin protection, it is suppose to soften whiskers too, I am not an oil fan but that being said I still recommend you try some, some people swear by it, and your face is not my face. After prep there are a few while shaving things that make a difference, angle is huge and skin stretching is essential. I don't remember skin stretching being a big deal when I was young but it sure is now. I did take a twenty year hiatus from shaving. There is also the whole beard map that will help you find what stroke work best where. It is kind of multi faceted so if you can eliminate a few variables it certainly narrows the field. Who sharpened your razor might be a good question.

[Utopian]

I know the blade is plenty sharp I strop it before and after each shave and it will have hair without touching skin.

You know, but we don't. Please tell us how you honed this razor. What did you use and what did you do?

[ian452]

Are you doing the Gillette slide? When I started with the straight my right hand worked better than my left.... still does a bit. When I shaved the LHS there was some pull which was due to technique, had to be, it was the same blade. Maybe your stroke is too perpendicular to the direction of travel and you need to skew as you shave.

[SteveA]

As a beginner, I may be having similar problems with the my stroke technique (no jokes please!). What is a 'Gillette slide' and what do you mean by 'skew as you shave'? Since you didn't say to just lay the blade flatter, I'm thinking your saying to subtly alter the angle as you stroke. Is that right?

--Steve

[JSmith1983]

When I have a razor that doesn't shave like it is supposed to I will usually still be able to finish the shave and then I will give it another chance shave because 9 times out of 10 it is the prep or technique that is causing the problem. Pressure in most cases is the cause. I seem to be heavy handed with my dominant hand.