Thread: better off waxing my face

I have a Dovo 6/8 best quality straight razor, Muhle badger hair brush, unsure of what soap I am using as the label has worn away. This is my first straight razor and I have been shaving with it for about six months so far with nothing but terrible results, I would seriously be better off just waxing my face. When I watch videos of other people shaving with this razor I hear the distinct sound of the stubble being cut but when I shave it doesn't sound the same, I have tried experimenting with different angles, applying absolutely no pressure vs applying pressure, stretching the skin, not stretching the skin,adding more water and less water to the lather ect and everytime I shave it is very irritating. I have mapped out my face as to which way my hairs grow so I know when I am going with the grain across the grain and against the grain.

I shave right after a hot shower, I will put a warm wet cloth over my face for a few minutes then lather up, apply to my face, wait a few minutes, wash away re apply then commence to raping my face. I start my first pass with the grain which is not uncomfortable but it doesn't seem to take away much hair.I make sure to keep my face wet, its winter right now and it seems like i have to reapply lather more often so it doesn't dry out. so then on with the across the grain pass, this is irritating and often tugs. and as for the against the grain pass well I ####### skip that step because my face is already red and bleeding.

I thought that maybe there was an issue with the blade so I got some niniwa stones and spent many hours honing and stroping so that it will pass the hht test. my razor currently cuts my arm hair perfectly fine in mid air applying no pressure really. So i dont think its the razor?

What do you guys think is the problem?
I'm actually going to wax my face and see if it will be less irritating.

Welcome to SRP. I wonder if it isn't the razor ? Do you have a barber whom you trust that has the knowledge to shave you with your razor ? If he is an old guy who knows razors he could probably tell you in a couple of strokes if the razor is the problem.

Sorry to hear you're having such dismal results, that must be frustrating as hell. That being said, most new straight shavers are past that amount of difficulty six months in. My first suggestion is to tell us where you are, maybe someone is available near you to lend a hand.

Suggestion two -- back off -- slow down -- definitely don't wax your face. Go back to square one. Can you get any part of your face shaved the way you like it? Practice the simplest area before moving on to more difficult ones, and shave the est of your face with something you're more comfortable with.

Don't worry, someone brighter than me will chime in soon to offer more helpful advice. Shave on.

Welcome to SRP!
Ummmmm...... Was the razor shave ready when you got it? Professionally honed? If not..... Does the seller offer free first honing? I'd look into that first. If not... I would send that razor to a pro. Many are listed in our classified section or maybe someone who lives near you can meet up with you and help you out in person. Just some food for thought.

Welcome to SRP!
We will get you straightened out.

Most likely your razor didn't come shave ready and needs the bevel set along with higher grit honing.
Send it out and have it professionally honed - there are plenty of honers in the classified section of this site.

While it is out being honed, read over the beginner's guide Straight Razor Place Library:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Library

And if you put your location in your profile, maybe a member near to you can get you fixed up.

I would tend to agree with the suggestion to get a professional to hone it for you and see if that makes a difference.

You said, "I start my first pass with the grain which is not uncomfortable but it doesn't seem to take away much hair." which leads me to believe it's the razor. It shouldn't take 6 months of shaving to figure out angle and pressure if the razor is shave ready. And your first pass should remove the hair you can see. Now if you continue shaving past that point the angle and pressure your using is to make up for the poor edge and yes, that will cause some irritation. The TPT and HHT are fine indicators of how your honing is going but the shave test ( which is exactly what I quoted you doing) fails.

Hopefully a professional honing will solve your problems, but if not, can you please post a video of you waxing your face? Where are you? There may be a member in your area who can look at it for you.

I'd agree with everyone else and suggest you start back at square one and have your razor pro honed so you know the razor is shave ready to begin with. When you get it back, do not strop it before you use it the first time. That eliminates the possibility than you may dull the blade by poor stropping and lets you know what a good edge feels like. Strop your razor before the second use and if it does not shave as well as the first it is a good indication your stropping is off.

When I started to shave with a straight razor I was so slow at it that my lather was drying out too. Try just lathering the section you are working on as you go. The other cause of lather drying out too quickly is that you may not have the right soap to water ratio dialed in.

Good luck.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I'd agree with everyone else and suggest you start back at square one and have your razor pro honed so you know the razor is shave ready to begin with. When you get it back, do not strop it before you use it the first time. That eliminates the possibility than you may dull the blade by poor stropping and lets you know what a good edge feels like. Strop your razor before the second use and if it does not shave as well as the first it is a good indication your stropping is off.

When I started to shave with a straight razor I was so slow at it that my lather was drying out too. Try just lathering the section you are working on as you go. The other cause of lather drying out too quickly is that you may not have the right soap to water ratio dialed in.

Good luck.

Bob

Bob has given you a synopsis of the best advice you can get. Follow his advice, and please check back in when you try again after doing so. No offense, but buying stones and trying to hone, judged by the HHT, is not the best way to go, since you have no example of what a good edge looks and feels like or should do on your face to compare to.