Thread: First str8 shave today!

Originally Posted by Nhyrum

Well I've done shave 3 and 4.

I'm getting better at getting even, and not missing spots.

I'm having trouble getting a really close shave. Could it be I'm not stretching enough? Or could it be the razor needs honing? It was bought from eBay, so I'm not terribly confident in the honing of it. I have been very gentle and using almost no pressure stroping, is it possible I rolled the edge? Will it come out by stroping on my balsa strop? Or even the "canvas"/poly webbing strop?

I do plan on sending it out for professional honing, but may do so after I get more used to shaving. I'd like to get used to having an extremely sharp object next to my face/juggular before I make it even sharper

If the razor is not tugging it's probably OK at a minimum, depending on who honed it.

You probably just need more practice to get a closer shave, including stretch, angle, etc. At 4 shaves in you haven't mastered the basics well enough yet but let me say you are doing very well sir!

You should not worry about 'making it sharper'. Sharper edges are generally smoother, require less pressure, and are safer.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by Steve56

You should not worry about 'making it sharper'. Sharper edges are generally smoother, require less pressure, and are safer.

Cheers, Steve

Yeah, I was going to add a similar adage of a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade.

I do end up getting some tugging when I'm cleaning up, but not with the actual shave. The third, atg pass, does sting on my neck. Cheeks are OK. Haven't gone fully against the grain anywhere else.

If cleanup is tugging try splashing more water or some lather on the area first