Thread: Relaxing & smooth shave?

I shaved with DE Feather for years before making the jump into straight blades last year. Absolutely loved the Feathers, but wanted a BB shave.
Now.. I did get what I was looking for, but not once (not.a.single.time) did I have a relaxing smooth shave. When I say "smooth" I mean the blade simply glides on the face.. no pressure, no forcing the blade down the cheek. It doesn't pull at my face, I don't have to fight it to cut the stubble.
I own 2 blades, a 6/8" Bismark from Lynn Abrams and a Toledo blade from Whipped Dog.
Most likely my technique completely sucked in the beginning, but in a year I think I got better at it (stropping included).
I'm going to send both blades for resharpening and then try again without stropping, just to make sure I'm not dulling them.

So.. question for the group? Is your shave a relaxing & smooth one? Do I need to reset my expectations, i.e. shaving with a straight blade won't be as smooth as a DE one?

tnx!

I absolutely get my best shave with straight razors, it's become very instinctive and therefore stress free. Angle of the blade is critical, and its different for each razor. I am able to hit the angle without consciously trying to, by sound and feel. I have also noticed that I start the shave with the blade angle low, but succeeding passes have a higher angle. I think it's because I'm subconsciously adjusting the angle to get the optimum cutting action, and this changes as each pass gets closer. The best blind advice I can give is to keep your arms and hands relaxed, and to not use pressure. Shave the lather and the whiskers will come off with it.

If you are using a razor that likes to remind you it's at work something is wrong there. All shaves should be smooth and relaxing. if not there are two possibilities. Either the blade needs honing or your technique does.

Once you are at this for a few months and got the basics down it's a piece of cake.

Very relaxing. I don't shave daily and I don't shave in the morning when I work, did once and the razor had to go to Glen because I was rushing and managed to slam the edge to the faucet. So now I shave when I have plenty of time and enjoy it. I presume that once I gain experience I will be able to shave faster but for now I take my time.
I just shaved, used the Cape 650 razor I posted on the honing section, ATG on the whole face and got a very nice BBS. I also used to shave with DE Feather for over 6 years, blades and razor. This is much better. DE was just a shave. SR is a hobby.

I'm with the others...very smooth AND relaxing so long as the technique is there along with a well-honed blade. At this point, I'm also adjusting the angle of the blade without much focus; it's just become second nature. This also allows me to shave the neck area in back of my head without the need for a secondary mirror. Thanks to muscle memory, my hands now "know" how to hold the razor at the proper angle for WTG, XTG, and ATG strokes.

At this point, I believe I tend to worry more about my stropping to ensure I don't inadvertently slice them up! Just last month I got careless pulling the blade off the strop after the final stroke and wound up slicing the side of the strop a bit. All it took was the slightest loss of focus before I was actually done.

I find it very relaxing.
I shave at night so that I don't have to rush and can just take my time.
If the shave isn't smooth, I switch to a different razor.

I have used several different sizes and types of straight razors. IF they are sharp, they will shave smooth. That being said, there are differences. The heavier ones seem to take less effort as their weight helps, but even the most hollow ground ones I have will shave smooth if sharp. They just sing more as they mow down the hair. On a side note, even if they are close to needing a touch up, they will shave effortlessly and not cause irritation. Once I start feeling pulling, I remove from my rotation until I get it up to par. I have tried to continue to use them when they start to pull, but that caused skin irritation as well as not removing the hair adequately. My hair is very coarse, but when the razor is truly sharp, it will shave far better than my DE's.

I have never had a relaxing shave with a DE. Those things scare the pants off me.
Always a relaxing shave with a straight, now that I have my technique dialled in. There can be a slight resistance to the blade as it cuts through the stubble, mostly around my muzzle, but no tugging, no pulling just a mild resistance as the blade does its job. I expect you are off in your technique. A lower blade angle might fix you up a little. My spine is often almost against my skin. Just a spine width or two above my skin.

Aloha!

OP, I try and ALWAYS have a relaxing, smooth and enjoyable shave. I think it goes back to my childhood.

My earliest memories of my grandfather was of him sitting at the kitchen table and shaving with his Solingen Straight Razor. Basin, Razor, Strop, Styptic Pencil and bottle of Bay Rum. It was a ritual for him and it fascinated me. He took his time and seemed to enjoy the shave. I inherited his Solingen and actually used it until the mid 90s. I couldn't wait to start shaving with a straight edge. I also seem to have inherited his passion for shaving with a straight edge.

So I started shaving as a relaxing grooming ritual. I traveled extensively in my career (very extensively) and never took my straight razor. So when I was on the road, I always shaved with a DE. Never had an issue switching between the two. After decades of using both, they are both just second nature to me. But I prefer the straight edge. No doubt. But on the road, I made it a point to slow down and shave and groom every morning, even if it meant that I had to get up 1 hour before normal wake-up call. It was important to me to perform this relaxing grooming ritual.

Just recently (and the reason I joined this Forum), I decided to start traveling with my Straight Edge and Strop. I have never done this before. I don't travel as extensively as I used to, and I'm probably 10 years from retirement, but I really want to start traveling with my Straight Edge and enjoying a complete shaving and grooming experience in hotel rooms. So I have been asking in other threads how gents travel with their Straight Edge Razors. And BTW, Shavettes are not for me. I tried them. I prefer a DE to a Shavette. No offense, but I prefer a Straight Razor to a Shavette. So it's either a DE or Straight for me.

Bottom line - for me it is ALWAYS a relaxing grooming ritual to shave. Either with a Straight Razor or a DE, at home or on the road.

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

How's your lather? My shaves got smoother as my lather got more moist. (The content of this message assumes razor and technique of the operator are in satisfactory condition).