Thread: Beginner question on full hollow blades

I can shave with any grind and get the same results. The reason I know this is because I didn't pay attention to the grind when purchasing the razor. I have been straight shaving for 7 years. If it is properly honed and sharp this is the least of your worries.

Originally Posted by Hobospices

So - noob question. I've been shaving with straight razors for about a year now, using a wedge and also a half-hollow. I got past the blood-drawing phase after a few weeks and for the past few months I've gotten very good shaves out of the razors.

I recently saw and bought a very nice Ralf Aust razor - it turns out to be a full hollow grind, and I'm not getting great shaves from it so far. If I apply my normal amount of pressure, I don't get a good shave, and if I bear down a bit more I get a little skipping and what feels like the blade flexing, especially against the grain. I even managed to nick myself for the first time in months. Am I just messing up? I've been trying to grasp the blade a little further toward the edge to keep it from flexing, but that feels wrong. Are full hollows not recommended for tough stubble?

As I see it there are a few things yiu should take into consideration... so checklist.

1) the grind is not the problem....many of the greatest razors made especialy for tough beards...wer hollow ground...EPBD...Puma ... Issard...aoff the top of my head...all of them had holllow blades recomended for tough beards...I cant for the love of God ever see a wedge labled ''for tough beards''.

Also I remembered the first NOS Fila 1st getn DT I got had a grind so thin that you could literarly feel it flex over your skin...the thin grind was never a problem!

2)As my coleagues before me mentioned...the edge could be a problem...although Aus razors leave with a decent blade...Getting it pro honed is a game changer sometimes...a poor face prep or poor technique may have dulled it prematurely.

3)A good face prep hot water...preshave oil and good lather will help get a more comfortable shave and make the razor's work much easier...edge will last longer.

4)Learning to pull on the skinn and use light pressure wil also help...tight pulled skin makes the razor cut hair better so less touchups are required....pressure only makes you exfoliate more skin and get iritation....worst combination is pressure/bad angle and multiple touchups..

5)Give the skin time to regenerate after an iritating shave...3-4days...use some vitaminE cream to help the skin get back in shape faster...
If you had an iritating shave and you go back in 2 days the beard may have grown but the skin is not ready yet...because the rate you exfoliate it exceeds it's rate of regeneration...

6)The technique varies a bit between the wedge and the hollow and from my personal experience I noticed the hollows are a bit more sensitive to the cutting angle issue.
You need to find the angle the blade cuts best..usualy 2spine widths going down and 1 going up is a simple way to start.

7)Stropp between passes...10-20passes...especialy if you have a tough beard this will help.

8) rinse,wipe, dry astrop and oil your razor after the shave...especialy if it is carbon steel...edge can deteriorate due to neglect and shaves become uncomfortable fast.