Thread: Could just be me, but why...

Originally Posted by Gasman

Thanks for the details Mike! I have not figured out how to hold the razor and go from below the ear to addams apple. Ive tried a few things but im just not getting that move down. Im missing something.
The other two i do. I think if i could get that syroke down id be in great shape.

BTW, we have the same look. Just my whiskers and hair have lost all color except gray. Ha.

The hand with the razor, does the opposite side of the face. Its the only way it can be done, and the only pass I do with my non dominate hand.


I prefer to use short scything strokes over a straight pull, because of all the irregularities in the neck and throat. Manipulation of the head and skin stretching, is at a constant. I use my finger tips as a gauge, to keep the distance needed from digging the heal in, while my eyes are minding the toe, and keeping the right angle.

I still remember the first time I tried doing this pass. I was shaking like a dog crapping glass.. Now its a everyday, breathing air kinda thing.

Gave it a try. That just didnt feel right to me at all. Well it was the first try. Ill keep at it.i think the tip got me but only once.

Originally Posted by outback

I get the same thing, from time to time, Jerry.
I found that once I started doing a X pass (chin - base of neck below the ear, jawline at the ear - below the Adams apple) has helped eliminate that problem....most of the time. YMMV
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Don't forget to stretch the skin.!

We used to call this the scything motion. It is the proper stroke on how to move the blade. It has to slice at an angle not head on like an ax.

Originally Posted by Disburden

We used to call this the scything motion. It is the proper stroke on how to move the blade. It has to slice at an angle not head on like an ax.

Indeed, I use it almost exclusively whilst shaving

It has a better feel, plus I'm not sure, but in my style of shaving I feel scything keeps my edge in a better condition longer compared to straight 'pulls/strokes'

I tend to use a lot of scything strokes as well.
I too believe it helps extend the life of the edge. But mainly because my facial hair grows like a smashed wire brush. So when I shave, there's always a little bit of heal forward, to the blade. It goes along with good mapping, of your face. If I could do a video of my shaving techniques, I'd have the community either fainting, or cringing and gritting their teeth. But it works for me.!!

But I've also been using a straight, longer than most members here.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

One other thing I have found that makes all the difference for me with a straight: the lather. I have started shaves before with freshly-honed and stropped blades that I knew were laser-sharp, and got horrible tugging even on my 1st WTG pass-WTH? Just as an experiment, I rinsed off, re-worked the soap and hydrated my lather a little more, and bingo, the velvet squeegee effect with the same blade I knew I had nailed the edge on. It really is the little things, and every straight I have shaves a little differently, likes a slightly different stroke or angle, whatever. I'll never be one of these guys who takes copious notes on honing and shaving, accounting for variables, etc. So I sometimes forget and have to relearn these concepts.

I think a great lather is at least as important as a sharp blade. Hydration generally means slickness, and the slicker the lather, the better my straight razor shaves. Different soaps are able to hold different amounts of water (e.g. Barrister&Mann is a very thirsty soap and requires the addition of a lot of water to be well hydrated). One way to know whether a soap is well hydrated is whether it rinses off the blade easily between passes. If it's sticking to the blade, the blade is "sticking" and probably tugging to some degree. When trying out a new soap, I'll keep adding more and more water until it starts to break down to learn how much water it takes to be well hydrated. When shaving with a soap that I know is well hydrated yet still seems to tug, I'll set my straight aside and pick up an SE to finish the shave. There are many soaps that work well enough with a DE or SE that are not slick enough for a straight. If I find a soap to not be slick enough even when it's well hydrated, It's generally in the trash unless I can use it in the shower. There is some skill involved in slowly adding small amounts of water to build up a properly hydrated lather, but the results are worth it.

I know my lather is right and wet. I put a lot of time and effort in that and prepi g my whiskers even after a shower. Plus i used a DE and SE before i started with a straight. Now days i like it wetter for the straight. And i agree about it sticking to the blade when rinsing. It should rinse right off or its too dry. Plus i use MDC most of the time now so its a good soap.

I figured it was my razor just not as sharp enough and cutting whiskers at an angle with the beginning of pulling. Now i know to watch for this. Guess my face is pretty tough as i didnt have discomfort from pulling and after i took that razor back to the hone its no longer an issue.