Inconsistent shaving

I was wondering if anyone had a tip to help me or tell me that I am not the only one. I have been straight shaving solely for 6 months. I have about the best razors you can buy and have them sharpened by honemeisters. I do touch them up just a little every now and then with good results on my Escher or Coticule. To the point, as you would expect I got better as I practiced, just a few weepers every now and then. For three weeks straight I went BBS no weepers, perfect shaves. I figured I got it down! Then again I nicked my self. More nicks the next night. Then of course when you have nicks you re-open the nicks each time, in addition I nicked myself more places and my face looks scraped more than shaved. I rotate seven razors. I am thinking of pulling out my spares and sending the rest off again to the meisters. WHat do uou think? Give my face a little break and try again or just get them sharpened? I don't feel any real tugging or pulling, just seems like I am using bad technique, but surely I am not going backward? You advice please.

It may be your lather with the change in weather and humidity. Your skin changes with the weather. Try doing more pre-shave prep with a very hot towel to soften the whiskers. Also wash your face well with the slickest soap you have, preferably one with glycerin. The change may be causing the razor to drag more on your skin. No idea if this is even close to the issue, but I know I see a difference here in Texas.

It's your shaving technique.

Yes, if you can, let your face heal a few days.

I doubt your razor(s) need sharpening (ie - honing). If you are nicking yourself, they're pretty sharp already. Now whether or not they are trully keen enough is another thing altogether, and is totally dependent on your stropping.



Scott

All sound advice so far. Also, pay attention to your expectations. I sometimes find that what was a great shave six months ago, is now not so great. Perceptions change as you gain skill. And of course, let your face heal if you have cuts.

Jordan

Yes many possibilities. Hopefully your shavers are being honed by a real honemeister and hopefully when you hone them you are not dulling them. Also as we gain experience sometimes we take it for granted and stop watching our angles and pressure in shaving. All things to think about.

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Originally Posted by Brad

It may be your lather with the change in weather and humidity. Your skin changes with the weather. Try doing more pre-shave prep with a very hot towel to soften the whiskers. Also wash your face well with the slickest soap you have, preferably one with glycerin. The change may be causing the razor to drag more on your skin. No idea if this is even close to the issue, but I know I see a difference here in Texas.

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+1 on that. I too noticed springtime doing odd things with my face. I guess it's easier shaving a dry winter face than a rejuvenating spring face.
I think it's as much the changing weather as it is a hormonal thing. Yeah, Yeah, let's just admit it: not only women have them.;)

Anyway. Don't despair. With many things, a temporary fall-back often announces a break-through. I consider myself living proof of that.:)

Bart.

It happens to me everytime I deviate from the basics, either too fast, to much pressure, wrong blade angle, it boils down to lack of concentration.

Thats ma $0.05

Lay down the str8's for a few days. Let it all rest. You can even shave with a DE in the meantime if needed. Pick up the str8 again after a few days. You'll notice your back to your best shaves and getting even better from there on.

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Originally Posted by Bart

+1 on that. I too noticed springtime doing odd things with my face. I guess it's easier shaving a dry winter face than a rejuvenating spring face.
I think it's as much the changing weather as it is a hormonal thing. Yeah, Yeah, let's just admit it: not only women have them.;)

Anyway. Don't despair. With many things, a temporary fall-back often announces a break-through. I consider myself living proof of that.:)

Bart.

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It just goes to show you that we are different. I find that I can not get a good shave when my face is dry and on the hard side. I find that when I hydrate my face and it feels very supple I get my best shaves.


Take Care,
Richard

I have found that using a pre-shave oil seems to eliminate a lot of variables. I do agree with paying attention to the fundamentals is will help towards getting consistency.

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Originally Posted by riooso

It just goes to show you that we are different. I find that I can not get a good shave when my face is dry and on the hard side. I find that when I hydrate my face and it feels very supple I get my best shaves.

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You could easily be right about that. :) And I most certainly would not advocate against proper hydration of the face, although it are more the whiskers that should be well hydrated for shaving than the skin.
I once came back home from a swim, took a quick shower to get rid of the chlorine smell and decided to treat myself with a shave. Could hardly put down the razor on my skin without nicking it. I guess the long soak heavily chlorinated water tendered up my skin. The shave itself was easier too, as if my beard had lost some of its usual coarseness.
This is just one example of me, observing within myself, that it takes only a small shift in one parameter, to alter the way I experience a shave. I don't rotate my razors on a per shave schedule, but when I jump from, let's say, a 5/8 full hollow Dovo, to a 7/8 F.A. Herder 1/4 hollow, I know it takes me at least two shaves to completely adapt to that different razor. Maybe that's just me. I don't know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by riooso

It just goes to show you that we are different. I find that I can not get a good shave when my face is dry and on the hard side. I find that when I hydrate my face and it feels very supple I get my best shaves.


Take Care,
Richard

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I was not suggesting that a shave on a dry face is a good shave. I need to hydrate my face very well to soften the beard and get BBS. I typically spend about 5 minutes on pre-sahve prep with washing my face and using hot towels to soften and hydrate the beard. I notice a difference in the winter. Maybe the lack of skin oils allows the water to penetrate faster. I just know the prep is more critical in the summer months here in Texas. I also agree taht pre-sahve oil may help. I go back and forth with that one. It is not currently part of my prep. Here is the prep that I typically do.

1. Apply Noxema deep cleansing cream (the old blue jar) and massage it well into the beard area
2. Allow it to remain on the beard area while I shower
3. Rinse it off with hot water right before I get out of the shower
4. Apply pre-shave oil (optional)
5. Apply a towel with as hot a water as I can stand to my face and hold it there for at leat one minute until it starts to cool
6. Scrub the face lightly with a wet towel saturated with a soapy mixture from a glycerine soap.
7. Rinse with hot water
8. Mix up my later or superlather and apply a layer to my face
9. Apply another hot towel for a minute or so
10 Apply new hot lather and get ready for an incredible shave

A prep with hydration in this way seems to soften the beard and allow the razor to glide over the skin without nicks or cuts