Thread: Wedge v. Hollow: technique issue or beard issue?

I have been shaving with a straight for a few months now. Its been working out really well so far; but one thing has come up.

When I shave with a wedge, it's great. Smooth, no razor burn. When I shave with a hollow its almost as close, but is also rough shaving and leaves some razor burn. I use the same technique with both blades.

The question is, are the hollows rougher than the wedge because my beard is heavy? Should I simply stick to wedges, or could it be a technique issue?

All input appreciated!

Personally, I believe it is a technique thing. I find I have to be much more careful with my technique when shaving with a full hollow. I think it is due to the flex and the finer edge.

I don't shave with full hollows often (none in my rotation), but it would be a good way to check how my own shaving skill is coming alone. A skilled shaver should be able to shave with any (normal) shave ready blade.

PS. I hope your post means the razors I've sent you are shaving well.

Has anything changed since this thread? http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-v-hollow.html

i have both wedges and hollow grounds and i like the wedge or a qurter hollow the best the hollow ground gives the closet shave but with a thick beard the i like the quarter hollow the best.

As a general rule, I have found that wedges are heavier razors. Obviuosly because there is more metal in the blade you might say.

Not always true however. I have two full hollow grinds which have a wide heavy spine and the blade is heavy.

So I think that the weight of the blade matters. It certainly helps with a heavy stubble.

But if the blade is not sharp, the blade weight doesn't really matter.

I have found that I can get a good shave with any blade just so long as the blade is sharp.

Yes, I have certain preferences that suit me and my natural shaving technique all the better.

It sounds from your post that you prefer the wedge type blades.

But to be honest, I suspect that either you edge is not right on your full hollow or it is not a good example.

No razor should give you razor burn unless you have rolled the edge and need to remove the burr or maybe you are pressing to hard, thinking the razor needs the weight that you are used to, which incidentally, it should not.

Full hollow razors are more delicate tools, but they give every bit as smooth and close a shave as a wedge.

Just some food for thought.

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Has anything changed since this thread? http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-v-hollow.html

From a quick glance, it looks to me like the old thread was about which to buy and the new thread is about how his are actually shaving him.

I haven't noticed razor weight to be a shave quality factor for me at all.
Also, I can get a comfortable shave against the grain with any of my shave ready lightly ground razors, but not with any of my full hollow razors.
It very well could be my technique, but I have a feeling that beard properties can magnify the necessity of superior technique when shaving with a full hollow

I used to hate full hollows for the same reasons listed by the OP.

Then I learned to use the "harsh" feel of the full hollows to telll me when I was bearing down too much. The full hollows give a ton more feedback,and definitely require a different touch. Once you "get" it the full hollows can give an amazing shave! Albiet, they do need to be as sharp as possible or they will get hung up much easier than a wedgey blade.

I now like both because of their differences.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

From a quick glance, it looks to me like the old thread was about which to buy and the new thread is about how his are actually shaving him.

Which goes to show that first impressions are not always correct.

Any road, to get back on topic: from my experience, I would say that you can get a good shave from any good razor. My best two are a 6/8ths singing full hollow and a 5/8ths wedge. So there.

I know I've said this many times but I'll say it again anyway because it lays to rest the "I need such and such a size or grind to get a good shave with my beard type" attitude.

If you went into a barber shop in the 1940s or 50s when barbers were skilled with using straights to give shaves and did it on a daily basis you would see 5/8s and 6/8s hollow grinds. Wedges were mostly seen with the old timers who learned with them and preferred them. If you needed a specific razor size or type you would expect the typical barber shop to have a whole variety of types to cater to each beard type but that simply was not the case. Whether you had peach fuzz or a brillo pad for a beard the 5/8s and 6/8s hollow grind (full hollow by the way) did it all.

Now you may prefer a certain size or grind but that's another story.