Thread: Blade Sharp Enough?

Ok...i know everyone posts about the I get a better shave after a few days of growth...but here is where that differs...I think

Great shaves with 4 days of growth...smooth..no irritation. With one or two days of growth I find the blade lacks. After 2 passes I usually am peppered or have random single hairs everywhere...that just dont want to be cut with the razor. Sometimes...And dont laugh..I have to go back with a pair of tweezers and pull them out.

I usually give myself a great case of razorburn trying to clean up the areas that the blade is just missing..

Now my blades are sharp. I honed all my Livi's on a shapton 4k/8k/16k before I came to NY. I have 7 blades in rotation so to speak..so I know they arent dull....is it that they just arent sharp enough for so small of a growth?

Geez I don't know. You've been at it a long time. If it was someone with less time I would think it was that the razor is not sharp enough or poor preparation and technique. Or a combination of the three.

And dont laugh..I have to go back with a pair of tweezers and pull them out.

That's what she said! j/k

IssacRN ....your not alone man. I have at least 10 razors in my rotation, and some are sharper then others, even though all have been honed on;

1k/5k/8k/Naniwa's and 1u/.5 diamond film.

I'm finding that some of my blades whisk through hair while others fail to do the job. I think it's a combination of differing blade grinds and the sharpness of each. Having differing blade types and manufacturers is putting many variables into both honing and stropping imho. This is why back in the day seven day sets were of one grind and one brand to keep things simple.

I also feel that I am way too particular about my edges n have a tendency to overhone/strop my blades into a wire edge. A wire edge can be very uncomfortable whilst shaving and yet it can be very sharp.

I'm finding lately the blades I mess with the least are the sharpest. Go figure.

I duhno I have no real answer these are simply my craz hypothesis.

cheers
D

Sounds like those odd hairs are not absorbing water. Maybe they are still coated with whatever conditioner you used following the previous shave? Washing your face an extra time before shaving might help.

Do you go ATG?

Yeah..i do a hot shower...and facial wash..

My hair grows from ear to nose...so I do a wtg/xtg type of cut..that kinda goes ATG. The funny thing is...on the left side of my face I have alot of double and triple folicles...literally 2 or 3 hairs grow out of one spot.

Like I said its not a problem with 4 day shaving...just every other or 3rd day shaving. The blade just doesnt want to cut the hairs..

I am unsure what you mean by forth day shaving. Are you letting your facial hair grow in for four days first, then shaving it, and getting good results? That's because hair gets softer the longer it grows, especially facial hair. Short stubs are the hardest hairs to cut. If that's not what you mean I apologize.

What was the razor honed on? What is your stropping routine? Do you use cream or soaps? Maybe pictures of your results?!

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Yeah..i do a hot shower...and facial wash..

This is going to sound odd. If you are an oily skin kind of guy (I am) most shampoo or soap doesn't always "cut it". I have to shave every day. Every few days I use Woolite.

Don't laugh.

Woolite (Diluted) really improves the wet-ability of hair (Kind of what it is made for). It's hard on your skin so you can't do it more often. I also have done this with a dilute solution of Dawn. Dawn is a great grease detergent and does the same thing. I am not sure it does it as well, but it's easier on the skin.

i know you have been in here long enough and should know already what is shave ready etc etc.
i think when you shave there is in some spots hair left could be in some point of the blade chip or something .Question is do you have same problem only using 1 prticular razor or all off them?
Now
another possibility could be while you shave you are using shaving oil.?
Lastly if your blade not shaveready and you are sharpening your blades you will have same problem with your all blades?
All this just imagination.
Do you have loop or anything you could check the edge to see what is going on?
Hope this helps.

Add
i went back and read your post again this is just interestiong?

Great shaves with 4 days of growth...smooth..no irritation. With one or two days of growth I find the blade lacks. After 2 passes I usually am peppered or have random single hairs everywhere...that just dont want to be cut with the razor.

This makes me think your blades are really not sharp?
2 days growth hair isn't stiff enough but after 4 th days they are. by using a little pressure you shave great with 4th day growth but 2 days will not. they are will just bend.?

are you using cream or soap? I have noticed that I get a more comfortable shave with cream but the closest is with soap. Soap also has the least "touch up" for me.

Usually all my blades do this to me. It doesnt matter who hones them...from Lynn..to Tim Zowada...To Joe Chandler.

Im wondering if as much of you have stated...If my blades truly arent sharp enough. I have thought they were because they do shave well with a few days of growth, but maybe they are only shapr enough for that?

Im just perplexed..