Blade Pressure While Shaving
Okay, this might sound dumb but it occured to me this morning that I might be using too much pressure against my skin while shaving, and tried lightening up a bit. Seemed to work much better, still removing stubble while gliding much more comfortably. Kinda had a Homer Simpson moment (DOH!) or that feeling when you've been looking for your sunglasses for the last hour until you finally realize they're sitting above your forehead.
So, what's the general concensus on this? How much pressure do you guys typically use? How does it feel when you use too much? Do you get a closer shave with more or less pressure?
Dan
Re: Blade Pressure While Shaving
Guys here will tell you that they use little or no pressure, but they may not have a recent basis for comparison. I recently started using a str8 after shaving with a DE for a long time (I'm still using a Merkur that was given to me 40 years ago), so I learned pressureless shaving with the DE. If you try it with a regular str8, the razor will not cut. You definitely need to use some pressure, but it's not a lot. Too much pressure can only lea to problems, like razor burn and cuts (not just nicks).
I suggest you try it with no pressure and see for yourself. Then add avery alittle pressure at a time until the razor just starts to cut well. That's where you want to be.
The only str8 I can shave with wothout using pressure is the Feather.
Guys here will also tell you that the angle of the blade should be about 30 degrees. It's to your benefit to minimize that angle. The reason is that the flatter that angle is, the less pressure you'll need to shave and the lower the chance of cutting yourself. With a sharp blade you should be able to use a flatter angle. See what works for you.
Don't overlook a good, flat stretch of the skin you're shaving. That affects pressure too. A sharp blade will cut anything in its path, including bulging skin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dschoen
Okay, this might sound dumb but it occured to me this morning that I might be using too much pressure against my skin while shaving, and tried lightening up a bit. Seemed to work much better, still removing stubble while gliding much more comfortably. Kinda had a Homer Simpson moment (DOH!) or that feeling when you've been looking for your sunglasses for the last hour until you finally realize they're sitting above your forehead.
So, what's the general concensus on this? How much pressure do you guys typically use? How does it feel when you use too much? Do you get a closer shave with more or less pressure?
Dan