Thread: It won't shave! 2nd shave!

hey guys check out my previous post http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ont-shave.html

this time i tried to shave again. it was just as bad. this time i showered and while inthe shower kept my face up water was constantly hitting my face and then wen i got out i got a crappy badger brush i have (idk why i have it) and i moved it around on a bar of soap which made good sleek lather and then added some shaving gel. i kno this isnt a good lather but i dont wanna spend my money on the expensive stuff before i kno if i can straght razor shave or not. so i put that on then put a towel over that for five mintues, took it off and lathered again. i started at my sideburn and from my chin to sideburn as per the suggestions. i did it about two spines width from my face from suggestions too. i used light pressure at first and then expermineted with different presssures. it definetly cut the hair but it was patchy and it did not cut it far don at all. it only took some off the top and was extrmel painful. any sugestions or tips would be much appreciated! i really wanna become a straight razor shaver! thanks to everyone who commented on my last post!

Sounds like you need to have your razor sharpened by a pro. If it is good quality steel it should hold a sharp edge for some time.

A few questions that might help us figure this out:

1) When you shaved your cheeks between the chin and the sideburns, were you going with the grain of your whiskers, across it, or against it?

2) How did you stretch your skin?

2) Did you strop the razor before the second shave?

When I recommended learning on your cheeks, I meant to shave that area, but still shave with the grain of your facial hair. I do not recommend making across the grain or against the grain passes until your technique has developed. If you shaved from the chin out to the sideburns, you were probably going across the grain.

When I shave that area, I grab the skin at about the height of the bottom of my nose and pull it to about the height of my eyes.

Now that the razor has been used, it must be stropped before re-use. Even if a razor of mine is prestropped, I'll strop it before use if it's been sitting for a few days. Sitting causes oxidation which equals a bad shave. Stropping opens up a whole can of works, because proper stropping prepares a shaving edge whereas improper stropping can easily ruin an edge.

Let me know, and we'll try to figure it out. Also remember that you can get this down if you want. It just takes time.

I'd say to chat with the seller and see if he would give it another sharpness check and hone it again if he finds it lacking. This shouldn't be unreasonable. In the meanwhile, if you send me a PM I'll send you out a bit of shaving soap. Then you'll be ready to go once your razor gets back.

hey. yes i went across the grain for the chin to sideburn but first i went from sideburn to jaw which is with the grain. i put my left arm over my head and pulled above my sideburn taught. i did strop the razor on a flat strop. i did it only a little though because my last shave was like three strokes and then i stopped. also it came stropped when i bought it. so i stropped it maybe 10 passes. using light pressure and its a pasted strop so i wasent worried about rolling the edge. i ddint put pressure on the edge. so im not sure whats up. it saddens me : (

at first be patient. i would be gladly help you out. But at first please contact the seller. SRP is great community and i am sure you will not disappoint.
most important i hope you don't have some Pakistani crap razor's. zeepk.etc.

It's still only your second time. Chill out and keep trying. If there is something wrong with the edge, you don't have the knowledge to know yet.

Maybe get another razor, send yours out to be honed, or get a shavette.

I still think you just don't have enough experience yet.

Originally Posted by Del1r1um

I'd say to chat with the seller and see if he would give it another sharpness check and hone it again if he finds it lacking. This shouldn't be unreasonable

Yup, I've offered to do this several times already.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

at first be patient. i would be gladly help you out. But at first please contact the seller. SRP is great community and i am sure you will not disappoint.
most important i hope you don't have some Pakistani crap razor's. zeepk.etc.

He and I were in touch before the first thread went up. It's a quality razor, a Robeson.

Have you watched many shaving videos on Youtube or anything like that? I found at first that watching and imitating (the good techniques) helped.

We can all sit here and say, try a different angle, spend more time on beard prep, stretch the skin properly, ect...ect. But when it comes down to it, you need experience, some can do it straight off, others need months to get it down. My first few shaves, I had to go back over, with my fusion because my shaves sucked so bad, and I had plenty of nicks to show off. Sticking with it is the key and I'm confident you'll be getting it, in a week or two.
If you want to attempt to shorten your learning curve. Either find someone on SRP, that is in your area, or a barber who would be willing to help you with proper stropping, and shaving techniques.
A lot of helpful folks on here who, I am sure, would be willing to help you out.

nate