Thread: Last hope of a Desperate Man!!

The only thing I might add to the advice given already, is to see if you live close to any experienced member or someone who is having success at straight razor shaving and see if that person will let you visit and actually see what you are doing and offer assistance based on their observations. We have found in many cases that this really helps.

Best of luck,

Lynn

My dear Zee,

The advice you have received thus far is from a wide spectrum of experienced straight razor shavers, including the true master of the art. As a straight razor pilgrim myself, I can only add one more important thing: If straight razor shaving means that much to you, keep trying with the tenacity of a shark.

The great French writer Gustave Flaubert often would stay up all night just to get a sentence or a paragraph right. And he did okay.

Just keep trying — with patience and tenacity. Eventually you will master the art. Good luck.

Regards,

Obie

Thanks everybody. THats some great advice guys.
With previous razors, like a Mach 3 with barbasol, i never had any bad irritation, but i also didnt go up or across. The glycerin isnt the problem because ive made that uber lather stuff before. I havent messed around with the blade angle toooo much. honestly i thought i had all that down after week 2. Im gunna let my face settle for a bit then pick up with the blade angle expirementation. Thanks everyone for your help.

With regards to the angle, start with the spine two widths from the face. That should equate to around 30 degrees. If that doesn't work, move a little each way & see if it gets better.

One thing I found helped me when I started, is to just concentrate on my cheeks like others have said. But take it one step further - concentrate on one cheek only (recommend the same side as your dominant hand). Do a WTG pass, XTG pass, and ATG pass. Keep at this until you get BBS. Once you get BBS on that side, then move on to the other side.

It seems like a completely backwards way of learning, but it will teach you the correct angles in an area that is relatively easy to get right.

I think once you start to work out correct angles on the first cheek, and see some progress, you will stick with it.

One last thing, I have found an alum block to be the best thing to use post shave - others swear by witch hazel type products, but they dont work as well for me. For a $8 investment, it might be worth checking out.

What about your angle? For me, redness and bumps means that I went too steep with one or more passes.

I think the angle is the problem. Im going to do the 30 degree angle and progress to the 45. The concept of expirementing with the angle honestly hadnt crossed my mind yet

Zee,

With respect to the angle of razor to face, I think less is more. Keeping a protractor handy and in use while shaving can be devilishly difficult so I'd suggest you not worry about numbers. Rather look to see if you have about one spine's thickness of space between the spine and your face. I have no idea what that angle is, but it works just dandy for me. When it gets greater than that margin, the razor is more apt to do mischief.

When I do a second pass, that margin is now about half the thickness of the spine and two passes is all I do. Since my hair is gray I don't have to worry about 1700 hours shadow.



take it easy and good luck,

Originally Posted by Zee

Im going to do the 30 degree angle and progress to the 45.

I'd avoid going as far as 45. You're asking for an uncomfortable shave. 30 works well for most on the 1st pass. Subsequent passes may benefit from tightening it up a little.

Have a look at this, it's in the Wiki.

I must have picked it up fast Iv never had a lot of problems. I nick myself but even experienced shavers do I'm sure.