Thread: Disappointed First Timer

Keep shaving... It certainly improves with time. My personal technique is different than Lynn’s video demonstrates, in that I use one hand. Most of us are not ambidextrous and for me, it's easier to control my razor using only my right hand. So those that switch hands need more of a learning curve for that control. Think about dribbling a basketball with your dominant hand versus the other.

Also, I would suggest using a paddle strop instead of a hanging strop. I have found it to be very effective ESPECIALLY if you take your time. Because you are new, you might want to strop the night before so you can take your time using the perfect technique until you become more skilled. I strop my razor in the evenings while I watch Seinfeld. I bought a paddle strop from Tony Miller and it works great you might want to contact him!

By shaving standards I do not have much experience, but I have learned SO MUCH from the people on this site… I encourage you to pick some brains here; these guys are here to help!

Overall though I think you had a pretty good first shave. I don't think so many words and opinions have ever been produced over one man's shave.

Randy Dance is giving some good info;

Although,
4). Is the Proraso pre shave cream supposed to be rinsed off before applying the shaving cream?

Personally I don't use anything too fancy. Before I take a HOT shower- making sure to keep putting plenty on my face, I put some hair conditioner right on my beard, strop my blade, hot shower, then I dry my face off, put the shaving cream on 1/2 of my face ONLY (CRITICAL!). Then use the approximate 30 degree angle. If it pulls, you probably need to strop. I typically go 15 trips on the linen, and 50 in the leather.
***As you shave, I pull my skin TIGHT. This helps eliminate cuts. I have a tricky chin and lip, so this helps A LOT ! Afterwards, I rinse off, and put some rose water/ cornhusker's lotion on my face. In 15 minutes or so, it looks like the best shave ever ! -And the rosy smell goes away in about 15 minutes too.
For more info see :
www.shavemyface.com/downloads/ The-Straight-Razor-Shave.pdf
This will get you on track.
PD

DO Not Rinse the Proraso cream off. Lather over it!!

AFDavis, i'm really not sure what you mean by "draw" on the strop. I've never done the arm hair test. Do you go with the grain or accros to test it?

Thats exactly the problem...the razor when properly stropped and properly honed will with a little pressure and proper technique begin to draw on the strop. It'll start to feel like its dragging instead of smoothly flying down the strop. This is the feeling you get when your strop is actually stropping. Imagine trying to align a piece of steel with a compressed piece of leather. It ain't gonna happen just by waving the blade over the strop. You need to hold the strop TAUGHT so it creates a "grabbing" surface and as the blade becomes aligned it starts to drag on the strop, for me usually after about 10-20 passes. If the razor is really sharp it'll draw with little to no pressure. I use pressure but my blades aren't always honed to perfection. I slowly add pressure until I get the drawing action. Either way, no draw, no stropping action. Which is why most guys think shaving with a straight isn't as smooth as a DE. They don't strop correctly. The edge becomes perfectly aligned and then the bevel edge starts catching on the leather hone and creates drag and feels like a sticking feeling. For me this is the KEY indicator that the blade is in fact shave ready. No other test is needed because an inproperly honed blade will never produce any draw. Make sense?

Understanding the sense of draw and what it feels like is a huge important step in being able to shave with a straight razor, probably more important then knowing how to hone.

That makes a lot of sense and I can't honestly remember if i've ever felt that. I've read several places that you should not use pressure when stropping so I really haven't been pressing on the blade when passing it on the strop. I guess i'll try that next time i shave. Thanks.

Sounds good. I'm not sure what the pressure phobia is all about. Two things stand out for me. One as I mentioned above, it can be the key to getting a razor to shave smoothly. Two, I've heard of guys stropping on leather with some pressure to align the blade as the last step in honing. Both seem logical. After I use some pressure the blade stays aligned pretty well and little pressure is needed from that day forward.

Keep the strop taught and do not lift the spine. Use the right amount of pressure. You want to use a light touch if that is the correct pressure and use pressure if that is what is needed. Start with light pressure and work your way to "some" pressure to get a draw. Although I've used lots of pressure there really isn't any reason to use heavy pressure. The blade isn't sharp enough to bother with, just go back to the hone and keep working with a light touch. The key is to feel the blade being stropped and aligned. If you don't feel it then your not doing it.

Just make sure you go slow and keep smooth, you don't want to make some silly move flipping the razor and put a nick in your strop.