Quote Originally Posted by honedright View Post
Hmmm...

I suppose the ultimate way to tell if a steak is done is to eat it.

Or you could use a thermometer for the temperature test.

A skilled chef can tell the differences from rare to well done just by poking the steak with a finger. Would you be happy if your steak came to table with a bite out of it instead?

Anyway, the point is that razor sharpness tests are very much the same. If done correctly and after acquiring the needed skill, you can accurately judge the condition of your razor prior to lathering up and shaving.

Or you can just skip to the shaving. The problem there is that you may find yourself repeating the lathering/ shave test cycle many times before you get what you're after. Just like the above chef might find himself having steaks returned time and time again to re-cook if he never learns a few good "doneness" tests.

Depends on how adept you want to become at this art.
I like the analogy and I agree with it to a point. Where I differ is that steak is steak and hair is not all the same. In my recent experiment with my hair I found that even a new SE and DE blade had trouble passing HHT with my fine hair. This is no big thing for me.

I can tell by a TPT and by popping hair on my arm or leg, without touching the skin, where my keenness level is. For so many new guys if a razor doesn't pass HHT they are convinced that it isn't shave ready and that ain't , as George Gershwin said, necessarily so.