Thread: How dull can you make a razor by shaving with too much pressure?

Originally Posted by Alethephant

I'm not getting the closeness of shave I should be using WTG and XTG passes, even on the cheeks.

Either I'm not getting the razor sharp enough, or I'm using the wrong angles or pressure, or the BBS with a straight razor is a myth.

Before the straight razor, I used a Gillette Sensor with two passes WTG and one under the chin ATG. This gave a very close shave with a 2-blade safety razor.

Now I use the straight razor WTG & XTG, but then follow with a double-edge safety razor WTG and then under the chin ATG. This results in a close shave.

I know the straight razor is removing hair, because the double-edge shave picks up very little comparatively.

So far I've been concentrating on getting the straight razor sharp enough. Now I'm wondering if the remaining problem is my shaving technique. I've tried to be diligent about the 20-30 degree angle and the lightest pressure, but this hasn't solved the problem.

What I have noticed is that the razor no longer passes the HHT after shaving. Is this typical? Or am I dulling the razor by bad technique?

I am late to this -- lots of good info has already been passed.

You might reverse things and use the straight to tidy up after a single
pass with your DE.

And yes a razor gets dull in the process of shaving. In most cases
it is fully refreshed with a visit to canvas and leather strops.

If it is not getting fully refreshed try lowering the angle when shaving and or
adding a pasted strop (sub micron abrasive)... to the process.

The key questions center on if the razor is good to shave sharp (no HHT stuff)
after stropping and if the razor is having trouble lasting a full shave.

Barbers had no problem with stropping a razor in the middle of a shave.
Barbers would also have a row of razors to select from as needed.

I often go "presidential" and use a couple razors for a shave. I got in
the habit when learning to hone of laying out the newly honed and
stropped razor with a backup or two. In the process I discovered that
my chin likes a fresh edge and no mater how sharp the first razor was
the comfort of a second blade for that last final bit of chin was
important to me.

And yes a BBS is a myth. NO man with whiskers has a face
as smooth as a baby's behind.... having said this a good smooth
shave is still possible. In the end it is whiskers .vs. steel and
the open blade of a straight razor is still steel .vs. whiskers.

The advantage of a straight is also a disadvantage. A straight is
the most 'adjustable' of all the razors. You can adjust the
sharpness and smoothness on hones and strops. You can adjust
the angle any way you want.... with skill you can get a delux
shave from a straight. The crux of it is that while learning
a lot of shaves will be suboptimal.

Since you get good shaves from a DE take advantage of it
and set it out with your str8 (team work). You can tidy up the
hard bits with the DE and shave the easy bits with the str8.
With practice things will reverse (did for me) you will find that
one day you reach for the str8 to tidy up after the DE.

IMO, Bottom line there is no magic in any razor..... and
there are no shortcuts that I know of (yet).

And... "latherin" is key. Take a full three min getting your
face and lather ready no mater what blade you select. Use
one of those little sand egg timers so you do not short change
yourself on this critical step.