Thread: Tugging

I can only answer from my standpoint with only a handful of straight shaves behind me, but on my third of fourth shave I finally got the hang on the angle, and suddenly my razor felt twice as sharp and there was minimal tugging. So just keep at it, it will get better.

Just had shave number 2, did 40 passes on the strop rather than 30 an this worked a treat. Hoora! Thanks for the help guys

Originally Posted by ChuckR9

Even with a shave ready razor I find that there are a few spots where my whiskers are like little "wires" growiong in different directions and I always get a little tugging.

This here, some spots I just can't get rid of the tugging and jumping. The trick seems to be to locate these spots, investigate the beard growth and adapt your shaving style.

For example, there is a spot in my neck I shave South-North right away, because it grows that way, unlike the rest of my neck beard.

I sometimes think that tugging for a beginner, comes with a timid approach. It's natural to hesitate with that sharp instrument on your face and a good, deliberate and confident stroke is necessary. By the way, after shaving my neck for two years, I've just shaved off my beard. Having to get used to it all over again, I consider myself a second-generation beginner.

Thanks for good advise. I think my current "issues" are related to starting to do my own honing - adding even more variables to the process. But learning how to do something well is part of the fun.

Originally Posted by Utopian

(Sometimes I forget that some people are optimists.)

This coming from a Utopian? That's weird.

To the OP, I too began my straight shaving career with a razor I wasn't sure was shave ready, and then by practicing honing on E-Bay razors with varying degrees of success. By starting all these different aspects of the craft at once, the learning curve is steeper, but you'll get there eventually if you persevere. For me, I'm just now getting really sharp razors, and that's (I'm guessing) because I added a Chromium oxide loaded balsa and a Diamond paste loaded felt on which to finish my honing. I guess these were the weapons lacking from my arsenal, because there's no more tugging.

Originally Posted by ChuckR9

Even with a shave ready razor I find that there are a few spots where my whiskers are like little "wires" growiong in different directions and I always get a little tugging.

First of all - bravo for a shavable edge from your own honing! Whether or not its perfect, that's an accomplishment. Keep it up!

Likewise on the tugging. It gave me fits when I started. My edges weren't perfect either - which is how the name pinklather made sense. It sounds like you'll have some questions to post in the honing forum. The help there is great also.

Best of luck w/ your shaves and your edges. Keep going!

Originally Posted by Birnando

Ideally, there should be no tugging at all.

However, I think that most of us when learning to use a cutthroat razor experience some tugging, even with one which is shave ready. Gradually, as confidence increases, things go more smoothly.

I'm about 1 month into my straight razor journey, and I find I get tugging when I don't stretch my skin properly.