Thread: Some problems when shaving. Please help.

I'm using a Dovo straight razor and I've had a few shaves with it. I've noticed I'm coming a accross the same problems and I'm not quite sure how I go about fixing it. Stropping the razor is fine and the razor seems to cut well however after a few strokes I've noticed the blade seems to grip on my skin which in turn makes it difficult to carry on shaving. The first one or two strokes is ok and the razor glides accross my face but after that it starts to grip on my skin. I'm thinking it could be a result of the water and shaving soap drying up but I'm using Mitchell fat soap which has good moisturising properties so I'm sure what is causing it and how to fix it.

Also I've noticed when the hairs get cut by the razor it can be a little painful. As I said the cutting seems to be fine and it came fully honed and I'm stropping it before using it so I'm not sure why it causes pain.

If anyone can give me some advice or help it would be really appreciated. By the way this is my 5th shaving with a straight.

Ideas:

1. Most people new to stropping do more harm than good. You might be slightly dulling the edge.
2. If you are doing multiple passes (short strokes) over the same area, the subsequent passes are on bare skin.
3. If your edge is sharp, when it cuts whiskers, you will feel nothing, certainly no pain.
4. In my experience, lather is never the problem. I can shave fine with hand soap applied by my hands.
5. Razors lose their sharpness. I would suspect that is the case with yours.
6. It never hurts to lower the angle and see if that helps.
7. A truly sharp razor solves problems that weren't there in the first case.

Hmm. I'm only stropping very finely sure I'm sure its not that. It came from invisable edge and it was shave ready so I dont even think its that. I think it might be as you said I'm running the edge on bare skin. I'll have a few more go's and change my angle and if I'm still get some pain I'll send it off to have the edge checked.

I think that's a good plan. When I watch shaving videos and read the Library here, I notice everyone is using or recommends short strokes. For people just starting out, I can see the point of that. Once you get the hang of it, and it does take some time, you can graduate to longer strokes. I now go from the top of my cheek to the bottom of my neck and back up ATG (after re-lathering) in one stroke. While newbies probably should not attempt this right off, it is a goal to pursue. Multiple short strokes over the same area force the blade to shave skin that has no lather on it. I can see how irritation could result from that. HOWEVER, if your blade is causing tugging, pulling or pain while cutting whiskers, your blade is just not sharp enough. When you have a really sharp blade, the experience of cutting whiskers seems a non-event.

Although your stropping may be done "very finely", and that is good, what matters is the technique and not so much the pressure. Any blade that starts off sharp and degrades with stropping puts the stropping technique into question. Stropping should make the blade feel sharper.

Could be your razor angle or your lather is drying out as you get farther into your shave.

You may also want to make sure you are not applying to much pressure or moving the blade across your face too fast. That is something I still tend to do, especially when I am in a hurry. And like Ace said, try different angles. Play with your technique and see what happens.

I think it may be a problem with the soap drying on your face . Try re-lathering , when the razor doesn't seem to be working right , and see if it helps .

How many laps are you stropping before each shave?

25. up and down is 1 stroke counted.

I would say that 25 is fewer than minimal. I never ever do fewer than 100 and get good results.