Thread: Can a SR be not sharp enough?

I've been straight shaving for almost 2 months now and have been noticing some things. I dont always shave with a SR because of time constraints, so when time prohibits I use a DE. My typical SR shave can take the better part of a half hour for 3 passes. However, even with a 3 pass SR shave I dont get as smooth as I do with a 2 pass DE shave. Because of this Im becoming a bit concerned that maybe my face isnt cut out for straight razor shaving.

Im also noticing that I cant really do an ATG pass without alot of tugging and pulling and discomfort. Part of this, I know is my lather drying out, which Im still trying to rectify by different methods of building lather. One thing Im wondering is, can a SR be not sharp enough? Now, Im not talking about being dull, Im talking about a razor that is incredibly sharp but just not sharp enough for a persons particular liking. Im wondering if I need a razor that is sharper than what I've been using, which by the way, is definitely sharp and shave ready. I ask this because a fresh blade in my DE produces the smoothest shave I've ever had, as well as a fresh blade in my Shavette produces a nice smooth shave as well.

So Im a bit lost here. Im figuring its probably that Im going to need to learn to hone very soon and learn to hone my razors to a level of sharpness that rivals a new DE blade. Or am I just being retarded here and over thinking everything.

Yes, There are different levels of "Sharpness" (dependent on the razor itself *) also there are different types of "Finishes" as well as different type of razors..

As you keep walking down the straight razor path you will begin to narrow down what is going to work on your face the best..

BTW it takes some people quite a bit of time and practice to do a true ATG pass with a SR if at all



* A razor's actual micron level of sharpness is dertimined by Steel, Grind, Honing, and Stropping it isn't quite so easy to nail down...

I realize now that this is a really hard concept for me to elaborate on.

I have this thought that a razor should be so sharp that it glides across my face and removes hair with little to no felt pressure of the blade on my face, in any direction. With my DE, I can get that. The comb of the razor and the blade just seem to skim the shaving cream off my face, as well as the hair, but I really dont feel it doing any work. However, with my SR, no matter the angle I can feel that its there on my face. I have to apply a slight pressure and use more of an overlapping scraping type motion to seem to really get the hair off, but I know this thing is sharp as hell cause I can watch it pop hairs on my hair at will. However, the hair on my face is much more coarse so that could play a factor I suppose.

I know the ATG pass is a difficult thing to master, but I can pull it off to a certain degree with my Shavette so I would think that I would be able to pull it off with a regular straight as well. However I have seen some say that the ultimate test of a razors sharpness comes from how well it performs ATG. Could it be that I really just require blades that sharp to be able to get a good shave?

I just really dont want to go back to just shaving with a DE all the time. I really enjoy SR shaving and want to keep at it, but it seems a bit daunting right now trying to figure this current predicament out.

Brand and type of razor ????


Keep in mind that the actual "Sharpness" difference between a DE and a SR is very very very small IF the SR is honed to it's max and stropped correctly..

Note the big "if" there are a multitude of variables that have to happen to get a SR at it's full potential

Many people love to use the saying "It ain't rocket science" and that is more correct then they imagine, this is more of an art then science to get those effortless comfortable shaves many of the old timers brag about..

One of the things you’re used to and probably take for granted is the leverage from the handle of your DE and shortness of the blade. A SR does not have that same leverage and as such you feel more resistance than you might feel from a DE. Also, there are very specific techniques that you will need to master in order to get as good or better a shave than your DE. It sounds like a challenge but that’s the fun part. I can’t tell you exactly what YOU need to do since everyone needs to do different things. But I can assure you that I thought the same as you did when I started. In the back of my mind I kept thinking that this was an amusing little hobby but won’t ever rival the quality of shaves that I get from my DE. I’ve since blown that theory out of the water. My shaves now are BETTER than what I was able to attain with a DE. If you stick with it, you can do it.

Right now, I've been using a 7/8 G. Wostenholm Celebrated IXL 1/4 hollow. I have two others that I have not been able to use yet because they were no where near sharp enough when I got them, bordering on being flat dull. So those are with a local guy being fixed up for me. Im not entirely sure what they have been honed on as the Wostenholm Im using was honed by the gentleman who is fixing up my other two. So I cant comment on what they have been honed on. Stropping has been done on a latigo strop.

I know this may come off as arrogant, but I dont entirely believe that its bad technique because if I can get a good shave with a shavette, I should be able to get a good to, at the very least, decent shave from a SR.

Been at it for a while now, probably approaching my hundredth shave. Some shaves i get BBS, others less than perfect, and i still nick myself occasionally. Shaved with a DE recently, and i feel now i get less irritation and it's more comfortable with a straight. It certainly is an art, and alot of variables, one being the level of sharpness, but well worth the time and effort.