Thread: In need of post-shave analysis

Hello Everyone,

I just finished shave number 2 and I need some advice. Here is how it went:

Shave 1: Shower (good and hot). Shaving cream concotion that gives me a GREAT shave with the ol' gilette mach 3. Brand new razor, straight from classic shaving after a stop off at Lynn. I did not strop it, didn't even touch the edge to anything. Shaved as expected. No cuts, stuck mostly to the cheeks and neck. Over all not bad. It felt like it was just pulling at the hair. The hair did not cut well at all. Called it a day.

Shave 2: Waited 3 days. Hot shower. Great batch of shaving cream. Strop 20 times (10 complete rotations) on linen and 60 (30 complete) on leather. Rolled blade over on spine, not blade, tiny to no pressure, full blade contact per stroke. Same story as above. No cuts. Did not cut hair well. I tried changing the angle to some success. I gave it several times over.

What should I try now? I am going to guess that the problem is my angle and just getting used to doing it right? It feels like it is really pulling at the hair. I am getting a lot of pulling resistance (feels like it is not sharp even though i know it is). It could be my stropping but I think that I am doing that right. Any help is appreciated. Thank you very much.

-Sean

Try shaving with another razor, like a Mach 3 or whatever, then strop the straight up and try shaving a little with the straight, with the objective of learning how to use it and getting a closer shave than you got on the first pass with the Mach 3 or whatever.

The hair from a 3 day shave is probably too much for a beginner.

You probably need to get something to hone with, like a paddle strop. Everybody needs something . . . for tweeking and adjusting the edge.

Post your location so we know where your at and study up, say with the Archives off the home page to learn what you might be doing wrong.

OK if it came from Lynn it is shave sharp. You need to strop more. I do 20 laps on the canvas so 20 on each side and 50 laps on horsehide. Use the x pattern. You can use some pressure when stropping. At least enough to deflect the strop 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Also, we need to know more about your prep. Are you using a brush and shave soap? what soap? How long are you leaving it on? Read the books in the library. They will help alot. And don't learn on 3 days growth.

When I first started out I felt like it pulled the hair too. The feel is definitely not like anything else you've shaved with before, but it shouldn't pull.

As far as help goes, just a hot shower may not be enough. I added a hot towel and lather for 1 minute before I re-lather and shave and it made a big difference.

Proper stropping is trickier than you might think.

I don't know how far Lynn takes his honing, but if he goes to the yellow coticule range for example, you may need to go a bit further. I need to go at least to a .5 paste before it stops pulling. .5 micron Diamond paste or Chromium Oxide that is.

Hope that helps,
Randy

I am pretty sure that he uses an escher to finish. Something else you can try is to strop it on newspaper that is on a flat surface. it acts like a pasted strop somewhat.

Originally Posted by mischievous

As far as help goes, just a hot shower may not be enough. I added a hot towel and lather for 1 minute before I re-lather and shave and it made a big difference.

Oil or a pre-shave cream can also be recommended! Massage your beard oliveoil soap. If you don't have a pre-shave cream or oil, just use a dab of plain olive oil to moisten the beard and skin just after the shower, let it work while you strop your razor!

A good prep can do wonders!

I am just about the same place that you are at.( 3 full shaves and a couple times practicing on one cheek or the other. ) I know when I shave if the angle of the blade is to steep it pulls the hairs.