Thread: second shave!

So ive started doing small shaving motions and my first shave wasn't that bad but this one ive started to draw a LOT of blood! i wouldn't say i was bloody but yea ive never seen that much from any type of shaving. So i have a question ... how can i determine angle? i know its 30 degrees but how can i determine my shaving angle? The shave is nice and smooth but the nicks are discouraging me. any advice is greatly appreciate it!

Just for the record, im going to keep shaving with a straight razor even if it gives me cuts haha

degree of angle is depends many factors.try make small strokes and find out inwhich angle blade cuts best without pulling etc.never shave against the grain.please read beginner guide from wiki.watch videos for stropping how to strop.stretch your skin and if you have cuts from previoous shave give time to heal.i loved your last words never give up.by the way i did bleed for a 6 months before i get hang of str8 shave.

Starting out, I also had small cuts. Some closed up with a cold water finish and occassionally one would need some extra care.

Then I bumped up to a better face prep, shaving soap, and learned that a light touch WTG for beard reduction was important in avoiding cuts.

+1 the SRP wiki advises wisely and it takes time to develop the feel and technique that works best for you. Looking back, it was fun and adventurous learning how to straight shave.

Don't give up and no worries if you need to use your current non straight razor to finish up.

Welcome to SRP and Straight Shaving,

Pabster

I had a similar thread a while back.

Glen turned me onto a method he uses that is very good. This is from his post:

"Spine widths is sometimes easier WTG= 2, XTG =1, ATG = almost flat against the skin"


For me, I lay the blade almost flat to the skin and lift slightly as I go into the pass. I know what the stroke should feel like, and if I am not getting that feeling, I raise or lower the angle on the fly. It is a method that is working for me.

But I want to say this again about ATG passes. The ATG is only 5 degrees. That is almost perfectly flat. With the razor at this angle, you can do an ATG pass with almost NO pull whatsoever. If you feel pull, lower the angle. When it pulls, you will have a tendancy to use more pressure. More Pressure = Crappy Painful Shave (and probably some blood).

Good luck. You are earning your Duling Scars!

Hi,
+1 with above.
Getting the angle right is probably the hardest thing at first.As already explained ,just use light pressure and experiment with short strokes until you find the angle that removes hairs most efficiently.Don,t go higher than 30 degrees or you can be cut.There is alot to think about so be happy with small gains and just keep trying.I,m afraid cuts are part of the learning curve but as you say stick with it.
Use an astringent to stop any bleeding-(i use alum).Plus use a good aftershave balm to soothe soreness and heal cut skin.
Good progress so far!!
Let us know how next shave goes.
regards
Noggs

One addition to the above posts. Don't allow the blade to just sit on your skin while trying to figure out the angle. It is scary sharp and will start to dig in. Start with a low angle and raise it slightly during the pass until you get to the right angle. You will feel it when it is there. The problem is repeating it...

MrE

Tons of great advice in this thread guys, I'm going to keep on truckin.

Question, I got a razor honed at a business in New York (took them almost a month), I tried to shave with it twice. Not only was it uncomfortable, but I couldn't even really get it to cut hairs. I tried it pre-stop, because I've read that newbs mess up a perfectly good hone that way. Then I stropped, no better. Doesn't even really cut arm hairs.

Do you think it's just me? At least I never felt like I would cut myself.

sounds like they messed up the edge.
i think send it to a known honemeister like lynn would be the best, then you know for sure that it's shave ready

+1 to all the advice given!

Send the razor to a known pro as they will get the best results. Knife sharpening shops always claim to be able to sharpen razors, but we've seen so many posts where its not the case. The advice is stay away from knife guys!

Less angle is generally better than more. The closer you get to 90 degrees the more likely you are to slice yourself. Alembic gives some really great advice here, so try that method.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by geruchtemoaker

sounds like they messed up the edge.
i think send it to a known honemeister like lynn would be the best, then you know for sure that it's shave ready

Yeah, sucks to waste 30 bucks though.

Originally Posted by Stubear

+1 to all the advice given!

Send the razor to a known pro as they will get the best results. Knife sharpening shops always claim to be able to sharpen razors, but we've seen so many posts where its not the case. The advice is stay away from knife guys!

That's what sucks, it wasn't a knife sharpening place, wouldn't have done that. It was a business that has a couple barbers chairs, supplies wet shaving supplies, and offers straight razor honing.