Thread: Razor Burn

Hello!
I've been trying to learn by watching straight razor shaving videos and then doing a small portion of my face. Today I tried my chin and neck on either side of my adam's apple.
I now have several nicks and a bad case of razor burn on my neck. The preshave oil didn't seem to work. The alum block at the end was torture.
I shaved yesterday with a double edge and got a fine shave. Maybe it was too early.
Also, in the past when learning how to strop with my 3" strops (fabric and leather). I rolled in the wrong direction. So I don't know how forgiving my Dovo 5/8" razor is. I hope I didn't damage the blade already.
The biggest problem I am encountering is learning how to correctly shave the hairs to the right and left of my throat. The hair seems to grow almost horizontally and I can't seem to get in there before my hands start to shake. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm really beginning to see why this is called a "cut throat" razor. I try to use a very light touch and keep the angle close to 30". I really want to learn and refuse to give up.
Thank you all for your help.
Phil in northern KY

you are having issues with toughes places on your face. Many of us had similar problem.
I think your issues most likely come
1. angle never use 30 degree it has been said for new starter just guide not must.
You have to make small strokes and find out the best cutting angle then use that angle.
it may be 5 or 30 between them any. sometimes almost flat depends on the many other process.
2. is sharpness you may in fact dulled the edge.
Try strop good or use barber hone for couple strokes strop and shave test see what happens.
hope this helps.

Originally Posted by KYPHILIP

Hello!
I've been trying to learn by watching straight razor shaving videos and then doing a small portion of my face. Today I tried my chin and neck on either side of my adam's apple.
I now have several nicks and a bad case of razor burn on my neck. The preshave oil didn't seem to work. The alum block at the end was torture.
I shaved yesterday with a double edge and got a fine shave. Maybe it was too early.
Also, in the past when learning how to strop with my 3" strops (fabric and leather). I rolled in the wrong direction. So I don't know how forgiving my Dovo 5/8" razor is. I hope I didn't damage the blade already.
The biggest problem I am encountering is learning how to correctly shave the hairs to the right and left of my throat. The hair seems to grow almost horizontally and I can't seem to get in there before my hands start to shake. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm really beginning to see why this is called a "cut throat" razor. I try to use a very light touch and keep the angle close to 30". I really want to learn and refuse to give up.
Thank you all for your help.
Phil in northern KY

Thanks very much!
I'll do what you say. I've been stropping lightly. So maybe I didn't damage it when I rolled it wrong. I didn't do it more than 2 times. I'll try again as soon as I heal. I'll look for a barber's hone.
Phil in KY

Put a little pressure while you strop. don't be scared. little pressure wont hurt until you put your force on to blade and bend the strop such that will dull the edge.
gl

Originally Posted by KYPHILIP

Thanks very much!
I'll do what you say. I've been stropping lightly. So maybe I didn't damage it when I rolled it wrong. I didn't do it more than 2 times. I'll try again as soon as I heal. I'll look for a barber's hone.
Phil in KY

Razor burn is almost always a result of using too much pressure while shaving. Try to just wipe the lather off your face. Any additional effort applied to cut whiskers will result in razor burn.

This is great! Thanks guys. I'm a newbie and need all the advice I can get.
I think my blade is okay. I did the SRP Thumb Pad test and then went and stropped it with just the leather. I think I did good. I repeated the Thumb Pad test and it felt like described. I'll try less pressure next time and go very slow with a small angle. This is going to be a long learning process. My neck is just a little red and irritated - nothing serious and much like first try with double edge when I first got it. I'm going to look for Mitchel's Wool Fat for my next soap. I hear that that is good.
Thanks again guys!
Phil in KY

I learned gradually, shaving only the simple parts of my face with the straight and finishing up with my old disposable. As I got more comfortable with the cutthroat I expanded my range. The sides of my adam's apple were the last to conquer. No shame in taking it slow.

Good luck with it.

The best advice I can give someone new to all this is to slow down, not to expect too much at first and realize you're in it for the long haul. Your first shaves won't be very impressive, but as you near 30 and 50 shaves you'll start to get a feel for it. You'll learn something with every shave, especially with every mistake. You almost have to make the mistakes (like too much pressure) to be able to rise above them. In the end, you'll find that your mistakes are valuable pointers to show you what to avoid in the future. It's a learning process, steep at first and ultimately quite long. After about 100 shaves you'll be on here giving tips to Newbies. Enjoy the journey!!

I really appreciate all of the advice. I had heard that it takes about 100 shaves to get proficient. I'll go slow and will stick with it.
Thanks again!
Phil in KY

Hang in there! If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. You'll get to a point where it is not only fun, but easy. It does take time to get to that point, and it does take work, but the reward eventually is worth all the trouble. There are dues to be paid, but in the end you'll be very glad you paid them. I can tell you that at the 200 shave level, you really look forward to each shave and enjoy finding new ways to improve your technique. You'll also find that the speed and quality of your shaves both improve. I got a pretty close to perfect shave this morning, and it only took six minutes. I can't wait to shave tomorrow morning. Good luck!