What follows is based on my experience, and PMs and phone conversations with experienced members of this forum who have had similar experiences. Frankly, I'm reluctant to pose this, and I do so only in the hope that it might help those new to our community.
We often advise newcomers to start out with a professionally-honed razor so they will learn what "sharp" is, and to take one major variable out of play. While I know this advice is well-meaning, I have come to believe it is wrong, and may impede some in the early going.
I have had six new razors honed by three different honemeisters, all well-known in shaving forums. Two blades were perfect, two were barely adequate, and two needed further work. One of these did not cut arm hair at skin level and had no discernible effect on my beard after two passes.
I always do a 100X micro exam, an HHT and TPT on a new razor. Not surprisingly, only the two well-honed razors performed as expected. The one that did not shave at all looked perfect under the microscope, however.
I paid for each of these honings. I did not strop any of the blades prior to use. I did strop the four less-than-perfect blades after the first shave, resulting in minimal improvement.
I did not send any of the blades back to the original honers. I'm sure that, given the reputations of these gentlemen, and based on emails and phone conversations I've had with them, they all would have gladly tried to make things right. But the fact is that I wanted to learn how to hone myself. I have since managed to make these razors shave-ready.
During a conversation with one of these honers, I was told that the only way to test for shave-readiness was to do a WTG pass down my cheek. If it cut hair, he said, it was shave-ready. Not surprisingly, his was the dullest razor.
I do not consider a razor sharp unless it can cut the moustache and chin areas with minimal tugging and skipping (if any). Otherwise, for my purposes, it is not sharp enough.
Newcomers should be aware that getting a razor professionally honed does not ensure it is sharp. They should recognize that a razor that pulls, skips, or does not reduce their beard effectively may not reflect poor technique (although it certainly can), but may simply be a razor that is not sharp enough, regardless where it came from or who honed it.
Nrecomers should also understand that the sharpness of their razor is ultimately their responsibility. They must either get comfortable doing this themselves, or find someone through trial-and error who gets it right consistently. The two well-honed razors I received came from the same individual.
I have no axe to grind here, and if I have offended anyone, please understand that is not my intent.Everyone I have dealt with has showed me every consideration and been more than willing to offer andice and help. They clearly love what they do and love to share their enthusiasm for straight shaving. My goal is only not to mislead others who want to learn this skill with false assurances.
A professionally-honed razor, in my experience, does not take the variable of shave-readiness off the table, and I will not advise anyone new to straight razor shaving that it does.
We often advise newcomers to start out with a professionally-honed razor so they will learn what "sharp" is, and to take one major variable out of play. While I know this advice is well-meaning, I have come to believe it is wrong, and may impede some in the early going.
I have had six new razors honed by three different honemeisters, all well-known in shaving forums. Two blades were perfect, two were barely adequate, and two needed further work. One of these did not cut arm hair at skin level and had no discernible effect on my beard after two passes.
I always do a 100X micro exam, an HHT and TPT on a new razor. Not surprisingly, only the two well-honed razors performed as expected. The one that did not shave at all looked perfect under the microscope, however.
I paid for each of these honings. I did not strop any of the blades prior to use. I did strop the four less-than-perfect blades after the first shave, resulting in minimal improvement.
I did not send any of the blades back to the original honers. I'm sure that, given the reputations of these gentlemen, and based on emails and phone conversations I've had with them, they all would have gladly tried to make things right. But the fact is that I wanted to learn how to hone myself. I have since managed to make these razors shave-ready.
During a conversation with one of these honers, I was told that the only way to test for shave-readiness was to do a WTG pass down my cheek. If it cut hair, he said, it was shave-ready. Not surprisingly, his was the dullest razor.
I do not consider a razor sharp unless it can cut the moustache and chin areas with minimal tugging and skipping (if any). Otherwise, for my purposes, it is not sharp enough.
Newcomers should be aware that getting a razor professionally honed does not ensure it is sharp. They should recognize that a razor that pulls, skips, or does not reduce their beard effectively may not reflect poor technique (although it certainly can), but may simply be a razor that is not sharp enough, regardless where it came from or who honed it.
Nrecomers should also understand that the sharpness of their razor is ultimately their responsibility. They must either get comfortable doing this themselves, or find someone through trial-and error who gets it right consistently. The two well-honed razors I received came from the same individual.
I have no axe to grind here, and if I have offended anyone, please understand that is not my intent.Everyone I have dealt with has showed me every consideration and been more than willing to offer andice and help. They clearly love what they do and love to share their enthusiasm for straight shaving. My goal is only not to mislead others who want to learn this skill with false assurances.
A professionally-honed razor, in my experience, does not take the variable of shave-readiness off the table, and I will not advise anyone new to straight razor shaving that it does.