blade pulls my hair.need sharper?

[jbrdr85]

My facial hair is pretty thick/tough. I'm still new to safety razor shaving but feel I have the technique down pretty good. If I use the weight of the razor only, the blade gets "stuck" and pulls my hair. I have to put a little more pressure to cut the hair.

Do I need a sharper blade? I'm currently using derby and Astra. What would you suggest for something sharper?

 

[marzman]

The Astra blades are pretty sharp (there are sharper ones like Feather/Iridium) already. Have you tried shaving after you took a shower? Then your beardhair is softer and the blade cut more easily through it.

 

[BYob]

1) hot towel prep
2) repeat step 1 with shaving cream underneath very hot towel, then splash with hot water and then lather
3) stabilize skin with free hand before short using shaving strokes, and use LESS pressure (razor moves very easily if blade cuts few whiskers at at time and skin is held stable, but razor likes to skip and tug if someone try to cut too many whiskers at one time, especially if skin is moving around and whiskers are not sufficiently softened by water and cream)
4) enjoy better shave, cutting few whisker, cutting softer whisker, razor gliding smooth and skin feeling happy

 

[deruitem]

What are you doing for prep and what cream or soap are you using? Also I HATE Derby so I would stay with the Astra for now. Those are not my fav but work very well for the price. I shave after the shower for prep and spend a good time lathering. That should help a lot

 

[Foyle]

If your beard isn't sufficiently softened, it won't matter which blade you use; you'll still get tugging. I have a heavy beard and Astras work great for me. I shave right after a nice hot shower and keep splashing warm water on my face while my sink basin fills in order to keep my beard wet. I also face lather. I find this routine keeps my beard softened and make shaving really easy.

 

[dcobranchi]

No pressure means no pressure horizontally (i.e., towards your face). You can assist gravity to pull the razor down without causing irritation.

 

[JHP]

I have experienced the same tugging. I've noticed that blade angle can effect this. If the blade is down at a low angle, less tugging. When I mistakenly allow the angle to get too high, I get more tugging.

 

[Mick]

You have been given all the correct answers

1) prep properly. Your beard must be hydrated in order to be cut comfortably. If you can't shave right out of the shower, then wash your face twice using warm water and glycerine based soap. Soaps with glycerine will help your beard soak up and retain water.

2) stretch your skin using your free hand. You don't need to pull it snare drum tight, just keep it taught and flat

3) use shorter rapid strokes. You want to "cut" your beard, not mow it down slowly

When shaving try to move your whole arm in one motion, locking your wrist so that you do not get a "flicking" motion. If you try to move your entire arm you will find it easier to maintain a consistent blade angle through the stroke.

 

[tmurzz]

Both Astra and Derby are terrible for me - don't find Astra's even close to sharp - I get that same tugging painful feeling.

Only blade that works for me is feather.

 

[chado006]

I'm one of the lucky people who has good results with most blades (I'd say I've got a medium beard). I don't mind Derbies but they are definitely on the low end of the sharpness scale.

How often are you shaving? I'll use a Derby if I'm shaving daily or every other day. However, if I go longer between shaves, I use a sharper blade like a Gillette yellow, Feather, etc. to mow the whiskers down. If I use a less sharp blade with longer growth, that's when the tugging happens.

 

[celestino]

+3 on making sure you have done good prep. The Astras should be cutting even the coarsest of beard for at least one pass. It sounds like you may need to work on prep, lather and angle. Good luck.

 

[Toothpick]

beard length is the biggest issue for me followed by sharpness of the blade. If I have anything more than a 36 hour beard any amount of beard prep and any blade tugs and hangs up bad. 2 full days growth is doable, but not pleasurable.

I recently discovered what helps me with softening my beard is a facial wash/scrub before the shave. I use Nivea Revitalizing face scrub and let it sit on my face while the brush soaks and i prep my tools and build lather. it keeps my face constantly wet and once im ready to apply the lather i just rinse it off. BUT the last time i did it i applied the lather right over the face scrub, no ill effect, but really couldn't tell a difference either as opposed to rinsing it off first.

 

[drab]

What razor are you using? Perhaps a more aggressive razor is in order.

 

[Klos Shave]

I think we need to know what kind of soap/cream you're using. That can make a HUGE difference. Too wet or too dry can result in tugging.

 

[JHP]

If I have anything more than a 36 hour beard any amount of beard prep and any blade tugs and hangs up bad. 2 full days growth is doable, but not pleasurable.

+1

 

[Cagliostro]

Good prep and a sharp blade are two keys, technique is a third must. The angle at which the blade attacks the hair is what gives you the take down power, when you get the right angle you know it because to a softened beard the right combo will slay them easily in most cases. Hair conditioner that you use works rub some on in the shower and leave it be and rinse off near the end and by the time to put razor to face, you should be cooking with gas and going to town like Spartans on Persians.

 

[Big Jay]

1) Try the first suggestions on prep first.

2) Next step would be a more aggressive or even better (IMO), an adjustable razor. I like adjustables because i can set them aggressive for my first pass and "tone it down" for subsequent passes.

3) If you find yourself still tugging with a Red Tip SS or a Fat Boy dialed to 7, might be time for a new blade. I can take most of days growth of beard off with a single pass from my fatboy set on 7, with the laser sharp feather.

 

[BYob]

For blades, try red personna (smooth, decently sharp) or super iridium (almost just as smooth, but very sharp) - feather is sharpest but many people think not so smooth/forgiving (feather blade is thin, technique must be good) - no pressure in any case, only with stable skin and locked wrist, always with good prep, using proper technique . . . then almost any blade is friendly