Disappointing first share

[TheOgre]

Hi All,

Over the last few months I have been obsessively watching videos and reading everything I can about straight shaving, both here and other places.

I purchased a shave ready razor, and strop, from a place that has good reviews on this forum.

I finally had a few hours to myself on the weekend and wanted to give it a go. I've been shaving with a DE for 2 years, so I reckon my prep is pretty good. Had a hot shower, washed and soaked my face. Applied hair conditioner for about 2 mins then rinsed off.

Once out of the shower, applied MWF and let sit for a few minutes. I did not strop the razor, as I was told when purchasing that I would not need to because it had been pre-stropped.

I summoned all my courage and went to make my first WTG pass down my cheek. The razor stuck and dragged. I tried a few different angles with the same result. I tried a bit of pressure and managed to get through a little bit of hair, but it was quite painful. I resorted to buffing my way down my cheek, again, it was quite painful - the razor was dragging and pulling instead of cutting.

I gave up and tried stropping, I did around 30 laps on a leather strop. I tried shaving my arm hair and it left around half the hairs. I know if I shaved my arm with my DE, there would be nothing left.

I persisted, thinking that I was doing something wrong, and the only way to learn is to keep trying. I swapped hands and buffed down my left cheek. Attempted my upper lip, parts of my neck, ATG on my cheeks. In the end I had to give in and clean up with DE.

I managed to get through without too much blood shed - a few nicks, bigger than I have ever receive from DE, but no permanent damage.

Are my expectations too high after DE shaving? I currently use a Merker 39c with a feather blade and it mows through my stubble like butter. I understand that a straight can't be as sharp as a feather, but I was hoping for more.

Obviously my technique is terrible, but now I'm in the position of not knowing if my razor really is shave ready and I should persist. Or if I need to get it rehoned and try again.

Is this common for newbies? Do I just need to keep going and I'll get better with practice?

 

[Bk124tt]

The 39 C is a tough act to follow! I am a long time on and off de shaver that has taken on straights over the past few months and I can assure you IT WILL GET ALOT BETTER!

For me the straight is so different because there are so many options. Size, grinds tips etc. and I think they all make a huge difference from face to face! I have found that a 6/8 has worked better for me than a cople of smaller sizes and I have also found that heavier grinds work better for me that the hollowed versions. Also I have received razors from renouned honers that weren't good for me.
This may sound absolutely ridiculous but the face is a very personal place!

 

[Doc226]

First it does not sound like the razor was really shave ready. The angle on the face should be with the spine almost flat agains the face-almost. I do believe most feel like the razor is not sharp enough when technique is really the culprit.

Was this a new razor or a used one.

Did you perform any tests on the razor before attempting to shave?

 

[Mike H]

Sorry to hear about your trouble Ogre. Tugging and pulling are common experiences for a new straight shaver. A dull razor from a well respected vendor is a pretty rare event, but I suppose possible.

I never buff with a straight razor.

If it is painful, then something is not right, even using a dull razor it should not be painful.

Try again in a couple days, go with the grain only and do your cheeks only. See if there is an improvement. Finish with a DE as needed.

 

[london]

Try a WTG pass with your DE before using a straight and then just shave your cheeks until your tech gets better, it worked for me.

 

[25or6to4]

Are you stretching the skin? A properly honed razor should be almost magical - smooth and nearly effortless is what I've found. From your arm hair test it doesn't appear shave ready.

 

[SliceOfLife]

The only places I ever have to use pressure when shaving are atg on my lips (purely because getting a proper angle is impossible) and depending on the finish on the razor sometimes for atg under my chin (toughest, densest hair).

If you're having to use pressure on the WTG pass on your cheek, something is very wrong.

If it's not shaving arm hair the entire length of the blade, that means it's not even close to shave ready.