Do Straights have less glide?

[ShavingPrivateRyan]

So I started wet shaving with a shavette, and was therefore technically shaving with safety razor blades. I finally got my first real straight razor and honestly it has been a bit of a let down so far. The blade seems to cling to my skin and not want to glide smoothly across my face. It also does not seem to cut my beard very easily. On my XTG pass last shave there was a lot of resistance when I got to my upper lip and there was a little spot of blood where each hair was. I am assuming this means the hairs got pulled out? I ordered it from WhippedDog so I have faith that it was honed well and actually did come shave ready. So I was wondering:

1) is it possible that straights just don't glide as well?
2) does anyone have any tips for overcoming something like this?

Thanks in advance for your help, and happy Friday!

 

[chuckr9]

My first guess is that your blade angle was too steep. Could also be that the razor was not really "shave ready".

 

[DFSDAILY]

It's a whipped dog so your straight was shave ready, but did you possibly mess the edge up stropping, or most likely you were shaving with too steep an angle. I find that straight razors glide easier than safety razors.

 

[global_dev]

dry lather, maybe too thick, try more water and the angle like those above stated. Also if the razor is a light 4/8s - 5/8s it could be you need to give it some more push. also the spine should be directly on your skin.

but if you have been using a shavette, honestly, it doesn't really have much change needed i would think so this is confusing, especially given the proponents of shavette-use arguments.

 

[jpcwon]

If I had to guess, I'd say that maybe your lather was a bit dry. That, coupled with a steep angle (which was my problem when I first started), will make for somewhat of an unpleasant shave. I know that I still struggle with lather thickness & how "wet" it should be. If I find that it's too dry, then it really affects the outcome of the shave negatively...

 

[rickboone1]

I would definitely check your lather

 

[wquiles]

I would definitely check your lather

+1

That was one of the most significant things I found when I started shaving with a str8 = the lather is even more important than when shaving with a DE. Unfortunately it means some trial and error to find out what works best for your face, type of water (soft/hard), etc.. For me a lather that is more "wet" seems to work better, and these two tallow-based soaps seem to work well for me:

 

[professorchaos]

It's a whipped dog so your straight was shave ready, but did you possibly mess the edge up stropping, or most likely you were shaving with too steep an angle. I find that straight razors glide easier than safety razors.

While I agree that straights glide more easily, I think it is possible that the razor wasn't entirely shave ready. The simple fact is that even the most seasoned hone-maestro won't nail 100% of the blades. Not saying this is the case but rather that it shouldn't be ruled out.

 

[global_dev]

I think it is possible that the razor wasn't entirely shave ready. The simple fact is that even the most seasoned hone-maestro won't nail 100% of the blades. Not saying this is the case but rather that it shouldn't be ruled out.

i'd like to plug my ears and say it couldn't be true about hone-maestro's, as a mere participant in the honing game and knowing my own honing style and volume i would think it wasn't true, but hey blades with inherent issues (and even those without) could get through the cracks of guys with really high volume.

good luck OP!

 

[Lmarkow]

+1 re: lather. As an aside, neat razor, Will.

 

[professorchaos]

i'd like to plug my ears and say it couldn't be true about hone-maestro's, as a mere participant in the honing game and knowing my own honing style and volume i would think it wasn't true, but hey blades with inherent issues (and even those without) could get through the cracks of guys with really high volume.

good luck OP!

Hey, I've honed well over 1000 razors. Probably closer to 2000. I don't miss often but it does happen. Rarely

 

[Firewalker]

So I started wet shaving with a shavette, and was therefore technically shaving with safety razor blades. I finally got my first real straight razor and honestly it has been a bit of a let down so far. The blade seems to cling to my skin and not want to glide smoothly across my face. It also does not seem to cut my beard very easily. On my XTG pass last shave there was a lot of resistance when I got to my upper lip and there was a little spot of blood where each hair was. I am assuming this means the hairs got pulled out? I ordered it from WhippedDog so I have faith that it was honed well and actually did come shave ready. So I was wondering:

1) is it possible that straights just don't glide as well?
2) does anyone have any tips for overcoming something like this?

Thanks in advance for your help, and happy Friday!

I still get that once in a while, when I look closely, I find I am either shaving at too great of an angle or too little of an angle. If I lay the razor newly against my face, my skin "sucks" the blade down and is hard to get moving. Using a very light touch but being able to get a steady muscle group to hold the razor seems to make a lot of difference for me as well.

 

[global_dev]

Hey, I've honed well over 1000 razors. Probably closer to 2000. I don't miss often but it does happen. Rarely

2000? jeez... so the indicators all line up that it looks good to go? i am not calling you out, just thinking out loud... that's like 400 a year on average since 2007, like 35 every month.. that's a pace i don't think i could keep up with my current lifestyle... I'd like to hit maybe 12 a month if people utilized my services in my spare time, not that I am slow, i just need some family time. sacreligious, i know.

 

[Seraphim]

+1

That was one of the most significant things I found when I started shaving with a str8 = the lather is even more important than when shaving with a DE. Unfortunately it means some trial and error to find out what works best for your face, type of water (soft/hard), etc.. For me a lather that is more "wet" seems to work better, and these two tallow-based soaps seem to work well for me:

Are you selling those titanium brushes? That is Sa-WEET!

 

[ANeat]

i am not calling you out, just thinking out loud... that's like 400 a year on average since 2007, like 35 every month..

I dont know the man but is there a possibility that he sharpened a razor or two before 2007? Or he just kicks arse.... Or he is full of ???? or bad at math???


To the original question, as far as little bloody spots go there is a good chance you dug in there, not pulled hair. Too much pressure or a bad angle will get you a nick or some razor burn. You basically shaved off a thin layer from your skin

 

[inspiringK]

So, I'm the only one who thinks it is plausible that a shavette blades the OP was using can be sharper than a well honed straight?

I've never touched a shavette before, but DE blades can be very sharp since manufacturers don't have to do much to ensure good edge longevity. I haven't thought to compare a DE blade to one of my straights, but my sense is that the DE blades should give the straights a good challenge...

 

[Firewalker]

So, I'm the only one who thinks it is plausible that a shavette blades the OP was using can be sharper than a well honed straight?

I've never touched a shavette before, but DE blades can be very sharp since manufacturers don't have to do much to ensure good edge longevity. I haven't thought to compare a DE blade to one of my straights, but my sense is that the DE blades should give the straights a good challenge...

So far, I have never had a honed blade be anywhere as sharp as a shavette blade, even the DORCOs I got with my new CJB are sharper than any straight blade I have used. I would love to be proven wrong though and I have another razor coming from a well known honemister and I am hoping this one will be sharper yet. YMMV

 

[global_dev]

I dont know the man but is there a possibility that he sharpened a razor or two before 2007? Or he just kicks arse.... Or he is full of ???? or bad at math???

perhaps, i was going with info for the math that I could easily ascertain without stalking Prof. Chaos.

So, I'm the only one who thinks it is plausible that a shavette blades the OP was using can be sharper than a well honed straight? .

i am not going to talk a bout well-honed and it's definition, but the shavette blades are probably a lot sharper than a whipped dog straight. I don't know WD's progression, but i would think it stops around 8K (maybe to 12K) .. i would have thought he also maybe at times hones on nortons, given the quarter stones he sells.

but there is a pic on the WD honing service of an a well used 8K super stone.

I think Larry hones well given the feedback he receives and i have no reason to doubt him. I have never tried one of his edges or razors.

the reason for the OP's issue could be anything

 

[inspiringK]

i am not going to talk a bout well-honed and it's definition, but the shavette blades are probably a lot sharper than a whipped dog straight. I don't know WD's progression, but i would think it stops around 8K (maybe to 12K) .. i would have thought he also maybe at times hones on nortons, given the quarter stones he sells.

I don't understand this distinction. If you agree that WD gets good feedback for razor edges and you have not personally used a WD edge, why assume anything.

I wasn't trying to get into an overly technical discussion about what a well honed razor looks like compared to one that is not, or ask about WD honed razors vs number 2001 from Prof. Chaos. or a Seraphim edge, or a Doc razor - simply ask a question in regarding straights in general vs a shavette blade.

 

[Relentless]

I've been on the straight journey for about 4 weeks and I have the same difficulty as the OP.
I have come to the conclusion that it's a smörgåsbord of variances: lather quality, blade edge, angle if incidence, pre-shave preparation, moon phase, and wind direction. I also now believe that practice and trial are the only things will remedy my difficulties. I am trying to do everything those with more experience recommend.